Appearance
It’s a shame that after months or years of quality research, text describing a relevant and interesting topic can be written in a form that looks challenging to read. Compare text example 1 with example 2:
Example 1
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sit eu consul discere, stet reprimique ex nec. Vim option virtute no. Vel utamur labitur democritum ne. At movet legendos pertinacia pri, vix ne liber legere, ex vitae perfecto omittantur eum. Decore verear sit ex. Ne duo saepe cotidieque, vel at soluta vocent voluptatum. An vix ignota timeam. Integre partiendo est ut, te nam enim novum meliore. Cu iriure vivendum conceptam nec, id facer oratio salutatus nam. Qui ea dicta timeam constituto. Alii errem te his. Delectus electram no usu. Vero eligendi at est, per no unum audiam appetere. Tacimates iracundia vis ei, per delectus mediocritatem no. Id enim oratio possit vis. Ne pri liber graeco. No vix stet pertinax adolescens, pro id legere feugait, te vix falli mandamus.
Example 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, sit eu consul discere, stet reprimique ex nec. Vim option virtute no. Vel utamur labitur democritum ne. At movet legendos pertinacia pri, vix ne liber legere, ex vitae perfecto omittantur eum. Decore verear sit ex. Ne duo saepe cotidieque, vel at soluta vocent voluptatum.
Add subtitles and lists
An vix ignota timeam. Integre partiendo est ut, te nam enim novum meliore. Cu iriure vivendum conceptam nec, id facer oratio salutatus nam. Qui ea dicta timeam constituto. Alii errem te his.
- Delectus electram no usu. Vero eligendi at est, per no unum audiam appetere. Tacimates iracundia vis ei, per delectus mediocritatem no.
- Id enim oratio possit vis. Ne pri liber graeco. No vix stet pertinax adolescens, pro id legere feugait, te vix falli mandamus.
Which looks easier to read? It’s about ‘white space’.
White space
White space is created by headings and subheadings, images and diagrams, vertical lists, and the space between paragraphs. Documents with generous white space appear (and actually are) easier to read and navigate. So, when appropriate, try to introduce white space.
When submitting a manuscript to a journal, you have limited ability to plan the appearance of each page. The journal will format your article and ‘Figure 2’ may not appear on the same page as ‘X deceased more quickly than Y (Figure 2).’ This is inconvenient for the reader. However, even for a manuscript, you do have control over the size of your paragraphs. Therefore, for any document that you write, try to avoid paragraphs that take up half a page because they look scary and uninviting to read. The most inviting paragraph arrangement is paragraphs that vary in size – but no enormous paragraphs! You do have full control over the appearance of your thesis, dissertation and many other documents. So, use all the above tactics to make your writing look inviting.