Test methods : Readers' preferences ; Continuous reading ; The search task ; Visual accuracy threshold -- Understanding reading : Letter identification ; Word superiority effect ; Word wholes ; Parts, wholes and context -- Legibility in history -- Theories on letter structure : Edward Johnston ; Gerrit Noordzij ; Frank E. Blokland --- Stroke and contrast in history : The Old Style stroke ; Romain du Roi ; The Baskerville stroke ; The Didone stroke ; The geometric stroke -- The individual letter : Internal letter relations ; Scientific results ; Designers' ideas -- Type for text sizes : Block text ; Proportions ; The M-formula ; Ink and printing ; Type for screen ; Scaling -- Type for distance viewing : Compensation for loss of details ; Proportions -- The capitals : Roman inscriptions ; Relative width ; Which is more legible? -- Sans or serif? Arguments in favour of the serif ; Scientific findings ; Familiarity of the sans serif -- Hanging and ranging numerals -- The italic evolution : The Cancelleresca italic ; The development of the Didone italic ; Cursive italic & sloped roman -- Letter spacing -- Familiarity in history : Reading and writing in the middle ages ; Blackletter and Latin types ; The Civilite? type ; John Baskerville and his peers ; Didone and the French Revolution -- The validation of legibility.

This title will help type designers create high-legibility typefaces and graphic designers determine the optimal typeface for a given project. 'Reading Letters' is an engaging compilation of knowledge from the design and scientific communities, supplemented by visual examples of legibility