Document Design Issues
An essay or any piece of writing should look pleasing. This is achieved by paying attention to the many factors that contribute to pleasing the eye. First of all, it is important to be consistent in all choices—layout and format, headings, lists and tables, the presentation of visuals, and the style you have chosen for it. It should be readable, so choice of font is important. This may be dictated by your teacher or the entity that will publish it. If you are writing an essay for the teacher, make certain you know what she wants. Some fonts are easy to read and some present a barrier to reading. For example, Times-Roman is a popular font that has serifs because it is easy to read. However, Arial, which has no serifs, is a popular font because it, too, is readable. The choice of font will also determine how long your essay is. If the assignment calls for five pages, the font may determine where you end the essay.