Typography Essentials: Fonts and Readability

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Distinguish between typefaces and font families and apply this knowledge practically
• Select fonts that improve readability and support your design goals
• Use WordPress tools to customise typography effectively
• Avoid common font selection mistakes that harm readability

Introduction

Getting your fonts right makes the difference between a design that works and one that doesn't. Poor typography choices can make even great content hard to read, while smart font decisions guide your audience through your message effortlessly.

This chapter covers the practical side of typography for WordPress users. You'll learn how fonts affect readability, discover tools that make font customisation straightforward, and practice techniques you can use immediately on your projects.

Lessons

Understanding Typefaces vs Font Families

These terms get mixed up constantly, but knowing the difference helps you make better design decisions.

Typefaces are the overall design style of your text. Think of them as the personality – serif, sans-serif, or script styles each create different moods.

Font families are all the variations within one typeface design. This includes different weights (light, regular, bold), styles (italic, condensed), and sizes.

Here's a practical example: Arial is a typeface. Arial Regular, Arial Bold, and Arial Italic are different fonts within the Arial family.

Why this matters for your designs: When you stick to one typeface but use different fonts from that family, your design stays consistent whilst creating visual hierarchy through weight and style changes.

Choosing Fonts for Better Readability

Readability trumps style every time. A beautiful font that people can't read defeats the purpose entirely.

Step 1: Match your audience and context

• Professional content works well with clean serif or sans-serif fonts
• Creative projects can handle more decorative choices
• Body text needs different treatment than headings

Step 2: Test readability across sizes
Font choices that work for large headings often fail in paragraph text. Always check how your fonts perform at different sizes before committing.

Step 3: Consider your medium
Screen reading differs from print. Sans-serif fonts typically perform better on screens, particularly at smaller sizes.

Common readability mistakes to avoid:

• Using decorative fonts for body text
• Choosing fonts that are too light or too condensed
• Mixing too many different typefaces in one design

WordPress Typography Tools

WordPress gives you several ways to customise fonts, from basic theme options to more advanced techniques.

Built-in customisation options:
Most modern WordPress themes include typography settings in the Customiser. Look for sections labelled "Typography," "Fonts," or "Design Options."

Using Google Fonts:
The simplest way to expand your font choices:

Step 1: Install a Google Fonts plugin like "Easy Google Fonts"
Step 2: Browse the font library and preview options with your actual content
Step 3: Apply fonts to different elements (headings, body text, etc.)
Step 4: Test your choices on mobile devices

Custom CSS for fine-tuning:
When you need more control, custom CSS lets you adjust specifics like line spacing, letter spacing, and font weights.

Basic CSS structure:

body {
    font-family: 'Your Font Name', sans-serif;
    font-size: 16px;
    line-height: 1.6;
}

Before making changes: Always create a backup of your site. Plugin installations and CSS edits can occasionally cause conflicts with your theme.

Practice

Choose a WordPress page you're working on and complete this exercise:

1. Identify your current font choices for headings and body text
2. Select three alternative typefaces from Google Fonts
3. Apply each option using your theme's customiser or a fonts plugin
4. Compare readability by reading a full paragraph in each font
5. Test your top choice on mobile and desktop screens
6. Note which combination works best for your specific content and audience

Document your observations. Which fonts made the content easier to read? Which ones changed how the content felt emotionally?

FAQs

What typography options does WordPress include by default?
WordPress themes typically offer basic font size and colour controls. Some newer themes include Google Fonts integration, but many rely on system fonts or a limited selection. The options vary significantly between themes.

How do I add more fonts to my WordPress site?
Install a typography plugin like "Easy Google Fonts" for the simplest approach. Alternatively, many premium themes include extensive font libraries built in. For custom fonts, you'll need to upload font files and add CSS code.

Can I use custom fonts without plugins?
Yes, but it requires more technical knowledge. You'll need to upload font files to your theme directory and use CSS @font-face declarations to implement them. This approach gives you complete control but needs careful maintenance during theme updates.

Why do my fonts look different on mobile devices?
Mobile browsers handle fonts differently than desktop browsers. Some fonts that look crisp on desktop become harder to read on smaller screens. Always test your font choices across devices before finalising your design.

How many different fonts should I use in one design?
Stick to two or three fonts maximum. Use one typeface for headings, another for body text, and possibly a third for special elements like quotes or captions. More than this typically creates visual confusion.

Jargon Buster

Typeface: The overall design style of a set of characters. Examples include Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica.

Font Family: All the variations within one typeface design, including different weights (light, regular, bold) and styles (italic, condensed).

Sans-serif: Fonts without small decorative strokes on letter endings. Generally cleaner and more modern looking.

Serif: Fonts with small decorative strokes on letter endings. Often considered more traditional and formal.

Custom CSS: Code you add to your website to control appearance beyond your theme's built-in options.

Google Fonts: A free library of web fonts that you can use on websites without licensing restrictions.

Wrap-up

You've learned the practical foundations of typography for web design. Understanding the difference between typefaces and font families helps you make consistent design choices, whilst focusing on readability ensures your content actually communicates effectively.

The WordPress tools covered here give you plenty of options for customising typography without needing advanced technical skills. Remember to always test your font choices across different devices and screen sizes.

Your next step is to practice these techniques on real projects. Start with subtle improvements to existing designs rather than dramatic overhauls. Small typography changes often have surprisingly large impacts on how professional and readable your content appears.

Ready to dive deeper into design fundamentals? Join Pixelhaze Academy for comprehensive courses that build your skills step by step.