eLearning: The Use of Bold and Other Styles

by Kevin Siegel   

I've was recently asked to share my thoughts on the proper use of bold text in eLearning. Many organizations struggle with the choice between using bold text in training materials, including written documentation, eLearning lessons and PowerPoint presentations.

When it comes to my step-by-step workbooks, I'm a big fan of using bold text to call attention to important steps. But there's a fine line between emphasizing something and over-emphasizing. For instance, consider the following phrase: Select the File menu. I'd bold the word File, but nothing else. The phrase would look like this: 

• Select the File menu. 

When it comes to eLearning, I'm very conservative when it comes to styling text. Since it's typically harder to read text on the screen than it is on a printed sheet of paper, I tend to avoid making text bold unless the style is going to add something to the page. The best rule of thumb when it comes to screen readability is less is more. The more you format text, the less readable the text will become.

While I do use bold text in my books, and occasionally in my eLearning lessons, I try to avoid using the italic and underline styles altogether. In my experience, italicized text is harder to read than either plain or bold text. With eLearning, as with websites, underlined text implies a clickable hyperlink. If you underline screen text in your eLearning lessons, you'll likely cause confusion for learners who may attempt to click the text (assuming it will take them someplace on the web).

What is your opinion on using text styles such as bold, italic and underline in documentation and eLearning? I look forward to seeing your comments below.

 

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Comments

[Richard V Michaels]

I couldn't agree more. Text that is all bolded or italicized is harder to read. Also all CAPS is harder to read. The reader's eye needs to flow easily and naturally across the words.

Font and point size are also factors to consider. Just because you can read the 8 point Lucida on your screen with the zoom at 150% doesn't mean that it's okay to use everywhere and neither is 14 point. Except on output meant to be projected on slides, 12 point is where you need to be for the body of the text copy.

[Sreekanth]

Agree with you on the italics. They certainly are difficult to read online. Making a bold is sufficient to highlight content. Bold + Italics is an overkill.

To add what Richard mentioned, I have seen some users use small-CAPS (all letters in uppercase, but first letter of every word in larger font than others) for headings, which I feel is unnecessary. For headings, one can simply stick to bigger font size or bold effect.

With respect to underlining, I believe any hyperlink must be underlined and should preferably be in the standard blue color unless it grossly violates the UI color theme.

[Srujan]

Yes,"the more you format the text less readable the text will become"

[Jeff Walter]

Like most things in life, moderation is the key. The purpose of bolding something is to make it stand out. Over using bolding, italics, all caps, etc. diminishes the importance of the marked up text.

[Katrina Espanol-MIller]

I agree that italics is not as easy to read, but I do use them in my step-by-steps to distinguish locations in instructions (e.g. Under Assessments, click on Quizzes). I'm open to suggestions on better alternatives to emphasizing a location if anyone has any.