This open access book provides a detailed and up-to-date account of the relevant literature on
the legibility of different kinds of typefaces which goes back over 140 years in the case of
reading from paper and more than 50 years in the case of reading from screens. It describes the
origins of serif and sans serif styles in ancient inscriptions their adoption in modern
printing techniques and their legibility in different situations and in different populations
of readers. It also examines recent research on the legibility of serif and sans serif
typefaces when used with internet browsers smartphones and other hand-held devices. The book
investigates the difference in the legibility of serif typefaces and sans serif typefaces when
they are used to produce printed material or when they are used to present material on computer
monitors or other screens and it explores the differences in readers' preferences among
typefaces. The book's main focus is on the psychology of reading but there are clear
implications for education and publishing. Indeed the book can be read with benefit by anyone
concerned with communicating with others through written text whether it is printed on paper
or displayed on computer screens.
