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Helpful Tips

How to Make Your Documents Reflect Your Firm

Odile Dobler, Translator and Administrative Assistant, knows how important it is to ensure that all documents produced by your firm reflect your professional image. Here are some helpful tips on typesetting.

Select Your Fonts Carefully
Although there are hundreds of fonts to choose from, they boil down to two basic types: serif and sans serif.

Serif (such as Times New Roman):
Note that each letter finishes with a tail.

Sans serif (such as Arial):
For crisp headings and short text.
Without the tail, each letter is visually separate from the other.

Arial looks larger than Times New Roman although they are both the same point size.

Choose a Font to Match the Purpose of the Document

• Avoid confusion. Don't use too many fonts in any one document. The font you select sets the tone. Do you want your document to be perceived as strictly business? Personal? Innovative? Staid or creative? Americana XBdCn B leaves a very different impression from Balloon bd bt. The choice is yours.
• Check that the typeface includes all the characters required before choosing it. Some don’t have accents, lower case letters, etc. Does it look good in both upper and lower case? Are the numbers legible? If the document is to be photocopied, avoid using fonts with thin hairlines, which will be hard to read or copy. Reduce the size of long headings by selecting a condensed font. Put white space around headings and long bodies of text to provide balance. Before sending, proofread a hard copy to check for errors that the spell-check feature will not have picked up.

New Rules for New Media

• Underlining for emphasis is considered obsolete.
• Double spacing after sentences is now optional.
• Don’t place similar-sized fonts next to each other (such as 12 and 11), as the contrast is not apparent enough.
• To avoid confusion, use graphic elements sparingly around your text. Don't clutter.

Clarity is Key

Strive for simplicity. Rather than cluttering the document and distracting your reader from the message, produce a document that is easy on the eyes and on the brain.

Time is of essence... projects are time-consuming... then, rely on Montreal Public Writer to give your documents the professional look your company deserves. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information.

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