Chapter 4
MAKING YOUR PAGE LOOK INVITING
Chapter overview
This chapter looks closely at the second key element of Plain English: using an inviting layout
that shows the underlying structure of the document.
Brief outline of the chapter
I. Choose your typefaces carefully. Knowing when to use a serif and sans serif font gives
students a feeling they’re now on the “inside” with other good writers.
II. Use block paragraphing. Unindented paragraphs with a space after each paragraph works
well with documents containing lots of elements on the left margins, such as headings,
bullets, and sidebars.
III. Design good headings. Sans serif and down style look contemporary.
IV. Use good layout for lists. Most students are relieved to get a few commonsense rules for
spacing and capitalization.
V. In summary… The illustration in this section summarizes the advice in the chapter.
VI. Exercises.
General comments
Students love learning about layout. As I tell my students, it’s usually as easy to do things one
way as another, and good layout can make a huge difference in whether a document looks
professional or not. When I go over earlier exercises (before students have read this chapter), I
try to resist pointing out the many ways students can improve the layout of their papers. I want
them to read this chapter first. As I mentioned earlier, I will tell them to use headings for their
earlier exercises, but I don’t yet tell them how to make those headings. Now I do. And this is
usually fun. Students feel they suddenly have control over their writing.
I urge students to use good layout techniques in their other courses—and if at work, too (if they
have a job).
For the first writing assignment students do after reading this chapter, I specify what layout I
want them to use: which typefaces for body text and headings and what type size, spacing for
headings and bullets, and space after punctuation. That way, they’ll all have the experience of
preparing at least one paper with excellent layout. I also tell them that there are countless,
wonderful ways to have good layout for documents, and they should feel free to experiment and
find some of those ways for later assignments.
Additional exercise
As an in-class exercise, have students work in pairs and examine their earlier papers for layout.
Notes on the exercises
Exercise A (improving the layout of a memo)
Exercises B, C, and D (finding good and bad layout in published writing)
Exercises E and F (analyzing layout from publications)
These exercises are actually quite challenging. I use them as an opportunity to help students learn