To Justify or not to Justify, that is the question

[Taltos]

I'm curious. I did a search on this topic here and found a few random comments but not much.

What is your opinion on justified text on a web page? Overall good or bad? Are there specific places that it is good and places it is bad?

My personal opinion, so far, has been not to use it. I really like the way it looks in decent paragraphs but I know it is harder to read. Usability has won out in most cases for me. But I am beginning to wonder if it makes a noticable enough difference in people moving on from a site versus them staying because it looks a little better.

Anyone else?????

[andheresjohnny]

I think it depends upon the circumstance. When I'm creating a sales page I use both to get a specific look.

Otherwise I'll normally "not-justify" headings and "justify" paragraphs.

[chicgeek]

I personally prefer justification for bodies of text, to the degree that I'll use a sitewide justified attibute in my CSS.

It's a matter of aesthetics, and it just looks better.

[funguru]

i use justity too.. works well with a tabloid format. It defines columns and is pleasing to the eye too.

[andheresjohnny]

Plus, if you use the justify/no-justify correctly, you can make even a 10 foot sales page look organized.

[Taltos]

Seems a consensus is forming. I never used it because I was a bit of a usabilista. I read a bunch of stuff that said it was difficult to read and hard on the eyes, etc., etc. It can get a little ugly on the web if you don't force some breaks in the right places.

But I am beginning to lean towards using it as it just looks really clean in the right places on a page.

Thanks for the input!!! Anyone else?

[kristeejo]

*justify*

[Taltos]

That's about as short and sweet as it gets. Thanks!

[LazyJim]

As you all seem to have realised justified text is often more aesthetically pleasing. As for usability it can both help and hinder.
Justified text (i.e. justified both left and right) enforces the straight lines of a grid-structured layout, visually reinforcing the grid, and so supporting both the usability and aesthetics of the page.

The thing is this is all about the page seen as a whole like when scanning or browsing, but not that useful if you actually have to read the text, in which case ragged right hand side can actually help you keep your place in the text. (you automatically recognise the shape made by the different line lengths, to some degree, as you read down the page).

Not only can justification remove the benefits of ragged text, it creates more problems, for example the speed your eyes need to move across the page varies as the word or letter spacing grows and shrinks; or extra uneven lines of white space run though your block of text like rivers.

The issue on the web is compounded (as usual) because web browsers don't have the best justification algorithms (at least not yet). It can certainly make a mess, I think one of the biggest mistakes is the lack of auto-hyphenation when justification goes over-the-top with the squashing or stretching.

Well justified text blocks can look good and emphasise the important lines and structure of the page but badly justified ones undermine it and are distracting or create blotchy effects (where the text creates light and dark areas (blobs of white space and blobs of dense lettering) where a reasonably uniform weight (shade or darkness) is desired).

Obviously the algorithms will vary from browser to browser too, so you should check out how it looks on the browsers that most of your users use.

Remember the fact that reading on computer screens is already harder than reading on paper and you should see it's worth having second-thoughts about using justification. Also some people who already have trouble reading will often find justified text even harder. (standard reference web site: RNIB, page: http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups...xtjustify.hcsp)

My advice as you'll hear often, is to look at each case individually, with an informed mind and an appropriately balanced and objective viewpoint.

One way to guard against the problems of badly justified text is to avoid narrow columns which greatly reduce the chances of any given line of text having a good fit.

Another solution is to not use justification, replacing the straight vertical line made by the last letters of each line by an actual straight line, or the right hand edge of a block of colour. Sometimes this can be the only option if the medium of the web is encumbering your visual design and you can't change it (for whatever reason) to better suit the medium.

[kristeejo]

Originally Posted by LazyJim

As you all seem to have realised justified text is often more aesthetically pleasing. As for usability it can both help and hinder.
Justified text (i.e. justified both left and right) enforces the straight lines of a grid-structured layout, visually reinforcing the grid, and so supporting both the usability and aesthetics of the page.

The thing is this is all about the page seen as a whole like when scanning or browsing, but not that useful if you actually have to read the text, in which case ragged right hand side can actually help you keep your place in the text. (you automatically recognise the shape made by the different line lengths, to some degree, as you read down the page).

Not only can justification remove the benefits of ragged text, it creates more problems, for example the speed your eyes need to move across the page varies as the word or letter spacing grows and shrinks; or extra uneven lines of white space run though your block of text like rivers.

The issue on the web is compounded (as usual) because web browsers don't have the best justification algorithms (at least not yet). It can certainly make a mess, I think one of the biggest mistakes is the lack of auto-hyphenation when justification goes over-the-top with the squashing or stretching.

Well justified text blocks can look good and emphasise the important lines and structure of the page but badly justified ones undermine it and are distracting or create blotchy effects (where the text creates light and dark areas (blobs of white space and blobs of dense lettering) where a reasonably uniform weight (shade or darkness) is desired).

Obviously the algorithms will vary from browser to browser too, so you should check out how it looks on the browsers that most of your users use.

Remember the fact that reading on computer screens is already harder than reading on paper and you should see it's worth having second-thoughts about using justification. Also some people who already have trouble reading will often find justified text even harder. (standard reference web site: RNIB, page: http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups...xtjustify.hcsp)

My advice as you'll hear often, is to look at each case individually, with an informed mind and an appropriately balanced and objective viewpoint.

One way to guard against the problems of badly justified text is to avoid narrow columns which greatly reduce the chances of any given line of text having a good fit.

Another solution is to not use justification, replacing the straight vertical line made by the last letters of each line by an actual straight line, or the right hand edge of a block of colour. Sometimes this can be the only option if the medium of the web is encumbering your visual design and you can't change it (for whatever reason) to better suit the medium.

geez - makes my answer look kinda silly eh?

[chicgeek]

Naw, Schenker would love ya.

[kristeejo]

Originally Posted by chicgeek

Naw, Schenker would love ya.

bless you.

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by kristeejo

geez - makes my answer look kinda silly eh?

I thought your post was simple and effective and conveying your opinion of what was needed.

Your post was short and concise, mine was long and probably not very well written.

Just to make a usability point: the best would have been between the two with a few more links to further information if someone actually wanted more.

[kristeejo]

was just teasin. : )

[Taltos]

It is all good for me! And LJ, for me at least, skip the links. I had done a bunch of searching and reading before I posted this. I am really looking hard at my hard-line usability stance of never justifying so I did a lot of research. I am getting exactly what I wanted out of this thread...different opinions from a group of experienced, knowledgeable people.

I'm not ready to justify everything but I will be using it where I didn't use it at all before. I have some ties to groups that have some trouble reading. I, fortunately, do not have problems. But I have watched people with certain problems reading justified text on the web. Your point about losing your place on the justified blocks was one of the most common and frustrating for the people I got to watch and work with.

Thanks again to all who expressed any kind of opinion

[LazyJim]

[Webnauts]

Do not use justify, as it leads to variable spacing between words and can create visual patterns of white space which are difficult to ignore.

[kristeejo]

I think this just boils down to ones taste. Design is SUBJECTIVE - never can please everyone.