Seeking the next most readable font after Lexend

droopy · 11-25-2019, 09:05 PM

Based on what I've read about the Lexend font, it is a most readable font.

I have been using Lexend as my default font on my ereader until someone pointed out that it doesn't have bold or italics versions. Unfortunately the font creator didn't create a bold or italics version of the font, nor is it a priority for him.

So, fellow readers, what is the second-best readable font? I want to use a font that has been trialled and put tot the test the way Lexend has? What do you all propose?

theducks · 11-25-2019, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopy

Based on what I've read about the Lexend font, it is a most readable font.

I have been using Lexend as my default font on my ereader until someone pointed out that it doesn't have bold or italics versions. Unfortunately the font creator didn't create a bold or italics version of the font, not is it a priority for him.

So, fellow readers, what is the second-best readable font? I want to use a font that has been trialled and put tot the test the way Lexend has? What do you all propose?

Comic Sans ?

Seriously, what I call readable would bring a rant from Jon. What he likes, might be hated by others.
Readable is dependent on multiple factors: display tech is one, USER vision is another. I am down to 1 eye. Contrast and line spacing are important. Sans or Serif, not so much. YMMV

Uncle Robin · 11-25-2019, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Comic Sans ?

Seriously ...YMMV

Seriously, the above extreme example really proves the point. I don't use Comic Sans, but to this day I am utterly unable to understand why its very existence is considered a crime against sentience. Similarly, I am unable to grok the touted superiority of Lexend. The samples I read seem no better or worse than Bookerly or my defaults, Arial Unicode and Noto - both of which handle multiple scripts much better than most Roman-only fonts I've tried.

BookCat · 11-26-2019, 01:50 AM

I noticed that Lexend has a simple 'a' and 'g' - the type with a simple round part, like a simple child's print. Futura is the most obvious one which comes to mind, although there are many others.

Andika New Basic (I don't like the slant on the 'a'.)
Caudex (a little disconnected.)
Glacial Indifference

You might find some useful fonts on this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=320073

ZodWallop · 11-26-2019, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

...The samples I read seem no better or worse than Bookerly or my defaults, Arial Unicode and Noto - both of which handle multiple scripts much better than most Roman-only fonts I've tried.

I'm a fan of Noto myself.

Have you tried Literata Book? It's another font by Google, very similar to Literata, but the spacing is different.

droopy · 11-26-2019, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'm a fan of Noto myself.

Have you tried Literata Book? It's another font by Google, very similar to Literata, but the spacing is different.

Thanks for your reply. I've just clicked on your Literat Book link. I see that it has serifs. According to Lexend.com, serifs add cognitive noise.

ps67 · 11-26-2019, 12:48 PM

I think there is no perfect font for everybody. In my opinion the best way to find the most readable font is to read with different font and let judge to Your eyes. Because it is a very personal matter.

My preferred font is Bookerly and I recently discovered Lexia DaMa that is also a good font. They both are serif font and I don't have the perception of cognitive noise.

Other persons prefer sans serif font, I don't like them.

Finally I have a Paperwhite and a Kobo Aura One and not all font will perform the same in both reader. And in my Kobo there are installed also KOReader and Plato: again two other engine in which the beauty of the font can vary.

DNSB · 11-26-2019, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopy

Thanks for your reply. I've just clicked on your Literat Book link. I see that it has serifs. According to Lexend.com, serifs add cognitive noise.

And yet I prefer reading with a serif font. The problem is that font choice is a very personal item. I may love a font and read with it for hours while another person may look at it and go "Yuck!". You may want to read with a sans serif font and that's your choice.

My personal feeling is that at small font sizes (i.e., the body font in an ebook), serif fonts are easier to read. Headers and other bits of text using a larger font size often look better in a sans-serif font.

As for the opinion at lexend.com, are you sure you want to quote someone who feels that italic and/or bold are not needed? Though I would love to see a proper definition of cognitive noise other than saying it's a buzzword (buzz phrase?).

droopy · 11-26-2019, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

As for the opinion at lexend.com, are you sure you want to quote someone who feels that italic and/or bold are not needed?.

Where does Lexend.com say that italics/bold are not needed? From what I read, it's just not a priority.

Deskisamess · 11-26-2019, 01:10 PM

I use Bookerly on my Kindles and Kindle apps. I'm not fond of san serif fonts for reading.

Isn't font choice largely subjective, especially for people with no learning/reading issues?

I tend to use a larger line spacing than some, it can be more helpful when my nystagmus is acting up than a larger font size. A more narrow text column is also easier on my eyes during those times. The less distance my eyes have to travel mean less jumping around.

fjtorres · 11-26-2019, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopy

Thanks for your reply. I've just clicked on your Literat Book link. I see that it has serifs. According to Lexend.com, serifs add cognitive noise.

And for every person that touts sans-serif as superior, there's one or more who prefer serif fonts.
It's all about taste.
Find something *you* like and ignore everybody else.

BookCat · 11-26-2019, 04:52 PM

I change font for every book I read, that's the beauty of an ereader. For diaries and letters, I choose a handwritten font; for something spooky I go for a bold serif font which looks 'old'. It only becomes annoying if I'm reading several books at once; each time I change book, I have to readjust the font!

DNSB · 11-26-2019, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopy

Where does Lexend.com say that italics/bold are not needed? From what I read, it's just not a priority.

Perhaps you noticed that there is no bold, bold-italic or italic variant of Lexend? Actions speak louder than words.

shalym · 11-26-2019, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Perhaps you noticed that there is no bold, bold-italic or italic variant of Lexend? Actions speak louder than words.

Exactly. If they thought that they were needed, they would become a priority.

Shari

JSWolf · 11-26-2019, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droopy

Thanks for your reply. I've just clicked on your Literat Book link. I see that it has serifs. According to Lexend.com, serifs add cognitive noise.

And saying that serifs add cognitive noise is pure BS.

I don't like reading on my H2O with a sans-serif font. I prefer a serif font.

The font I like best is CareInk which can be found at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=184056

If the creator of Lexend truly believed in his font, he'd have created bold, bold italic, and italic versions. As it is, what he's created is rubbish because it's useless. So his saying that serifs cause a problem is also rubbish.

Try ChareInk and see how you like it. For some, they do prefer sans-serif. But try for yourself and see what you think.

11-25-2019, 09:05 PM	#1
droopy Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 2912460 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kobo Forma	Seeking the next most readable font after Lexend Based on what I've read about the Lexend font, it is a most readable font. I have been using Lexend as my default font on my ereader until someone pointed out that it doesn't have bold or italics versions. Unfortunately the font creator didn't create a bold or italics version of the font, nor is it a priority for him. So, fellow readers, what is the second-best readable font? I want to use a font that has been trialled and put tot the test the way Lexend has? What do you all propose? Last edited by droopy; 11-25-2019 at 09:26 PM.

11-26-2019, 12:48 PM	#7
ps67 Guru Posts: 753 Karma: 7025494 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Italy Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Elipsa, Pocketbook Inkpad 4, Inkpad Color	I think there is no perfect font for everybody. In my opinion the best way to find the most readable font is to read with different font and let judge to Your eyes. Because it is a very personal matter. My preferred font is Bookerly and I recently discovered Lexia DaMa that is also a good font. They both are serif font and I don't have the perception of cognitive noise. Other persons prefer sans serif font, I don't like them. Finally I have a Paperwhite and a Kobo Aura One and not all font will perform the same in both reader. And in my Kobo there are installed also KOReader and Plato: again two other engine in which the beauty of the font can vary. Last edited by ps67; 11-26-2019 at 12:52 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Will the Lexend font display using Sigil?	mikedownesmedia	Sigil	7	11-22-2019 09:15 AM
How to make Burmese font readable to Kindle	Jpax	Kindle Formats	6	11-29-2012 09:07 PM
Choosing the most readable font on the PP	jusmee	Astak EZReader	0	12-15-2009 05:14 PM
Most Readable Font	VikingDave	Sony Reader	5	01-01-2008 11:07 PM

11-26-2019, 01:50 AM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I noticed that Lexend has a simple 'a' and 'g' - the type with a simple round part, like a simple child's print. Futura is the most obvious one which comes to mind, although there are many others. Andika New Basic (I don't like the slant on the 'a'.) Caudex (a little disconnected.) Glacial Indifference You might find some useful fonts on this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=320073

11-26-2019, 01:10 PM	#10
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,740 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	I use Bookerly on my Kindles and Kindle apps. I'm not fond of san serif fonts for reading. Isn't font choice largely subjective, especially for people with no learning/reading issues? I tend to use a larger line spacing than some, it can be more helpful when my nystagmus is acting up than a larger font size. A more narrow text column is also easier on my eyes during those times. The less distance my eyes have to travel mean less jumping around.

11-26-2019, 04:52 PM	#12
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I change font for every book I read, that's the beauty of an ereader. For diaries and letters, I choose a handwritten font; for something spooky I go for a bold serif font which looks 'old'. It only becomes annoying if I'm reading several books at once; each time I change book, I have to readjust the font!

Advert

Advert