Reading speed and comprehension as a function of typography

Abstract

180 university freshmen were the subjects in a study to compare square span, spaced unit, and standard typography in terms of reading speed and comprehension. Results were analyzed by the analysis of variance method and showed that: (1) more words were read with spaced unit typography than with either square span or standard typography. (2) comprehension was greater using the spaced unit groups. (3) accuracy, as measured by the per cent of correct answers to questions pertaining only to that portion of the test article marked by the subject as read, was approximately the same for all three methods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)