Second Post

If you work with information and ideas, then writing plays a central role in your professional life.

• You might be a programmer, writing software documentation.
• You might be a scientist, writing a grant proposal.
• You might be a lawyer, writing a brief for court.

When we think of “professional writers” we probably think of novelists, screenwriters, or journalists. But the programmer, the scientist, the lawyer—and you, if your work depends on presenting written ideas—all deserve to be called professional writers.

But as professional writers, we do more than write. We edit, we format, we print, we generate PDFs, we make web pages. More than ever, we’re responsible for delivering the written word to our readers. So we’re not just writers—we’re publishers.

Typography is the visual component of the written word. Thus, being a publisher of the written word necessarily means being a typographer.

This book will make you a better typographer.

I’m not here to tell you that typography is more important than the substance of your writing. It’s not.

But typography can enhance your writing. Typography can create a better first impression. Typography can reinforce your key points. Typography can extend reader attention. When you ignore typography, you’re ignoring an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of your writing.

And isn’t that why you write at all? To have an effect on readers? To move them, to persuade them, to spur them to action?

If so, then you should want what typography has to offer. Best of all, it’s fast and it’s easy. Unlike, say, learning to be a better writer. (Skeptical? Have a look at typography in ten minutes.)