What Is The Difference Between Font Size And The Text Size

Typography is a crucial element in any design or written content. It is the art of arranging text in a visually appealing and readable way. Within typography, font size plays a significant role in enhancing the overall aesthetics and legibility of the text.

It is the measurement of the height of a font, typically measured in points. However, for those not well-versed in the world of typography, understanding the nuances of font size can be confusing.

Here, we will delve into the difference between Font Size And The Text Size and explore how it can impact the overall look and feel of a design app or written piece. From understanding the basics of font size in Relation to its practical applications, here aims to provide a comprehensive guide for designers, writers, and anyone interested in the intricacies of typography.

What Is Text Size?

Text size refers to the font size that appears on-screen. The browser determines this font, and you can change it independently of other website design elements, such as type sizes and colour. The default size, text size for most browsers, is 12px. However, you can set it to any value between 6px and 32px.

It is an important aspect of typography that can greatly affect the readability and legibility of a piece of text. Text size is usually measured in points, with one point equal to 1/72 of an inch. The most common text minimum sizes are between 10 and 14 points, although larger sizes may be used for headings or titles. It is important to choose the right text typographic size for the intended audience and the purpose of the text.

What Is Font Size?

Font size refers to the actual physical size of the lettering in a text block. This will often be determined by how large a typeface has been chosen for use on your website or may reflect how many “pixels” are allotted on a screen by your web hosting provider.

Font size plays a significant role in the overall design of the document, as it affects the aesthetic appeal and the clarity of the text. Choosing the right font size ensures readers can easily and comfortably read your text. Different formats and platforms require different font sizes.

For instance, a printed newspaper may use a smaller base font size than an online article, as the latter may be viewed on smaller screens. In addition, different sizes of digital fonts have different sizes, and it’s essential to select a font that’s easy to read and complements the tone and style of the document.

The Difference Between Font Size And The Text Size

Regarding typography, many terms may seem interchangeable but have specific meanings. Two such terms are font size and text size. While they may sound similar, they refer to different aspects of typography.

• Font size refers to the size of the individual characters, or glyphs, within a font. It is measured in points, with one point equal to 1/72 of an inch. Essentially, font size determines how large or small the letters of a particular font appear.
• On the other hand, text size refers to the size of the text block as a whole. It is measured in pixels, ems, or other digital units and determines the overall text size of a page. This includes font size and other factors such as line spacing and margins.
• While font size is a characteristic of a particular font, text size can be adjusted independently of the font used. In digital design space, it is common to use a responsive design process approach, in which the text size is adjusted depending on the size of the device used to view the document.
• For example, the larger text might make a document more readable on a tablet or smartphone. The same document might use smaller text when viewed on a laptop or desktop. In addition, the text size can be adjusted using the document’s settings, allowing the reader to customize the size of the text to their preferences.

How To Change The Text Size

You need to know a few differences between text and font sizes. Text size refers to the  actual size of the text on a page, while font size is how big the actual letters in the text are. So, if you want your text to be bigger, you should increase the font size. Your browser usually controls text size, while font size is not.

This means that different browsers will have different default settings for text size and font size. However, there are some tricks that you can use to change these settings. For example, you can use Chrome’s “Page Inspector” extension to change text and font sizes on a page.

Microsoft Word

Changing the text size is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to make your documents look uniform and professional. There are three text size options – Large, Medium, and Small – which you can change by selecting the Text Size tab in the ribbon and clicking on the appropriate option.

This way, you will always have a default font size that’s comfortable for reading while ensuring that your documents look neat and tidy.

Options: There are a few ways to change the text size in Microsoft Word. The easiest way is to go to the “Document” tab and click the “Text Size” button. This will open up a dialogue box where you can adjust text and font sizes. You can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + Plus (for enlarging) or Minus (for reducing).

On Websites

Website text size can be changed using the ‘Settings’ menu or keyboard shortcuts. You can also use HTML tags to change the font size. There are a few different ways to change the text size on a website.

Some browsers, like Chrome and Firefox, let you change text and font sizes. The easiest way to change the text size on your website is probably by using an extension such as Page Inspector for Chrome or Text Size for Firefox.

These extensions will let you control text and font sizes on any page or post you have opened in your browser. Once installed, click on the “Text Size” icon (or type “text size” into the address bar), and you’ll be able to change the text size on any page or post that you have opened.

On Computer

Changing the text size on your computer is easy – head over to “Control Panel” and click “Appearance and Personalization.” On Windows Vista/7/8, you can change the font size by heading to “Windows Vista/7/8: Control Panel” and clicking “Fonts.” From there, select the font you want to use from the dropdown menu.

Mozilla Firebox

Mozilla Firebox is a browser that allows you to change the text size of all web pages you visit. This makes it ideal for people with vision problems who want to read the small print. In Mozilla Firefox, changing the text size is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps.  Hold the Ctrl key while scrolling the mouse wheel up or down to increase or decrease the text size.

Alternatively, you can adjust the text size by going to the menu bar at the top of the browser window and selecting “View” and then “Zoom”. From there, you can zoom in or out on the page, which will adjust the text size accordingly. Another option is to select “Options” in the menu bar and select “Content.

How To Change Font Size

For font size, website visitors have a few different options at their disposal. You can change the font size using the “Fonts” tab or the “Text Size” slider on the same page. For example, if these tools don’t work, try a keyboard shortcut – Ctrl+F11. Remember that larger fonts may not look as good on some devices, so testing them before making any changes is important.

• First, select the text that you want to change. This can be a single word, a sentence, a paragraph, or even the entire document.
• Once you select the text, look for the font size option in the toolbar or menu. A number, a drop-down menu, or a slider may represent it.
• Adjust the size to your desired level, keeping in mind that larger sizes may require more pages or affect the overall layout of the document.
• If you’re unsure what size to use, consider experimenting with a few to see what looks best.

Microsoft Word

If you want to change the font size of a document in Microsoft Word, there are several ways you can do it. You can open the “Tools” menu and select “Options.” From here, click “Text” and then “Font Size.” You can also use keyboard shortcuts – Ctrl + (to increase font size) and Ctrl + – (to decrease font size).

On Computer

To change the font size on your computer, click on the “File” menu and select “Options.” Under “Display,” choose the “Font Size” option in the options window. Please select a new font size by clicking on the number next. Click OK to save your changes and close the options window. Try another way to change the font size on your computer:

• When editing or creating a document, use the “100%” button to increase the font size.
• To lower the text size, click on “100%”.
• If you need to make slight adjustments (for example, if your text is too small), use the “50%” and “25%” buttons to achieve the desired sizing.

Mozilla Firebox

Changing the font size on your browser can be quite a hassle. Especially tricky if you want to make it bigger or smaller than the default. Thankfully, Firefox has a built-in feature that can help with this – go to ‘Settings’ and then click ‘Text Size.

You will see the default text size and other sizes you might need for different purposes. For example, if you want to make the text 20% bigger (from its current size), type in 200%. If everything is too small and hard to read, try increasing the font size using Ctrl + (plus) or Ctrl + (minus). However, remember that excessive enlargement of fonts could result in illegible content.

Important To Use Both Text Size And Font Size

Using only one of these measures will result in unevenly sized text blocks that look unprofessional and amateurish on a website. When compared side-by-side, you’ll see that different browsers default to differing sizes for letters like “I” and “o,” making reading text on a website difficult for users. There are also accessibility reasons to consider when adjusting font or text size.

If your website is handy for people with cognitive disabilities who have difficulty seeing small print. You will want to ensure the font size is large enough to be readable. Conversely, suppose your website caters primarily to desktop viewers rather than mobile ones. In that case, it’s probably unnecessary to increase the Secondary font size as much as the text size to ensure legibility.

How To Adjust The Text Size & Font Size On Your Website

Measuring the characters in a particular typeface refers to font size; people typically measure it in points. It determines how large or small the text appears to the reader. Understanding the nuances of font sizes is essential for designers, marketers, and anyone involved in creating and presenting content. Here are To Adjust The Text Size & Font Size On Your Website:

• Access the backend of your website.
• Locate the CSS file or section where you defined the text and font styles.
• Look for the specific CSS rule that controls the text size and font size
• Adjust the values of the text-size and font-size properties to your desired size
• Save the changes and refresh your website to see the updated text and font sizes

Benefits Of Using Text Size & Font Size

One key aspect to consider is the hierarchy of information. Different font sizes can be handy to differentiate between headings, subheadings, and body text. By using larger font sizes for headings and smaller sizes for body text, designers can guide the reader’s attention and make the content more organized and easy to follow. This hierarchy ensures that the most important information stands out and is easily digestible. Here are the Benefits Of Using Text Size & Font Size:

• Improved Readability: Using appropriate text and font sizes ensures the audience easily reads the content.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Proper text and font sizes make the content more accessible to individuals with visual impairments or reading difficulties.
• Consistent User Experience: Maintaining consistent text and font sizes throughout a document or website ensures a cohesive and professional appearance.
• Increased Engagement: Clear and legible text encourages readers to engage with the content and stay on the page longer.
• Improved Comprehension: Using optimal text and font sizes can enhance the understanding and retention of information.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: Choosing appropriate text and font sizes helps optimize the content for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless user experience on smartphones and tablets.

Conclusion

Understanding the between Font Size And The Text Size is crucial for creating professional and visually appealing documents. Whether it’s for a presentation, report, or website, choosing the right font size can greatly impact your content’s overall message and readability.

By keeping in mind the various measurement systems and their corresponding sizes, as well as the importance of font hierarchy, you can elevate the design and effectiveness of your work. So next time you’re working with fonts, consider the differences in font size questions to make the best impression.

Frequently Asked Questions