Fonts and Typography Typography Accessibility and Readability 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What minimum color contrast ratio does WCAG 2.1 Level AA require for normal body text?
- 4.5:1 (Correct answer)
- 3:1
- 7:1
- 2:1
Correct answer: 4.5:1
WCAG 2.1 Level AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between text and its background for normal-sized body text to ensure readability for users with low vision.
Question 2: What is the recommended maximum line length (measure) for readable body text?
- 45–75 characters per line (Correct answer)
- 10–20 characters per line
- 100–120 characters per line
- 200+ characters per line
Correct answer: 45–75 characters per line
Optimal readability is achieved with 45–75 characters per line; shorter lines cause too many eye returns while longer lines make it hard to track from the end of one line to the start of the next.
Question 3: Which font characteristic can cause readability issues for users with dyslexia?
- High-contrast strokes between thick and thin parts of letters (Correct answer)
- Large x-height
- Generous letter spacing
- Rounded letterforms
Correct answer: High-contrast strokes between thick and thin parts of letters
High stroke contrast (common in Didone/Modern serifs like Didot) can cause letters to blur or 'flutter' for users with dyslexia or visual processing differences.
Question 4: What does 'accessible typography' mean in the context of web design?
- Typography that is legible and usable for people with a range of visual abilities and disabilities (Correct answer)
- Typography that loads quickly on slow connections
- Typography free of copyright restrictions
- Typography that renders identically on all browsers
Correct answer: Typography that is legible and usable for people with a range of visual abilities and disabilities
Accessible typography ensures text is legible, well-contrasted, and properly sized so that users with low vision, dyslexia, color blindness, or other disabilities can read content effectively.
Question 5: What is the WCAG recommendation for resizable text?
- Text should be resizable up to 200% without loss of content or functionality (Correct answer)
- Text should be fixed at 16px for consistency
- Text should only resize on mobile devices
- Text should auto-resize based on viewport width only
Correct answer: Text should be resizable up to 200% without loss of content or functionality
WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.4 requires that text can be resized up to 200% using browser zoom without loss of content or functionality.
Question 6: What is 'dyslexia-friendly' typography design?
- Design choices like larger spacing, clear letterforms, and high contrast that aid readers with dyslexia (Correct answer)
- Using fonts designed specifically for dyslexic users exclusively
- Removing all serif fonts from a design
- Using only uppercase text for clarity
Correct answer: Design choices like larger spacing, clear letterforms, and high contrast that aid readers with dyslexia
Dyslexia-friendly typography uses increased letter and word spacing, clear letterforms without ambiguous characters, and strong contrast to reduce cognitive load for readers with dyslexia.
Fonts and Typography Typography Accessibility and Readability 1
What minimum color contrast ratio does WCAG 2.1 Level AA require for normal body text?