Graphology

Many texts rely on the use of layout, space, images, colour and different font types to help convey their meaning. Often, these can be used in very obvious ways to help support meaning; at other times, their use may be more subtle. In all cases, graphological features tend to combine with other language levels to help support interpretation.

Types of graphological features

Layout, shape and space

The layout of a text is often related to its genre. For example, shopping lists, emails, menus and advertisements all tend to have prototypical layout features so that they are visually easily recognisable. 

Typography

Typographical features are those related to the way that fonts are used and set out in texts. These may include aspects of type, size, colour, effects (for example, using bold, underlined or italicised font), the choice of background against which a font is set, and any spacing that is used. The careful use of typographical features can help readers to follow writing clearly, highlight important points, and aim to produce dramatic effects.