This figure determines the maximum size of a typeset line that can be comfortably read at a single glance. Therefore, the larger the type, the longer the line which can be set. The lower limit of the line length is given by the average length of words in the text, which varies from one language to another. Excessively short lines result in too many hyphenated words, ragged margins or, in the case of justified copy, large gaps between words. A line should have no less than 3 or 4 and no more than 10 or 12 words on the average.
Point size is an important typesetting parameter.
The smallest type that can be read comfortably by the average person is about 6 points. Line spacing or leading also greatly affects legibility and aesthetics. Typefaces representing symbols are called pi fonts by typographers. The selection of typefaces and their combination is a learned skill acquired with many years of practice. Learn to kern The relative position of characters used to be determined by the imaginary rectangle enclosing each.