Content means nothing if it is not displayed in a way that makes sense.

Your audience will most likely scan your documents for relevance before they actually read the documents.  Therefore, how you design your documents matters.

There are many ways that you can use the appearance of your document to make it easy to read, including:

• Use a layout consistently throughout your document that makes it easy for the reader to find the most important information.
• Include a document title that lets the reader know what she is reading and the purpose of the document.
• Use headings in bold print that summarize the main point for each topic in your document.
• Write short sentences and paragraphs. Present information in small chunks under a heading that summarizes the main point.
• Incorporate white space – don’t create a dense, dark, text-filled page.
• Add graphics where appropriate.
• Use bullet lists.
• Use a font that is easiest to read, not the prettiest or most expressive.
• Don’t over-format your document.  Keep the emphasis on clear and easy-to-read.