How to make text easier to read for dyslexia

1. Pick a dyslexia-friendly font

The most readable fonts share a few traits: clear sans-serif shapes, distinct letter forms (so b, d, p, q aren't mirror images), and generous spacing between characters.

• Atkinson Hyperlegible — designed by the Braille Institute for low-vision readers, works beautifully for dyslexia too.
• OpenDyslexic — weighted bottoms on each letter keep characters from flipping.
• Lexie Readable, Comic Sans, Verdana, Arial — well-tested fallbacks in ordinary tools.

2. Give the text room to breathe

The British Dyslexia Association recommends:

• Font size 12–14 pt in print, 16–18 px on screen.
• Line height 1.5.
• Character spacing at least 0.35× the letter width.
• Paragraph spacing at least 1.5× line height.
• Left-align text — never justify (uneven word gaps hurt tracking).
• Keep line length between 60 and 70 characters.

3. Keep sentences short

Aim for 15–20 words per sentence. Break longer ones. Every clause a dyslexic reader has to hold in memory is friction. Text Thrive's editor flags sentences over your threshold and suggests where to split.

4. Prefer common words

Long, uncommon words slow decoding. Swap utilize for use, commence for start, terminate for end. Text Thrive marks long words (7+ characters) and formal jargon so you can pick simpler alternatives.

5. Use structure, not decoration

• Frequent subheadings and short paragraphs.
• Bulleted lists over comma-separated series.
• Bold for emphasis — never italics or ALL CAPS.
• High contrast, but avoid pure white backgrounds — a cream or pale-yellow tint reduces glare.

6. Check the reading level

For general audiences aim for a Flesch Reading Ease around 60–70 (US grade 8) or LIX under 40. Both are shown live in the Text Thrive editor as you type.

→ Open the editor and check your text