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When designing a navigation menu for any document, selecting the right text size is essential to ensure clarity, establish a strong visual hierarchy, and enable quick access. The goal is to make entries instantly legible without overwhelming the reader or reducing elegance. While there is no universal font size that fits every context, a recommended range typically falls between 10 and 14 points, depending on the content format, audience, and delivery method.

For physical publications and formal reports, a font size of 11–12 pt is often ideal. This size achieves equilibrium between readability and page economy, allowing readers to locate sections rapidly without leaning in. Using a serif font like Times New Roman at this size boosts visual comfort due to the subtle strokes and thoughtful tracking that support smooth reading. In such cases, top-level entries can be set at 12pt, while secondary headings can be reduced slightly to 11pt to show structure without losing clarity.

In digital documents such as digital manuals or interactive guides, font sizes of 10 to 12 points work best for screen readability. While screens vary in display quality and user proximity, most users opt for increased size than printed material to reduce eye strain. A size of 11pt is frequently chosen for main headings, and 10 points for nested subheadings. It is crucial to never exceed 10 points even in compact layouts, ketik as tiny text become difficult to read on smartphones or poor-quality monitors.

For educational materials or accessibility-focused documents, increasing the font size to 12–14 pt can greatly benefit users. accessible layouts often use 14–16 pt, and while this may consume additional room, the trade-off in usability is highly justified. In these cases, maintaining consistent spacing between lines—typically 1.2–1.5x the text size—helps ensure comfortable reading.

The typeface used also affects how large text appears. modern typefaces like Verdana tend to appear slightly larger than serif fonts at the identical scale, so you may use a slightly reduced size with sans serif without compromising clarity. Conversely, if using a thin font, consider increasing the size by half a point to ensure clarity.

Stability is critical. Never combine inconsistent scales within the same level of hierarchy. If primary headings are 12pt, all level-one items should be 12pt. Use indentation, text intensity, or subtle background tones to differentiate levels rather than relying solely on font size. This creates a polished, organized layout and clarifies the organization.

Lastly, always test your table of contents in the real-world context. Print a sample and view it under realistic exposure, or test on various screens if it’s electronic. Ask a few readers to locate a specific entry quickly—if they hesitate or squint, the font size may be too small. Adjust accordingly.

In summary, the optimal text sizes for readable table of contents entries range from 10–14 pt, with 11–12pt being ideal for common formats. Consider the medium, user group, and text style when making your selection, and favor readability above space-saving. A thoughtfully scaled navigation does more than list sections—it encourages exploration with the material confidently and comfortably.