Why Justified Text Alignment is Rare on the Web and How It Can Be Improved

Justified text alignment is a common feature in print media, but relatively rare on the web due to various challenges and limitations. This article explores the reasons behind the rarity of justified text on the web and proposes solutions that could help improve its implementation.

Readability Issues

One of the primary challenges with justified text is that it can create uneven spacing between words, which can hinder readability, especially on narrow screens. This inconsistent spacing can make it harder for readers to follow lines of text, particularly for those with dyslexia or other reading difficulties. While left-aligned text tends to create a more organic and visually pleasing appearance, these readability issues can significantly impact user experience.

Responsive Design

The web is viewed on a myriad of devices and screen sizes, making it challenging to maintain consistent and appealing text layouts. Justified text can lead to awkward gaps and poor line breaks when the text reflows, rendering it visually unappealing on different devices. This is particularly problematic for users accessing web content on mobile devices, where screen real estate is limited.

Hyphenation Challenges

Justified text often requires hyphenation to minimize large gaps between words. However, implementing consistent hyphenation on the web can be complex and may not be supported consistently across all browsers and devices. Hyphenation algorithms must be carefully designed and tested to ensure that they do not negatively impact readability or introduce visual inconsistencies.

User Preferences

Many users are accustomed to left-aligned text on the web, as it is the standard format for most online content. This familiarity and comfort with left-aligned text can influence design choices, even when justified text might be more suitable for certain contexts. Web designers often opt for left alignment to avoid the complexities associated with justified text.

CSS Limitations

While CSS supports text justification, effectively implementing it requires careful consideration of line length and spacing. Many web designers choose to use left alignment due to the complexities associated with justified text, such as the need for letter spacing and optimized line breaks. Improving these CSS capabilities could make justified text more accessible and user-friendly.

Visual Appeal

Left-aligned text tends to create a more dynamic and less rigid appearance, which many web designers prefer for aesthetic reasons. The uneven right edge of left-aligned text can also contribute to a more organic and flowing design. However, with advancements in CSS and typography, justified text can be adapted to provide a similar aesthetic appeal.

Historical Context and Proposal

While justified text is often criticized for creating “rivers” of white space, this issue can be mitigated with careful implementation. Historically, hand-setting type allowed for letter spacing, word splitting, and manual adjustments to achieve beautiful justification. The era of industrial automation, however, introduced limitations that made justification more problematic. Today, we can benefit from the manual techniques of the past by implementing advanced CSS rules that address these issues.

Proposed Web Standard for Justified Text

A web standard that provides rule-based control over justification could significantly enhance the readability and aesthetic appeal of justified text on the web. Here is a proposed framework:

justify-min-width: 40em // use ragged right if the column is less than 40em

letter-space-start-at: 10 // begin using letter spacing after word spacing has expanded 10px

letter-space-maximum: 20 // do not expand word spacing by more than 20px

word-split: normal // never split words before other options are exhausted - may include a few known recognized splitting algorithms

river-detection-overrun: 3 // number of lines to overrun and reformat if a river is detected

Additional rules might be necessary to specify the balance between different factors, such as user preference and device compatibility. This standard would offer a flexible framework for web designers to implement justified text effectively, ensuring both readability and visual appeal.

Lastly, this web standard should allow users to override the default settings, as justified text aligns with the preferences of some users. By giving users the ability to choose their preferred text alignment, we can cater to a broader range of user needs and preferences.