Mixing different sizes of same font within an editorial layout

nonprofitGirl6 April 2006 · 15:03

Can anyone justify the use of making specific word(s) within sentences bigger? I have a page of text, set in two columns. The writer and I want to call out specific phrases. The layout I’ve generated does this: Garamond 11pt throughout but 2-3 word phrases are 16pt. Leading is 14pt throughout. I see this used in many publications and in advertisements all the time. Most everyone here likes it. But there are a few conservative folks who find it distracting. Anyone know of articles from typographers or designers discussing mixing big and small sizes together? Thanks so much.

Elizabeth Carey...6 April 2006 · 15:54

Typically, negative leading (16/14) is only used in the case of titling or headlines, when it is easier to control how ascenders and descenders are going to (not) collide. {I recommend Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style as a great reference.}

I think you can make a case for just about anything, ho