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Dale E. Hammerschmidt, MD
University of Minnesota Minneapolis

JAMA. 1985;253(9):1261.

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In Reply.—

I thank Drs Smith and Krogh for their kind comments; I confess that I have occasionally resorted to Dr Caccamise's solution (and more often have wished that I had done so!).

The rule I presented doesn't require a calculator with fresh batteries; the calculations were presented just to show the basis for my simple guideline:

NINE DOUBLE-SPACED LINES OF FIFTY CHARACTERS WILL ALMOST ALWAYS BE LEGIBLE; EXCEED THAT ONLY AT RISK OF LOSS OF AUDIENCE.

The corollary mentioned by Drs Smith and Krogh is a useful one, though. In glancing through the slides currently (dis)arrayed on my desk, I find it tough to read the ones with more than ten or 12 lines at normal reading distance.

I wasn't familiar with the "rule of eight," as stated by Dr Smith. I did pull out my calculator to check and found that—if the guidelines to which he alludes are . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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