Scripts are a great way to add elegance and personality to any layout. However, with swashes, connectors, alternate characters, and casual handwriting styles, script fonts can sometimes be difficult to read.

Depending on what you’re using them for, you may need fonts with more readability and less style. For the ultimate scanability at large size headlines or introductory paragraphs of up to 35 words, you will want an extremely easy-to-read script.

How can you choose script fonts that are easy to read?

There are three things to consider when choosing script fonts. These are not hard and fast rules, but rather general measurements that work in tandem to find clarity in characters, words, and paragraphs.

1. X-Height. The lower the x-height, typically the harder it is to read. If the counters (the areas that are entirely or partially enclosed) are tall and wide, it is easier to make out the letterforms.

2. Stroke Contrast. If the thicks and thins of the letterforms have a varying weight contrast, the letters will be less readable than fonts that have less stroke contrast. Monoline, or consistent line weight scripts will typically be the easiest to read.

3. Stress. The more lean that the characters have, the less readable it is. Upright characters are best for readability. Typically upright characters will be closer together, making it easier to scan.

With those in mind, we’ve found some newly-designed scripts that are highly readable and elegant. Although some of these are more readable than others, just use the three indicators to assess specifically for your audience.

Consider these to add personality and prestige to your projects that you’re designing for age groups who may need larger type, those with possible sight loss, or just the general public.

Bulletto, Zetafonts