When you have cataracts, font size does matter! My twice rescheduled surgery is now on for January and February 2025. I'm praying nothing interferes with it again!
I had cataract surgery about 5 years ago and yes, font size does matter, but after I had my cataract surgery now I can read 8 point font with no trouble at all.
I prefer 10-11 font size on creamish paper. Not because I can't read 8 point font, but when I preach, I want to read my verse from a distance. Sometimes, in the countries I get to preach, there's no good table or a stand, so bigger font helps me quite a bit. My travel preaching Bible is vbv, no references
I agree with you that font size isn’t the only determining factor, but because of everyone having different eye sight, different ages, different environments in which they/we read, it’s pretty unrealistic for anyone to make a statement about which is most important for everyone else! As a 70 yr old, wearing glasses, I find the font size most important…but not the only important characteristic. I personally really find the 12 pt about perfect, 14 being as big as I would use and 10 and below getting too small. Yes, I can read 10 pt on good paper with good spacing, line matched etc., but in a church sanctuary or in my car and in many other low light environments, it’s frustratingly hard to read! That’s my 10cents worth!👍😊
Font size and darkness are the main factors I use. I agree with line matching and page opacity. Older Cambridge Bibles with small print are readable for me. I will not buy ESV Bibles due to the lack of white space and smushed words
Yes, the other factors (dark print, opacity, spacing, line matching) are important, but hands down, font size is the most important to me. It's so important that I'm willing to use/stop using a translation over it. For example, I know you're familiar with the BSB since it's one of your favorite translations. Actually, mine too. However, I want a BSB that's not as heavy as the first edition and readable - second edition font was too small and too light. I'm giving it until the third edition to come up with a font size of 10.5 minimum (preferably a 12). If the third edition comes out with a font size less than a 10.5, I'm writing it off. It doesn't matter what other positive factors it has, the font size makes the call as to whether I continuing using the BSB or not.
You know what I absolutely agree My limit and I mean I'm pushing it is someone who's legally blind is 11.5 but if you give that to me on a paper with decent opacity and the font is dark and it's one of the modern fonts it's actually relatively readable with a pair of good magnifying reading glasses for me. Excellent video my brother
Bingo, Tim -- well said … and Thank You!! Yep, font size still matters but it's not the entire story and there are many variables that contribute. You taught me a new term in the process. I’d not heard of "line-matching" but, after looking up, I knew exactly what you were talking about … and agree.
I agree with everything you said. Line matching is a big deal for readability, especially if the print is not very dark and font is small. A good example would be the ESV heirloom thinline. I have a hard time with that. The leading is great on it, but because it's not line matched, it almost makes it worse. Also, not all 9 point fonts, for example, are the same size. The 8 point font on the Cambridge Concord is way bigger than the ESV thinline. The Allan NRSV has noticeably smaller font than the Cambridge NRSV, and their both 8.75. And if anyone thinks paper opacity doesn't matter, they should check out the SBL study Bible. It isn't even readable.
I have a comfort print Thompson Chain Reference bible. Not sure about the font size. But I'm happy with it. Surely wouldn't want the print any smaller.
For me, the Cambria font in my BSB is fine, though I would like it to be more bold. I like the layout as well. I only wish there was a BSB edition more like the NKJV Maclaren! So hard to beat that bible. Benefits of larger publishers like Thomas Nelson!
I absolutely agree with this assessment for the top four items, but for me, I would put paper opacity as number one. Number two isn’t so much font darkness but font/page contrast. A very bright paper can compensate for lighter font. Other than that, this list is solid.
Spot on...I have a Thomas Nelson 12 point KJV and yes, it's awesome, but I love my Thomas Nelson NKJV in 9 or 9.5 in comfort print and love it...and I'm a devout Catholic...thank you for all your videos.
Great video, and totally agree. Darkest of the font, line matching, and leading are hugely important, if those are good I can do a smaller font. My Grace and Truth Study bible is a 9 point. I use it everyday for scripture writing, but gave away the Everyday Woman’s bible….also a 9 point I could not see at all. I am so perplexed why so many women like the She Reads Truth, it has none of what was mentioned and an 8.5 font. I looked at one, in the store and it was like looking at a blank page the font was so light. JMHO
Good points to consider. I have long been aware of the Comfort Print and the darkness of the font being key to readability, but I haven't really thought about the impact of line matching and paper opacity and that "letting" thing. (Never heard that term before now.) As I've said before, I'm an old geezer. My eyes are 71 years old. 😉 To add to the problem, I have cataracts. My carry Bible has been the same for the better part of 30 years, my Thomas Nelson NKJV Wide Margin Reference Bible. (1994, printed in Korea) I don't know what the font size is, but in church sanctuaries it can be hard to read. In my office with a light directly overhead, it's okay. The font size of the marginal notes is *really* hard for me to read. But I am loathe to give this Bible up. Not only has it been with me for decades but it was rebound for me by my best friend.
The font size does matter. But the font itself is the most important. I cannot understand why we continue using times new roman for everything. There are other fonts that are waaaay easier on the eyes.
Another thing that matters is it serif or sans serif. Serif is easier on the eyes, but like it if the notes are sans sarif so you know it is not inspired text. Font size is very important for some people. My retina fell off (yes!) and is still reattaching, so font size is important.
Font size matters to me a lot! I got bad eyes! But Yes, all those other things in place would allow me to have a smaller font which is good because I like smaller Bibles. Can you recommend one that has like a 9 pt. Font but has all those other things that make it more readable?
I can actually read my old KJV baby Bible and old KJV bibles better than today’s 10 point print. Like you said darker font and clearer print. I wish they made today’s bibles in the KJV print style. Bigger isn’t necessarily better.
What's most important for my eyes.. 1) Generous leding 2) Very opaque paper 3) Line matching 4) Font style, shorter letters are easier. Tall letters taking up the leding space is not easy to read. 5) With these 4 points, 8 to 9 pt type is perfect. Dark print is hard for me to read. It just is too bold looking and I can't mentally focus. So comfort print is very uncomfortable.
Look at a 5th Edition Thompson Chain Reference or the old version of the Holman KJV Study Bible, and then compare them to the versions were re-done by 2K Denmark. So. Much. Easier. on the eyes.
When you have cataracts, font size does matter! My twice rescheduled surgery is now on for January and February 2025. I'm praying nothing interferes with it again!
Yeah I think to say that font size is meaningless is a very uninformed thing to say. Not everybody in the world has the same visual acuity.
I had cataract surgery about 5 years ago and yes, font size does matter, but after I had my cataract surgery now I can read 8 point font with no trouble at all.
I prefer 10-11 font size on creamish paper. Not because I can't read 8 point font, but when I preach, I want to read my verse from a distance. Sometimes, in the countries I get to preach, there's no good table or a stand, so bigger font helps me quite a bit.
My travel preaching Bible is vbv, no references
I agree with you that font size isn’t the only determining factor, but because of everyone having different eye sight, different ages, different environments in which they/we read, it’s pretty unrealistic for anyone to make a statement about which is most important for everyone else! As a 70 yr old, wearing glasses, I find the font size most important…but not the only important characteristic. I personally really find the 12 pt about perfect, 14 being as big as I would use and 10 and below getting too small. Yes, I can read 10 pt on good paper with good spacing, line matched etc., but in a church sanctuary or in my car and in many other low light environments, it’s frustratingly hard to read! That’s my 10cents worth!👍😊
Font size and darkness are the main factors I use. I agree with line matching and page opacity. Older Cambridge Bibles with small print are readable for me.
I will not buy ESV Bibles due to the lack of white space and smushed words
Yes, the other factors (dark print, opacity, spacing, line matching) are important, but hands down, font size is the most important to me. It's so important that I'm willing to use/stop using a translation over it. For example, I know you're familiar with the BSB since it's one of your favorite translations. Actually, mine too. However, I want a BSB that's not as heavy as the first edition and readable - second edition font was too small and too light. I'm giving it until the third edition to come up with a font size of 10.5 minimum (preferably a 12). If the third edition comes out with a font size less than a 10.5, I'm writing it off. It doesn't matter what other positive factors it has, the font size makes the call as to whether I continuing using the BSB or not.
You know what I absolutely agree My limit and I mean I'm pushing it is someone who's legally blind is 11.5 but if you give that to me on a paper with decent opacity and the font is dark and it's one of the modern fonts it's actually relatively readable with a pair of good magnifying reading glasses for me. Excellent video my brother
My preference is 10 point and above, but to be honest space between the lines matters more.
Bingo, Tim -- well said … and Thank You!! Yep, font size still matters but it's not the entire story and there are many variables that contribute.
You taught me a new term in the process. I’d not heard of "line-matching" but, after looking up, I knew exactly what you were talking about … and agree.
I would say that completely depends on your visual acuity.
I laughed quite hard as you were trying to read Chronicles in the tiny Bible. Your, "Ya, let's go somewhere else...," sent me over the edge. 😂
Ha ha. Of course that’s where I turn…
Me too, Fred! I'm still chuckling because I can relate so well.
I agree with everything you said. Line matching is a big deal for readability, especially if the print is not very dark and font is small. A good example would be the ESV heirloom thinline. I have a hard time with that. The leading is great on it, but because it's not line matched, it almost makes it worse. Also, not all 9 point fonts, for example, are the same size. The 8 point font on the Cambridge Concord is way bigger than the ESV thinline. The Allan NRSV has noticeably smaller font than the Cambridge NRSV, and their both 8.75. And if anyone thinks paper opacity doesn't matter, they should check out the SBL study Bible. It isn't even readable.
I have a comfort print Thompson Chain Reference bible. Not sure about the font size. But I'm happy with it. Surely wouldn't want the print any smaller.
For me, the Cambria font in my BSB is fine, though I would like it to be more bold. I like the layout as well. I only wish there was a BSB edition more like the NKJV Maclaren! So hard to beat that bible. Benefits of larger publishers like Thomas Nelson!
I absolutely agree with this assessment for the top four items, but for me, I would put paper opacity as number one. Number two isn’t so much font darkness but font/page contrast. A very bright paper can compensate for lighter font. Other than that, this list is solid.
And it really wasn’t listed by rank. This was a live video off the top of my head. But yeah, a ranking would be a good idea!
Spot on...I have a Thomas Nelson 12 point KJV and yes, it's awesome, but I love my Thomas Nelson NKJV in 9 or 9.5 in comfort print and love it...and I'm a devout Catholic...thank you for all your videos.
Line spacing is also very important. If they make font size larger, but decrease white space and line spacing then it’s still hard to read.
That is what leading space is.
Great video, and totally agree. Darkest of the font, line matching, and leading are hugely important, if those are good I can do a smaller font. My Grace and Truth Study bible is a 9 point. I use it everyday for scripture writing, but gave away the Everyday Woman’s bible….also a 9 point I could not see at all.
I am so perplexed why so many women like the She Reads Truth, it has none of what was mentioned and an 8.5 font. I looked at one, in the store and it was like looking at a blank page the font was so light. JMHO
Good points to consider. I have long been aware of the Comfort Print and the darkness of the font being key to readability, but I haven't really thought about the impact of line matching and paper opacity and that "letting" thing. (Never heard that term before now.)
As I've said before, I'm an old geezer. My eyes are 71 years old. 😉 To add to the problem, I have cataracts. My carry Bible has been the same for the better part of 30 years, my Thomas Nelson NKJV Wide Margin Reference Bible. (1994, printed in Korea)
I don't know what the font size is, but in church sanctuaries it can be hard to read. In my office with a light directly overhead, it's okay. The font size of the marginal notes is *really* hard for me to read. But I am loathe to give this Bible up. Not only has it been with me for decades but it was rebound for me by my best friend.
Back in the days of metal type, strips of lead were added between lines of type to create spacing. The word outlasted the technology.
@@denisewenke8323 Oh, "leading". My ears are 71 years old, too, so I was hearing "letting." Thanks for setting me straight.
@larryg.overton2951 English and its sound-alike words 😀
The font size does matter. But the font itself is the most important. I cannot understand why we continue using times new roman for everything. There are other fonts that are waaaay easier on the eyes.
Another thing that matters is it serif or sans serif. Serif is easier on the eyes, but like it if the notes are sans sarif so you know it is not inspired text. Font size is very important for some people. My retina fell off (yes!) and is still reattaching, so font size is important.
My Zondervon Archaeology study bible is a pretty small font, especially the footnotes…Tim will Know!
Font size matters to me a lot! I got bad eyes! But Yes, all those other things in place would allow me to have a smaller font which is good because I like smaller Bibles. Can you recommend one that has like a 9 pt. Font but has all those other things that make it more readable?
All I'm thinking over here, "Will you ever do a review of the Humble Lamb NKJV product refresh?" 🤣
I prefer my Bibles to be in the 8-to-10 point range, and a good typeface is essential for the lower end of that range.
I like the CSB study bible but the font is hard to read.
The ESV personal size study bible is the radist travel size bible for me to carry!
Would the genuine leather synthetic liner hold for a good decade given the leather is very flexible? I got the cowhide one but got this one for travel
When one ages, font size matters. A larger font size makes it much easier to read the Bible in low light when everyone is asleep.
I can actually read my old KJV baby Bible and old KJV bibles better than today’s 10 point print. Like you said darker font and clearer print. I wish they made today’s bibles in the KJV print style. Bigger isn’t necessarily better.
I have the "Baby MacLaren," and I can read it no problem. I was surprised.
What's most important for my eyes..
1) Generous leding
2) Very opaque paper
3) Line matching
4) Font style, shorter letters are easier. Tall letters taking up the leding space is not easy to read.
5) With these 4 points, 8 to 9 pt type is perfect.
Dark print is hard for me to read. It just is too bold looking and I can't mentally focus. So comfort print is very uncomfortable.
You omitted good light. Remember… light is your friend!
Look at a 5th Edition Thompson Chain Reference or the old version of the Holman KJV Study Bible, and then compare them to the versions were re-done by 2K Denmark. So. Much. Easier. on the eyes.
9pt - 10pt sweet spot for me
🌹🔥🌟🔥🌹