Can you refer to text size and and font style in language analysis?

[nicks67]

I'm pretty confused about this, because I've heard that examiners like it when students do this, but my own teacher has told us not to do this. Just for an example, if a particular sentence in an article was in bold, are we allowed to analyse this in our response and suggest the intended effect of having a sentence in bold?

[pi]

I would certainly be paying attention to bold/italics/etc. If font size is obviously different, then that's worthy of note too.

[heart]

yes 100% from the book 'thinking fast and slow'

[nicks67]

Thanks guys!

[teacher28]

DEFINITELY!

In fact, a clever observation of these visual aspects of a text is one thing that can set your response apart.  Keep in mind, though, that the task refers to how "language" is being used to persuade and don't go overboard!

Typography is an important element of many forms of persuasive texts. The font style carries with it connotations and connections that the graphic designer and/ or copy editor is well aware of.

Similarly, the text size: a large font is much more imposing than a timid little one and can represent or create, mood, atmosphere or tone.

Just be aware that unless the text is a blog or a forum post then the writer is unlikely to have made decisions regarding font style or size -- it is more likely to have been the person responsible for layout and other graphic elements. So don't say "The writer uses a bold font to..."
Instead: "The choice of the unembellished Arial font adds gravity to the content of the heading..."

[heids]

Just do remember to ensure accuracy.  Stating 'Calibri font' when it is in fact Arial is simply not on.  Equally, referring to font size as 18pt when it's only 16pt has similar effects.  Rumour has it that examiners are so irritated by such errors that you may lose not only one, but two marks.

[teacher28]

Yes, those are good points, bangali_lok

[Adequace]

Just do remember to ensure accuracy.  Stating 'Calibri font' when it is in fact Arial is simply not on.  Equally, referring to font size as 18pt when it's only 16pt has similar effects.  Rumour has it that examiners are so irritated by such errors that you may lose not only one, but two marks.

If you don't know the name of the font, should you just not talk about the enlarged font in your essay?

[heids]

Yes, those are good points, bangali_lok

If you don't know the name of the font, should you just not talk about the enlarged font in your essay?

Whoops.  Should remember to make a disclaimer when being frivolous.

Ignore me.