Commercial signage has a lot of responsibilities. It draws attention to your place of business, communicates your brand, and helps differentiate your firm from the competition.
A case in point is this 2019 FedEx Office study which revealed the following:
- 76% of respondents said they would enter a store imply because it had an interesting sign
- 68% stated they had purchased a product because the sign caught their attention
But choosing the perfect font, letter size, and color for your sign isn’t as easy as it may seem. Not only are there endless options to consider, there’s also the practical aspect of your choices. For instance, some selections tend to produce better final results while others may be more visible from a distance. When you’re producing signage and displays, there’s more at stake than meets the eye.
Read on for some fascinating facts about the most used letters in the alphabet and its role in designing signage that gets the job done.
Get to know the most-used letters in the alphabet
As you begin your signage plans, start by thinking about its most basic element—the alphabet. According to the English Oxford Dictionary, the most frequently-used letters in the English language are E, T, and A. Because these letters will probably be used over and over again, it’s a good idea to consider how they will render when produced. Are they easy to read when they’re placed next to one another? And what about the spacing, coloring, and contrast with the background? If the E, T, and A aren’t visually compelling, the rest of the letters in your sign will be less than unimpressive, too.
What makes E, T, and A so special?
Most important is their frequency of use as noted above, but there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Studies have found that the relative frequency of the letter E is 13%, compared to the letter Z which comes in last at .07% (Robert Lewand’s Cryptological Mathematics). In fact, one in every eight letters written in the English is the letter E, according to Bloomsbury International. The letter T holds special recognition for several reasons. It’s often used but also takes the cake as the most common first letter of a word and the most frequently used consonant.
Incorporate words that resonate, too.
Amp up the power of your signage by using high-impact wording and the most used letters in the alphabet. Writers know that certain words hold great influence, and they spend countless hours drafting evocative sentences that leave readers yearning to know more. Why not weave some compelling vocabulary into your sign to capture the attention of passersby? Here are five top contenders:
- Money: Let readers know how your product or service will save or make them more of the green stuff
- Save: Everyone wants to save time, money, and effort
- New: People are always in search of the latest and greatest
- Easy: Tell people how you can simplify their life and they will listen to what you have to offer
- You: It’s all about the consumer! Signs that include “you” in their verbiage grab readers’ attention and helps them imagine the benefits of the product or service
For visually-appealing custom signs that will get your business noticed, rely on the experts at Adler Display. For more than 80 years, we’ve been crafting amazing exhibits, signage, and display solutions that work. Ready to get started? Please contact our knowledgeable team today.
About Adler Display: Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Adler Display brings more than 80 years of experience to its clients in need of recognition displays, lobby and corporate interiors, custom exhibits, historical timelines, trade show displays, and signage and graphics. For more information about Adler Display, please visit the website at https://adlerdisplay.com/ or call 855-552-3537.