Supportsoft Glossary

Setting Readable Body Copy

Body copy refers to the main blocks of text in a design or web page. Its primary goal is readability, ensuring users can comfortably process long-form information.

You’ll often hear us refer to "body copy" or "body text." This is the meat and potatoes of any document or webpage. While headlines get all the glory, the body copy is where the actual conversation happens—it's the articles, the product descriptions, and the detailed support docs.

Success here is measured by one thing: comfort. If the text is too tiny, too squished, or gray-on-gray, users will just bounce. We have to consider the "measure" (line length); if a line is too long, your eye gets tired trying to find the start of the next one. Standard web practice suggests a size of 16px–18px with a line height that lets the text breathe. Treating body copy with respect shows the user we value their time.