ALL CAPS, Tone, & Memory

Putting words in ALL CAPS can signal importance. However, it can also feel like shouting. Does formatting text in all caps boost memory at the cost of a harsher tone? We used a randomized experiment with 1,200 email readers to find out.

Bold Text, Tone, & Memory

When sending emails, can bolding the key details make them easier to recall? If so, does it make other info less memorable? And how does it affect your perceived tone? We put all of these questions to the test in an email experiment.

Bulleted Lists & Memory

How can you make your writing more memorable? Whether it's an important email, presentation, or grocery list, you want your readers to remember what you wrote. Is a bulleted list the silver bullet?

Emoji Use

Across social media, emails, and other digital mediums, people are using emojis more than ever before. But how does it affect your image? Do contexts or reader differences matter? We conducted a randomized experiment with 1,200 people to investigate.

Parentheses - Nuance or Nuisance

Parentheses provide supplemental details that (while potentially helpful) are not essential. Does including those details (and the parentheses enclosing them) boost informativeness? Or are they just annoying? We have the data in this 1,200-person experiment.

Serif vs. Sans Serif Fonts

Serif fonts, with their decorative tapers, have historically been used in print media to help readers distinguish between letters. But in the digital age, sans serif fonts may be no less readable nor visually appealing, according to our 1,200-person email study.  

Vertical vs. Horizontal Bar Graphs

Bar graphs are among the most popular types of graphs used in presentations and reports. While vertical bars are more traditional, horizontal bars have gained popularity. which do audiences prefer? Our 1,200-person experiment has the answer.