University IT
Text Justification
Justified text, where both left and right edges align with the page margins, can create accessibility issues. The software adjusts spacing between words to force alignment, making the text harder to read—especially for users with a disability like dyslexia. This problem is amplified on mobile devices.
Compare the following two passages. The first is justified:
The Pacific Railroad Companies accept, with pride and satisfaction, these gold and silver tokens of your appreciation of the importance of our enterprise to the material interests of the sections which you represent on this occasion, and to the material interests of our whole country, east and west, north and south. These gifts shall receive a fitting place in the superstructure of our road, and before laying the tie and driving the spikes, in completion of the Pacific Railway, allow me to express the hope that the great importance which you are pleased to attach to our undertaking, may be, in all respects, the speed forerunner of increased facilities. The Pacific Railway will as soon as commerce shall begin fully to realize its advantages, demonstrate the necessity of rich improvements in railroading as to render practicable the transportation of freights at much less rates than are possible under any system which has been thus far anywhere adopted. The day is not far distant when three tracks will be found necessary to accommodate the commerce and travel which will seek a transit across this continent. Freight will then move only one way on each track, and at rates of speed that will answer the demands of cheapness and time. Cars and engines will be light or heavy, according to the speed required and the weight to be transported. In conclusion, I will add that we hope to do ultimately what is now impossible on long lines, transport coarse, heavy and cheap products for all distances, at living rates to the trade. Now gentlemen, with your assistance we will proceed to lay the last tie, the last rail and drive the last spike.
Leland Stanford, Promontory Point, UT, May 10, 1869
The second uses standard left alignment:
The Pacific Railroad Companies accept, with pride and satisfaction, these gold and silver tokens of your appreciation of the importance of our enterprise to the material interests of the sections which you represent on this occasion, and to the material interests of our whole country, east and west, north and south. These gifts shall receive a fitting place in the superstructure of our road, and before laying the tie and driving the spikes, in completion of the Pacific Railway, allow me to express the hope that the great importance which you are pleased to attach to our undertaking, may be, in all respects, the speed forerunner of increased facilities. The Pacific Railway will as soon as commerce shall begin fully to realize its advantages, demonstrate the necessity of rich improvements in railroading as to render practicable the transportation of freights at much less rates than are possible under any system which has been thus far anywhere adopted. The day is not far distant when three tracks will be found necessary to accommodate the commerce and travel which will seek a transit across this continent. Freight will then move only one way on each track, and at rates of speed that will answer the demands of cheapness and time. Cars and engines will be light or heavy, according to the speed required and the weight to be transported. In conclusion, I will add that we hope to do ultimately what is now impossible on long lines, transport coarse, heavy and cheap products for all distances, at living rates to the trade. Now gentlemen, with your assistance we will proceed to lay the last tie, the last rail and drive the last spike.
Leland Stanford, Promontory Point, UT, May 10, 1869
Notice the unnaturally large spaces in the first paragraph? The justified formatting adds irregular spacing that makes the text harder to read compared to the left-aligned version.
