Writing valid XHTML markup is not really as difficult as it sounds. If you learn a few new rules, you'll be marking up code in valid XHTML in no time. The best way to familiarize yourself with valid markup is to view source on site pages that have passed one of the validation services, such as W3C's Markup Validation Service. Here is a quick rundown of the basics to help you get started.

I guess the best way to do this is just to admit it straight out. Okay. Well. So. Recently I... I...

I used a table for layout.

There. I said it. Yes, I know, I know. But it was late. We were behind schedule. It wasn't a whole page or anything. Just a box across the top of the content on one page that would not stay put. I tried everything. I was desperate. I mean, what was I going to tell my boss? That I'd spent an entire day trying to get three lines of text to float to the left of an icon? I was going to tell him that was the latest holdup?

To conclude these notes about fonts, I turn to the Great Size Debate. In summary, the controversy concerns what unit of measurement designers should use to size text. The topic is, of course, much more complex than that statement conveys. In fact, reams (or screens) have been written on the issue. The primary points are these... To conclude these notes about fonts, I turn to the Great Size Debate. In summary, the controversy concerns what unit of measurement designers should use to size text. The topic is, of course, much more complex than that statement conveys. In fact, reams (or screens) have been written on the issue. The primary points are these:

During my venture into typography, I collected a hodgepodge of information and tips on using type on the web. In the hope of making sense of it all, I've tried to organize these jottings. Most are basics that I've included as helpful reminders, but I also found a few surprises.

For years I've been meaning to put together a "cheat sheet" of fonts and font alternatives for quick selection but never got around to it. Today I finally got so tired of Arial and Helvetica that I sat down to write a few out.

Of course, things are never that easy. I forgot to take into account how truly fascinating type is and how much I love fonts.

So, here is the result of my very enjoyable though brief excursion into typography. Each explanation should render in that particular font, if you have it installed.