Illegible

Illegible describes text or symbols that cannot be read or deciphered because they are unclear, poorly formed, or damaged. It is commonly used to refer to handwriting, printed type, or on-screen text that fails to convey information in a legible way. Illegibility is a property of the perceivable form, not of the content itself.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin illegibilis, meaning “not readable,” from in- (not) + legibilis (readable), with legere meaning to read. In English, illegible has been used since the early modern period to indicate that characters cannot be identified, often due to the factors described below.

Causes and contexts: illegibility can result from poor handwriting or cursive that obscures letter shapes, faded or damaged ink, stains, or physical wear. In typography, overly ornate fonts, tight letterspacing, or small point sizes can reduce legibility. Display conditions such as low contrast, glare, or screen resolution also contribute. Technological factors include limitations of OCR systems when faced with unusual scripts, poor scans, or degraded documents.

Impact and improvement: illegible material hinders understanding, accessibility, and archival retrieval. Improving legibility may involve writing or printing clearly, increasing contrast and font size, using simpler typefaces, increasing spacing, and ensuring adequate lighting. For digital text, responsive design, accessible fonts, and proper rendering can enhance legibility across devices.

Contextual notes: in forensic examination and document preservation, illegibility is documented, and professionals may attempt to recover readable portions through transcription or image enhancement. See also legibility, readability, typography, and optical character recognition.