1. Create A Title Slide To Introduce
Guidelines for
Preparing Slides
Create A Title Slide To Introduce
Your Presentation

2. Outline Formats Are Easier To Follow
Do not try to cover too many topics—this may strain the audience’s attention or cause confusion.

3. No More Than One Topic Per Slide

4. Maintain A Consistent Layout
A consistent layout and color scheme will create continuity and cohesiveness.

5. Use Bullets, Not Numbers
Bullet points replace complete sentences.
Bullets imply no significant order.
Use numbers only to show rank of
sequence.

6. 6 lines of text 6 words per line
Use The 6 x 6 Rule
6 lines of text 6 words per line
(Sometimes 7 X 7 Rule)

7. Keep Slides Easy To Read And Uncluttered
Allow plenty of room around
borders and illustrations.

8. 45 Point Select Readable Type Size 40 Point 35 Point
36 point for titles—
minimum.
24 point for body text—
minimum.

9. Use A Readable Typeface
And Font
Use Sans serif (no curly feet) such as Arial or universal for body text.
Use Serif (curly feet) such as Times New
Roman or Courier for body text.
No more than two fonts per slide.

10. Typeface Examples Typeface Examples Comic Sans MS Universal
Times New Roman
Arial
Century Schoolbook

11. Adjust Lettering To Discriminate Or Emphasize
Make titles a larger type size than body elements.
Emphasize important statements or words with bold, italic, larger size, color, underline, or different fonts.

12. Choose Color Carefully
Use the same color consistently
throughout the presentation.
Use light letters on a dark background and
dark letters on a light background.
Do not let color overpower the words.
Use color to communicate, not decorate.

13. Use Solid Colors Instead Of Fill Patterns On Charts
100 80 60 40 20
Patterns on bars or pie slices cause confusion.
East West North
Solid colors convey a clear bold message.
1st 3rd
Qtr Qtr

14. Use Simple Tables to Present Numbers
Use Tables This Row This Row That Row
For Your
Numbers
But, Not
Too Many
.06
.04 1
100 10 10 90 5 5

15. Enhancing the Presentation
Add Clipart, Pictures, Bitmaps, Animation, Video Clips, and Sound where appropriate.
If ever.

16. Enhancing The Presentation Transitions
The most natural movement is from left to right.
If making a special point, text could move from
the right to left.
Too many things flying around the screen detracts from the presentation.
Not every slide needs to be animated.

17. Enhancing the Presentation Keep everything in alignment.
Don’t go outside the default title and text
block.
Use handouts to show more detail than will project well on a slide.

18. Your Slides Are Not Your
Presentation
Slides draw attention to presentation.
Focus interest on what is important.
Audience must finish reading before you start talking.
Do not read slides.

19. Summary Slide Always use at least one but no more
than two summary/conclusion slides.

20. Finish Slide
“Thank You For Your Attention” or other appropriate finish slide.
Include 2 or 3 copies of finish slide to avoid inadvertent mouse “clicks”.