In my experience, a minus sign and red color, has always won out in terms of recognition.
Not long ago I actually ran a quick study on a handful of individuals where I asked the users to identify all of the negative values on a spreadsheet. I had one spreadsheet that used the red/minus sign notation, and one that used the parentheses. By far users were faster at identifying the values using the red/minus notation. They were also more accurate. I think the most important indicator, I think is the color. Alexander makes a good point about the formatting when the only option is black and white. -adam On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 11:15 AM, Alexander Baxevanis < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In most consumer-facing applications that I've seen (e.g. online > checkout/payment systems etc.) negative numbers have been shown just > with a minus sign, and in most cases in red colour. > > On the other hand, I've seen the "parentheses" notation being used > quite extensively in accounting, e.g. when companies publish their > financial figures. Maybe in these cases there is a requirement to make > negative numbers conspicuous even when printed in black & white. > > Cheers, > Alex > > On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 2:55 PM, Jeff lippiatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am currently doing some research before I make a suggestion for how > this > > information should be displayed. Of the known formats I know that using > > parenthesis () around the number or using the minus sign in front of > the > > number can be used. I have also seen both of these variations with the > > numbers displaying in red. > > > > I was just looking to get some feedback or possible resources that > might > > have more information or research that backs it one way or the other so > I > > can be more informed with this decision. Thank you for your feedback > and > > time in advance. > > ________________________________________________________________ > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > -- adam connor little green toaster 413.244.4457 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.littlegreentoaster.com ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
