Phone Numbers Should Have Dashes, Not Dots

I would like to ask Cloud 9 readers a question... Why does everyone use dots in phone numbers now? Phone numbers are not web addresses, they are phone numbers. The convention that has potentially been around since Alexander Graham Bell is dashes. Why would we take it upon ourselves to change that convention? Is it because we think it looks cool? Well, obviously we do because it's all over the place now. Its so 1998.

The first time I saw the use of dots in phone numbers was probably about 14 years ago when I first started working as a designer. It was the "in" thing for designers to do way back then, and I also thought it was cool to put dots in phone numbers on designs like business cards, brochures, websites, etc. That is until I started to realize how important readability is. 

However unreadable it was, 14 years ago it was kind of original. Now its just annoying. For those of you that are wondering, here's how I believe a phone number should be formatted...

(800) 895-5988

or even...

800-895-5988

but not like this...

800.895.5988

I've even found other bloggers to ask... "Which one is more readable?"

So let's take a poll... Please comment to express which version you think is more readable and stylistically proper. If the majority of the world is now using dots and I'm just clueless, then please prove me wrong. If not, anyone who designs anything with a phone number on it, please stop using dots.

Consistency is More Important than Creativity

What Really Matters for Credit Union Websites: REVISITED - Part Four

OK, now we are getting down to the nitty gritty of website design for credit unions. Just a pre-cursor to this article... I'm never one to discourage creativity, but always enforce how it is used on a website. The original article speaks for itself and is just as relevant now as it was when written.

The Benefits of Good Brand Representation

What Really Matters for Credit Union Websites: REVISITED - Part Three

In the original white paper about "What Really Matters for Credit Unions Online", I touched on the importance of brand presence on credit union websites. The intention was to emphasize that a good user experience makes for a good impression of your brand. This applies to every little detail on your site.