Icons

Symbol resembles referent

Map readers often find it difficult to interpret a symbol on a map when the appearance of the symbol does not resemble the physical referent in the real world or the image in the reader’s mind.

Make the visual variables of the symbol (including text) resemble the real-world thing or people’s idealization of that thing. For example, the convention of using italic type for natural features (like rivers) conveys the fluid, moving nature of the referent.

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Linguistic metaphor

Linguistic phrases often reveal subtle spatial idealizations that people employ when thinking and reasoning about space. For example, by saying ‘turn off Main Street’ we make the street a platform, something with an edge.

When symbolizing features, echo spatial metaphors that are suggested by linguistic phrases involving the feature. Prepositional phrases will often connote these spatial images.