Font selection

A font, or typeface, is a set of characters (letters, numbers, symbols) designed to have unity of style. Fonts have names like Times New Roman or Arial, given to them by the type designer, intended to suggest their stylistic quality.

Word processing software allows you to change fonts to aid readability, add emphasis, or set a tone in your writing. Such choices can make your document clearer and more attractive, but inappropriate or excessive use of fonts can clutter your work.

If you have a choice, select a font that fits your writing situation in an easy-to-read size, usually 10 to 12 points. (A point is a measure of the height of the font, based on a special ruler that printers use.)

Fonts that are funky or decorative should be used only when they seem appropriate for your subject and audience. For example, conveys an informal, handwritten style. It would not be a good choice for a formal paper, but you could use it to suggest a handwritten annotation.

Fonts fall into two broad categories: serif and sans serif (without serif). A serif is a little stroke at the top or bottom of a character. Note that Georgia and Times New Roman have serifs. A sans serif font has straight edges and no strokes at the top or bottom. Verdana and Arial are sans serif fonts.

Related topics:

Fonts for college and workplace documents

Fonts for on-screen documents