Serif or Sans Serif?
When you start a document, do you ever hover your mouse over to the toolkit and play around with fonts and how different they look on your document? Or do you feel fine using whatever pre-set font the program (Google Docs, Word, Notes, Pages, etc.) puts in front of you? Do you ever notice that the font you choose can give the document and entirely different feeling:
Let’s take Sally, since she probably sympathizes with both serif and sans serif:
The first line about Sally and her wares would be considered a sans serif font (Euphemia), whereas the second one would be the serif font (Cardo). Just a few words to define here. Definition of a serif: A serif is a little line of decoration, that you’ll see at the end of the letter. “Sans” is just French for “without,” meaning the font doesn’t have those decorations at the end of the letter. Once you know the difference, you’ll start to see the different types of fonts everywhere. Serif, a font with little end decorations; sans serif, without those decorations.
The Serif
The endings have decoration that wouldn’t be present for a sans font.
The four fonts above would all be examples of sans serif fonts, even though they do look quite different.
When do I use Serif or Sans Serif?
I typically like to use a serif font with text that will be in longer paragraphs—stories and articles. I also enjoy using serif in more formal design presentations.
For more direct copy that has bullet points, or a more active tone, I would suggest a sans serif font.
Or if I want to give my document a modern vibe, I’ll go with a serif font.
Sans serif, in general, is easier to read, though it can be less decorative. You’ll notice it on most signs, and you’ll see with any sort of message that’s obtrusively trying to get your attention.
But the truth is that there is no hard and fast rule to using serif or sans serif. It’s really a matter of preference.
Try a document out where you use a Sans Serif header throughout and a serif font for the paragraphs. And then reverse it. Does it change the mood? If you like one over the other, consider using the method again for future design.