What's your favorite font for print, such as a term paper?

[raccoon]

I'd say Arial. I like Comic Sans for informal uses.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. You should always use a serif font for something that is going to

be read extensively, like a term paper.

Sans serif fonts are too hard on the eyes and the reader assumes the material is boring, when in fact that is often not the case.

Times New Roman. There is a reason the NYT and most major magazines print articles in it.

[Dr. Strange]

2. Yep, Times New Roman, 12 point.

Anything else would be uncivilized.

[raccoon]

4. I should've used another example other than term paper, since those are

pretty regulated. Many instructors required Time New Roman 12 point.

Let's say you're typing something to print for, say, a club meeting's minutes. Or a letter to somebody who doesn't have email. I think there are 3 or 4 such people. :silly:

[Midlodemocrat]

6. I think it depends on how much information needs to be read

by the folks.

Like for example, an agenda in a sans serif font would be fine, because there's not that much text.

Anything that requires reading, though, I'd go with a serif. And, it wouldn't need to be Times New Roman. There are lot of nice ones out there.

[mainegreen]

3. Serif fonts are MUCH harder on the eye IMHO.

I despise with the passion of a thousand fiery suns all serif fonts. Why on earth would we unnecessarily complicate the shapes of letters with dangling rotten bits? I've actually avoided websites merely because the entire website is in serif fonts. It looks like crap.

Helvetica is one of the most perfect fonts ever.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Huh. That's actually been proven to be untrue, but I find it interesting

that you think that.

The 'dangling' bits of the letters allow the reader to skim and not read each word individually, but rather the entire sentence.

Unfortunately, due to the advent of desktop publishing, a lot of stuff is printed in sans serif. Where the biggest issue is, IMHO, is in children's textbooks. Should always be in Times New Roman for readability.

[mainegreen]

9. For me, I just can't get past the bits.

It may be true for everyone else, but not for me.

Most programming environments do come with times new roman as the default.
I simply can't use it. I just find it harder to read. Gives me headaches.

Actually, I always use Verdana fixed width to program in. Times new roman turns into a muddled pile of rubbish.

Example:

$this->read_folders<$this->current_folder><$uid><'subject'>=(isset($header->subject)?$header->subject:'');

vs

$this->read_folders<$this->current_folder><$uid><'subject'>=(isset($header->subject)?$header->subject:'');

I have a really hard time following the top one.
The lower one is crystal clear to me.

Maybe I'm just a freak, but I have a really hard time with serif fonts. :silly:

[Midlodemocrat]

10. LOL. I certainly don't think you're a freak.

I can see what you mean. When I was doing advertising back in the day of mechanicals and typesetters, kerning was such a big deal that I just got used to using a serif font.

Plus, the company I was working for at the time was run by the biggest idjit on the planet who insisted that we include every.single.piece.of.information about the product on a 3 page, four color brochure. Much like the car ads do today.

:rofl:

What a relief to leave that jacknut behind.

[MrCoffee]

5. For a term paper, TNR 12 pt. For most other things, Garamond

Garamond is a lovely font.

[1gobluedem]

8. Times New Roman 12 pt

I like Comic Sans for informal too.

[MrsMatt]

11. Times NR, Garamond, Georgia for serif fonts

Arial and Verdana for non-serif.

I despise Comic Sans - someone I work with used it for an internal directory and it was damned hard to read. I find it over-used and too "cutesy". The only other font I hate more is Marigold (again, when used in a professional publication it is excruciating to read).

[blueraven95]

12. I personally really like sabon

I think it's elegant while retaining readability.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. To use a sans serif font for anything official is to show you don't care and have a flip attitude.

Term papers - any academic, serious work, actually - should always use a serif font. Times New Roman has become the standard, but certainly garamond or book-whatever-it's-called are appropriate.

I, too, like comic sans - it's still easy to read, but has an attitude of fun and informality to it. (Not for papers, of course).