# We're not allowed to use fonts other than the default? When did this happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 6, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476 "2006-10-06T07:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/21 "2006-10-06T15:30:18Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] [Ban Comic Sans!](http://www.bancomicsans.com/) And that is all I have to say about that. šŸ™‚ [/QUOTE] That web site is awesome! I loathe Comic Sans, and it bugs the crap outta me when people write their emails in it. Itā€™s overly cutesy in a way that dotting your "i"s with little circles is. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/22 "2006-10-06T15:35:04Z")
[QUOTE=Rilchiam] Eh, fair enough. And **Contrapuntal** , I know what an idiom is, for frackā€™s sake. It just struck me while I was composing the OP. Donā€™t tell me that Iā€™m the only person whoā€™s ever seized on that phrasing. [/QUOTE] I have absolutelt no idea where you stand in that regard. Youā€™re the first person I have ever heard complain about the impossibility of doing things in the future. Actually, I am not sure it is an idiom. I just suggested that you think of it as one, if the literal meaning was confounding you. Your complaint seemed to me to be the height of pedantry, when similar phrases are used all day long every day. Pretty much civilization would come to a halt if we were constrained from talking about things that may or may not happen in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/23 "2006-10-06T15:39:14Z")
The literal meaning did not confound me, TYVM. I already didnā€™t like **fetus** ā€™s tone\*, so I thought Iā€™d tweak him a bit about his phrasing. \*although his apology was well worded, so Iā€™m letting it go. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/24 "2006-10-06T15:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] That web site is awesome! I loathe Comic Sans, and it bugs the crap outta me when people write their emails in it. Itā€™s overly cutesy in a way that dotting your "i"s with little circles is. [/QUOTE] I dot mine with little hearts. Because I loooooove you, pulykamell!! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/25 "2006-10-06T15:44:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Diā€™Chi of Tricor] Why do I suspect that Iā€™m being subtly mocked? :dubious: :dubious: :dubious: :dubious: :dubious: [/QUOTE] Why should today be different from any other day? šŸ˜‰ * * * I think occasional use of different fonts, sizes and colors can help make a point or clarify a post. But like most posters, I agree it is best to leave the default. Jim {But, I will not stop my small font asides} ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/26 "2006-10-06T19:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Jim {But, I will not stop my small font asides} [/QUOTE] Good. I enjoy them. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/27 "2006-10-06T19:44:00Z")
Hey, where can I download a font that will dot the _i_s and _j_s with little hearts? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/28 "2006-10-06T19:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Hey, where can I download a font that will dot the _i_s and _j_s with little hearts? [/QUOTE] Here you go: [http://desktoppub.about.com/library/fonts/dd/uc\_juleslove.htm](http://desktoppub.about.com/library/fonts/dd/uc_juleslove.htm)šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/29 "2006-10-06T20:36:16Z")
From the Onion: [ul] [li][RƩsumƩ Font Offends Employer](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/52073)[/li][li][Area Client Would Like A Different Font](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32009)[/li][li][Alpha-Bits Now Available In Serif Font](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/36324)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/30 "2006-10-06T20:39:24Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] Hey! You people who put two spaces after a period. Quit it; it annoys the ex-typesetters in the audience. [/QUOTE] I refuse. But you will be happy to know that this message board shares your preference. (try it.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/31 "2006-10-06T22:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=begbert2] I refuse. But you will be happy to know that this message board shares your preference. (try it.) [/QUOTE] Because proportionally spaced fonts donā€™t require two spaces after a period, of course. If you were typing in Courier, you can do your two spaces all you want. But old habits die hard, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/32 "2006-10-07T00:31:02Z")
Thanks for the backup, **Anaamika**. Thatā€™s exactly how I feelā€“that one of the biggest reasons I belong to _only_ this message board and donā€™t post to other MBs, free or not, is that thereā€™s a higher level of maturity here which generally precludes pretty-posting in serious, non-emotional discussion. Want to use a big, fluffy font to express your best wishes for a marriage or your condolences for a Doper whoā€™s lost a loved one, in MPSIMS? Be my guest. But if weā€™re having a serious discussion about sociology, Iā€™d rather have it in a serious typeface, and thatā€™s why I pay to play here. IMO, the only reason other fonts/colors/etc are still available is that they can be used cleverly in certain contexts, like in the ā€œDonā€™t talk about sheep sex, Iā€™m at work!ā€ threads that pop up every once in a while. If you feel you need to spruce up your anthropological argument, though, the first thing I think is ā€œI hope s/heā€™s not just trying to cover up a lack of contentā€. > [@Rilchiam](#): > > I already didnā€™t like fetusā€™s tone\*, so I thought Iā€™d tweak him a bit about his phrasing. Hey, Iā€™ve done the same plenty of times. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/33 "2006-10-07T01:09:15Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Because proportionally spaced fonts donā€™t require two spaces after a period, of course. If you were typing in Courier, you can do your two spaces all you want. But old habits die hard, I guess. [/QUOTE] Can you explain this further please? To me, proportionally spaced fonts are the ones that need double-spacing at the end of sentences the most, because they look too run-on. Courier, to me, is the font that needs double spacing the least. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/34 "2006-10-07T01:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] Can you explain this further please? To me, proportionally spaced fonts are the ones that need double-spacing at the end of sentences the most, because they look too run-on. Courier, to me, is the font that needs double spacing the least. [/QUOTE] And Iā€™ll add that, in either case, double-spacing improves readibility tremendously. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/35 "2006-10-07T01:31:55Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] And Iā€™ll add that, in either case, double-spacing improves readibility tremendously. [/QUOTE] Hmmmā€¦letā€™s try an experiment. Here is a sentance. Here is another. In this example, I am only single-spacing after the period. Does it look more or less readable then the one below it? Now Iā€™m using double-spaces after the period. Like that. Did you see it? Iā€™ll do it again. There we go. Hmmmā€¦neither one os more or less _readable_, but the first one does seem off, but thatā€™s just because Iā€™m used to seeing double-spacing. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/36 "2006-10-07T01:39:57Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Hmmmā€¦letā€™s try an experiment. Here is a sentance. Here is another. In this example, I am only single-spacing after the period. Does it look more or less readable then the one below it? Now Iā€™m using double-spaces after the period. Like that. Did you see it? Iā€™ll do it again. There we go. Hmmmā€¦neither one os more or less _readable_, but the first one does seem off, but thatā€™s just because Iā€™m used to seeing double-spacing. [/QUOTE] Uh-huh. Note that on web pages, you donā€™t have the option; browsers donā€™t display double spaces (in fact, I think it may even be part of the W3C standard that whitespace is collapsed.) Makes sense to me. Let the people who learned to type on IBM Selectrics continue doing what makes them happy, but spare the rest of our eyeballs the outrage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/37 "2006-10-07T02:27:13Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] And Iā€™ll add that, in either case, double-spacing improves readibility tremendously. [/QUOTE] I absolustely disagree. An extra space in a proportional font is one of those things that unnerve me to no end. Thereā€™s rivers of white space between sentences and it just is painful to me to read. It simply doesnā€™t look right and breaks up the visual rhythm of a paragraph. My favorite quote on this comes from _The Elements of Typographic Style_ > [@](#): > > In the nineteenth century, which was a dark and inflationary age in typography and type design, many compositors were encouraged to stuff extra space between sentences. Generations of twentieth-century typists were then taught to do the same, by hitting the spacebar twice after every period. Your typing as well as your typesetting will benefit from unlearning this quaint Victorian habit. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/38 "2006-10-07T02:48:40Z")
Is there a logic to the argument, one way or another? Or is it simply a subjective taste preference? Iā€™ve been under the impression that readibility was scientifically measurable (but I could be wrong). Chicago Manual of Style says two spaces, for what itā€™s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/39 "2006-10-07T03:49:38Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] Chicago Manual of Style says two spaces, for what itā€™s worth. [/QUOTE] Cite, please? Hereā€™s mine (bolding added): > [@Chicago Manual of Style](#): > > 2.12 > Line spacing and word spacing. For the hard copy, the entire text and, if possible, all extracts, notes, bibliography, index, and other material should be vertically double-spaced. **A single character space, not two spaces, should be left after periods at the ends of sentences (both in manuscript and in final, published form)** and after colons. (For colons in bibliographic forms, see 16.15, 17.169.) No extra character space should be left after the final punctuation at the end of a paragraph; the hard return should follow the punctuation immediately. (If you cannot remove all such extra spaces, the publisher or typesetter will delete them.) No extra vertical space (blank lines) should be left between paragraphs unless a break must appear in the printed version (see 1.79). I might add that one of the first things either the publisher or the copyeditor will do to the electronic file of a manuscript is strip out all multiple spaces. Having said that, I will confess to the habit of typing two spaces after a sentence period (except when editing, of course; I seem to be able to control my tic at will). ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476/40 "2006-10-07T04:04:21Z")
Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Huh, I never realized before that you can actually post in other fonts. Neato. Sorry, I couldnā€™t resist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-not-allowed-to-use-fonts-other-than-the-default-when-did-this-happen/375476.md?page=3)