# What is the preferred 'professional' font nowadays? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900 "2014-03-30T15:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/21 "2014-03-31T00:15:20Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Times New Roman is a cramped, cluttery default that makes every document a torture to read. Times New Roman is a perfectly ne classic, conservative font that is very easy to read if you don’t display it in miniature. 😛 My gut-feel answer to the OP is that any font is fine for business communication if it doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb and scream “look at me!” – i.e.- when looking at a document, the first thing that should strike the reader is the content and not the awesomeness of the font. And in general, I agree with the rule of thumb that sans-serif tends to be best for the Internet and serif for printed material. I’ve occasionally come across printed books that were done in a sans-serif font like Helvetica and I personally find them really annoying and hard to read. BTW, on my Kindle Paperwhite, I have Baskerville selected by default and really love the look of it. Much more elegant than the clunkly default Caecilia. Interesting note about Baskerville [here](http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/08/09/1334209/baskerville-is-the-greatest-font-statistically-says-filmmaker-errol-morris). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/22 "2014-03-31T00:23:18Z")
I’ve convinced most people to use Georgia in my dept. I find it’s very easy to read in longer documents… As this example shows, its similar to Times Roman. But its sharper, more defined edges. [http://designmodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/TNR-Georgia.jpg](http://designmodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/TNR-Georgia.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/23 "2014-03-31T00:25:11Z")
I really like Knuth’s Computer Modern. People always think I put way more effort into my work than I do, even though I’m using the default LaTeX template – which basically looks like a Word document with a different font. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/24 "2014-03-31T02:29:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Times New Roman is a perfectly ne classic, conservative font that is very easy to read if you don’t display it in miniature. 😛 I didn’t change the font size; I quote myself in the default font, then pasted the same text, changing only the font to Times New Roman. Just like this … I didn’t change the font size; … To 2 I didn’t change the font size; … Or 3 I didn’t change the font size; … That’s not an opinion. That’s the font. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/25 "2014-03-31T02:31:21Z")
Sabon, Book Antiqua/Palatino, Goudy Old Style. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/26 "2014-03-31T02:33:09Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Times New Roman is a cramped, cluttery default that makes every document a torture to read. I tend to assume anyone who uses it either doesn’t know how to change the font, or is a lawyer (most of whom do not prize clarity and ease of communication). It was designed for newspaper work in 1932! IT’S HORRIBLE! ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/27 "2014-03-31T02:38:55Z")
There is no “one font” that is the preferred “professional” font. If anything, the standard fonts that come with MS Office are at a disadvantage because they are used ad nauseum by millions of people who have no knowledge of typography. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/28 "2014-03-31T02:54:29Z")
I don’t think you can go wrong with Times or Times New Roman. If you got it, Minion Pro (or Minion) is probably my favorite all-purpose serifed typeface. Classy font, doesn’t draw attention to itself. Then again, there are those who say it’s too clean, too “polite.” I’m fine with that. Bookman Old Style and Baskerville are nice and, to give you a little curveball, I’ve always been in love with Zuzana Licko’s Mrs. Eaves typeface, but that’s a relatively modern typeface (c. 1996). For long runs of text that are printed, I generally do not like sans serifs. For screen display, sans serif seems more natural to me. in that realm, I tend to be conservative: Helvetica, Optima (a sans serif with a “serif-like” feel to it), and Verdana (specifically tailored for the screen.) Fairly boring choices, but I tend to like fonts that don’t draw attention to themselves unless I want them to. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/29 "2014-03-31T03:04:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > For example, in Florida all filings “shall be submitted in either Times New Roman 14-point font or Courier New 12-point font.” This rule technically applies only to appellate practice but most trial courts have adopted it in their local rules. So what happens if the filing was submitting with TNR 12 or Courier New 14 ? Are they really measuring the size ? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/30 "2014-03-31T03:38:12Z")
Believe it or not, the rule (Fla. R. App. P. 9.210(a)(2)) goes on to state that: > [@](#): > > All computer-generated petitions, responses, and replies shall contain a certificate of compliance signed by counsel, or the party if unrepresented, certifying that the petition, response, or reply complies with the font requirements of this rule. The certificate of compliance shall be contained in the petition, response, or reply immediately following the certificate of service. Brief research does not reveal any decision in which a pleading was actually stricken for failure to comply with the rule, but it probably would have been by an order that wasn’t selected for inclusion in the local reporters. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/31 "2014-03-31T03:39:03Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I didn’t change the font size; I quote myself in the default font, then pasted the same text, changing only the font to Times New Roman. Just like this … > > That’s not an opinion. That’s the font. I didn’t accuse you of deliberately fudging the font size, I’m just saying that the sample you posted is hard to read because that’s the size in which that particular font displays on this site with the particular display defaults that apply. It’s not evidence that Times New Roman is intrinsically hard to read, which it certainly is not. I admit, however, that in particular circumstances I’m quite happy to select a different font. As I mentioned I love Baskerville on the Kindle, and on a bookreader app on my tablet I’ve always used Georgia, in preference to Times New Roman which is also available (along with many dozens of others). But for printed materials coming off my laser printer, I still like the traditional look of TNR for most documents, usually in 12-pt. If there’s one font that is guaranteed not to scream out, “wow-- look at this font!!” it has to be the quiet and traditional TNR. Which very often is precisely the idea. Obviously we have different opinions but it’s hard to argue that TNR calls attention to itself in any kind of negative way. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/32 "2014-03-31T03:45:10Z")
Fonts need to look professional. I use Bookman Old Style ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/33 "2014-03-31T04:05:40Z")
The United States Supreme Court requires Century Schoolbook. The California appellate courts require something that is equivalent to Times New Roman, but they have never complained about Century Schoolbook in my briefs. Or my tighty whities, boxers or boxer briefs. (Boxer briefs are the greatest invention of the 20th century.) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/34 "2014-03-31T04:33:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t think you can go wrong with Times or Times New Roman. If you got it, Minion Pro (or Minion) is probably my favorite all-purpose serifed typeface. Classy font, doesn’t draw attention to itself. Then again, there are those who say it’s too clean, too “polite.” I’m fine with that. I had never heard of Minion until I noticed it was the default font in the current version of Acrobat (X?). It’s alright. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/35 "2014-03-31T05:13:29Z")
We’re required to use Trebuchet for everything at work. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/36 "2014-03-31T05:23:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I had never heard of Minion until I noticed it was the default font in the current version of Acrobat (X?). It’s alright. Huh. I didn’t know that. I first encountered it about 10 years ago, and filed it away as an updated Times New Roman kind of typeface. It’s alright about sums it up. It’s not going to wow you, but it’s an understated, elegant typeface that doesn’t draw attention to itself. I found an interesting discussion of it [here](http://typophile.com/node/27323). Lots of critiques of Minion, but I’m obviously of the side that agrees with statements like these, which exemplifies why I like it so: > [@](#): > > I personally find it an excellent, extremely versatile typeface that does extraordinarily well the job of “disappearing” so that the text can take centre stage. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/37 "2014-03-31T05:43:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I didn’t accuse you of deliberately fudging the font size, I’m just saying that the sample you posted is hard to read because that’s the size in which that particular font displays on this site with the particular display defaults that apply. It’s not evidence that Times New Roman is intrinsically hard to read, which it certainly is not. It is cramped for most uses. It was designed for newspaper use, specifically the _Times_ of London, where the text is displayed in narrow columns. So the idea was to squeeze in as much writing per line as possible, while still being clear. Typefaces designed for longer line lengths, such as Century Schoolbook, are a bit wider to make them easier to read in longer lines. Times New Roman was popular in the courts when briefs had a maximum length defined by the number of pages. A narrower font allowed for more words. The federal courts, at least, have switched to a maximum length defined by word count, and have started recommending Century Schoolbook. I guess Florida is a bit behind the times in matters typographical, as in so much else. As for me, I’m partial to [Goudy Old Style](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goudy_Old_Style). It’s a bit on the light side, but otherwise quite legible in a variety of uses as far as Ican tell. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/38 "2014-03-31T05:52:30Z")
Nobody uses Silian Rail? But seriously, I’m one of those who love fonts but don’t know what I’m doing. I wish I could recognize fonts by sight. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/39 "2014-03-31T06:03:45Z")
I used to work in a typography shop. Part of my job was to identify type samples that clients sent in with their jobs. They may want, say, an annual report done, and they’d attach a sample of the typeface they want, and I’d have to identify it. This meant looking for distinctive characters unique to the font, like the cap “R” or lowercase “g” or an ampersand. Through a process of selection, I’d eventually identify the font. Except with Times Roman. It has no identifying characters. It got to the point of a joke: if all identification fails, it must be Times Roman. I hate that typeface with a passion. It just screams “default.” And it gives the impression that the user didn’t know that they were allowed to change fonts or didn’t know how. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900/40 "2014-03-31T12:07:12Z")
The version of Word that we use at work defaults to Calibri, and I think it’s a refreshing, non-gimicky font. [Calibri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibri) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-preferred-professional-font-nowadays/684900.md?page=3)