When Should You Use a Serif Font vs. A Sans Serif Font?
Why Is Font Selection So Important?
It all comes down to selecting a “outfit” that complements your brand. While some typefaces are more relaxed and expressive, others are more formal and formal.
The poor font choice may entirely alter the nature of your brand, which can cause consumers to have the wrong perception of your business.
As seen in the sample below, the personality and feel of these firms drastically alter only by switching the typeface of their famous logos to Comic Sans. Brands that formerly seemed classy and polished now appear innocent and whimsical.
This is why it’s so important to choose a typeface that goes well with your brand. Make sure visitors get an accurate impression of your business.
So where do you begin when picking a font?
You must comprehend the many font classifications before you can choose a certain font. The two basic types are serif and sans serif, however there are many more, such as script, display, and gothic.
What Differs Serif from Sans Serif?
You may begin deciding which of these two groups is best for you by understanding the differences between them. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to distinguish between the two.
The name itself contains the solution. A serif is a decorative stroke that completes the tip of a letter stem (also known as the letter’s “feet”).
Likewise, a sans serif font lacks serifs (thus the “sans”), but a serif font contains them. Simple, yes?
In the example below, take note of the distinction.
The sans serif font on the left has neat, very exact ends, while the serif font is more decorative and has serifs protruding from the ends.
Both of these communication methods convey ideas in quite different ways and have their own distinct personalities. Understanding each style and selecting a typeface that supports the message you want your business to convey are thus crucial.
Now that you are aware of the distinctions between serif and sans serif fonts, let’s explore the history and psychology of each font type.
Serif Fonts Indicate Classical, Reliable, and Reliable
Stonemasons used to chisel letters into rock in the 18th century, which is when serif typefaces first appeared.
Serif typefaces are widely used in traditional media like books, periodicals, and newspapers nowadays. Serif fonts are employed by businesses that wish to project these qualities since they are often seen as being more traditional and polished.
The ornate tails and strokes of commercial font are by far their most distinctive feature, as was already established. Serif letters sometimes include strokes with different weights, so some parts of the letter may be heavy and others thin.
What Does Your Brand Say When You Use a Serif Font?
Serif typefaces offer consumers a sense of elegance, confidence, and dependability because of their distinctive features and history.
They are often a fantastic choice for businesses that want to come out as more credible, established, and serious because of this.
Serif fonts are appropriate for a variety of professional enterprises, including legal firms, newspapers, and insurance organisations.
Two examples of serif fonts in design.
A Florida-based legal company with more than 60 years of expertise is called Dawson | Orr. When assisting clients with their legal requirements, they employ a serif font to demonstrate their expertise and experience.
You get the impression that their staff is experienced, knowledgeable, and committed to taking your case seriously from the usage of serif in their logo and headers.
- The Times of New York
The New York Times has been published continuously since the 1850s.
They employ a serif font everywhere, from their logo to the typefaces used in their publications, to give readers a sense of heritage and credibility.
The usage of this typeface also conveys formality and legitimacy since serifs are often associated with print media.
Sans Serif Fonts Indicate Modernity, Accessibility, and Clean
On the other hand, sans serif typefaces convey an entirely different message. Sans serif fonts promote simplicity and the sense of being contemporary, in contrast to serif fonts, which place a strong emphasis on honouring heritage and history.
Serif typefaces’ primary distinguishing features are their absence of serifs and the use of plain, uniformly wide lines.
Many web designers use sans serif fonts for usage on screens because of their clear, uncluttered lines.
On a screen, the crisp edges and straight lines may be seen more clearly, improving readability for users.
What Does Your Brand Say When You Use a Sans Serif Font?
Sans serif fonts exude an air of informality and friendliness that makes them seem highly accessible. Sans-serif typefaces are often used by businesses that wish to make their brands seem more contemporary and relevant.
These characteristics make sans serif fonts a common option for start-ups and IT firms that wish to convey to consumers that they are cutting-edge and more humane.
Serif typefaces like Helvetica, Open Sans, Proxima Nova, and Arial are among the most widely used serif fonts.
Wix is an example of a design using sans serif fonts.
There’s a good likelihood that if you work in digital marketing, you’ve heard of Wix. They are a cloud-based CMS that facilitates the creation of websites.
Wix uses its font choice to convey to users that their software is simple to use, has excellent customer care, and makes building websites enjoyable.
They convey a sense of comfort and approachability to individuals the moment they connect with their brand by using a simple, rounded typeface.
- Hubspot
Another business that brands its products with a sans serif typeface is hubspot.
Similar sensations of warmth and approachability are conveyed by the company’s logo and website’s typefaces because of their tidy, rounded look. This modern typeface helps to personalise their company’s brand and increase its relatability.
