What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (2024)

Every font has a unique personality and purpose. While working on a project, it’s imperative to know which font matches the intended tone of communication. Serif fonts portray tradition, sophistication and a formal tone. Sans serif fonts are modern, humanist and neutral. Slab serifs are bold and contemporary. Script fonts are elegant, classic, stylish and formal.

We’ve compiled four handy infographics that provide an introduction to font psychology and the emotions elicited by different types of typefaces. Check them out below.

1. An Introduction To Font Psychology

What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (1)

2. The Psychology Behind Type Choices

What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (2)

3. Font Moods: Emotions Elicited By Different Types Of Fonts

What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (3)

4. A Quick & Comprehensive Type Guide

What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (4)

Share this post with a designer friend and voice your views in the comments below.

What Different Types Of Fonts Mean And How To Use Them (2024)

FAQs

What do different fonts symbolize? ›

Serif fonts can evoke feelings of trust, stability, and reliability. Sans serif fonts, such as Helvetica and Arial, are associated with modernity, simplicity, and clarity. They are often used in digital formats, as the clean lines and lack of ornamentation make them more legible on screens.

What are the different types of fonts and when do you use them? ›

Typography Basics

There are five basic classifications of typefaces: serif, sans serif, script, monospaced, and display. As a general rule, serif and sans serif typefaces are used for either body copy or headlines (including titles, logos, etc.), while script and display typefaces are only used for headlines.

What font reduces anxiety? ›

Helvetica is a widely used sans-serif typeface developed in 1957. Sans-serif means that there are no small lines at the extremities of the main strokes. Low weight means that the width of the strokes is relatively narrow. Sans-serif conveys a image of simplicity and this typeface with low weight gives no stress.

What does the font type indicate? ›

Serif fonts offer a timeless and traditional look to a brand. Sans serif fonts show off a brand's modern edge. Script fonts bring a sense of elegance to a brand. Decorative fonts are full of personality and convey a custom designed look.

How do I know what font to use? ›

  1. Start with inspiration. An important part of the design process is research and inspiration. ...
  2. Create contrast with your second font. ...
  3. Try pairing opposites. ...
  4. Vary width. ...
  5. Consider shape: Geometric vs organic. ...
  6. Limit your design to 2–3 typefaces. ...
  7. Avoid trendy or popular typefaces. ...
  8. Understand the goal for this design.

How do I identify different types of fonts? ›

How to identify a font by inspecting element:
  1. Right-click the text.
  2. Choose “Inspect” (in Safari, it's “Inspect Element”)
  3. Click the tab called “Computed”
  4. Scroll down to “font-family”
  5. The possible choices are listed there, with the most likely font listed first.
Mar 18, 2022

How do you use what font? ›

First you need to open the page from which you need to identify the font. Then click the extension icon in your browser, hover your mouse over the text whose font you want to identify and the modal window that appears will have all the information: html font size, color, font family.

How to use fonts correctly? ›

Here are some ways to create typographic connections, to help keep your design engaging and inventive.
  1. Choose complementary fonts. ...
  2. Establish a visual hierarchy. ...
  3. Consider context. ...
  4. Mix serifs and sans serifs. ...
  5. Create contrast. ...
  6. Steer clear of conflict. ...
  7. Avoid pairing fonts that are too similar. ...
  8. Use fonts from the same family.
Feb 27, 2020

How do I specify a font style? ›

To change font type purely with HTML, use the CSS font-family property. Set it to the value you want and place it inside a style attribute. Then add this style attribute to an HTML element, like a paragraph, heading, button, or span tag.

What are the 4 type font? ›

However, the following 4 font types have been identified as the most relevant overarching font categories: Serif, Sans-serif, Script, and Display.

Do different fonts have different meanings? ›

People have very different (and, oftentimes, very specific) thoughts, feelings, and associations with different font types. For example, when you use Comic Sans in a design, it's going to create a very different emotional response for your audience than if you were to use Arial, Roboto, or Montserrat.

When to use certain fonts? ›

Generally, serif typefaces are easier to read for lengthy copy than sans. Serif fonts help the eye travel across a line, especially if lines are long. But it's also important to consider your target audience. Sans is preferable for young children, or anyone just learning to read.

How many different fonts should I use? ›

A website should keep the number of fonts to a minimum—no more than three in total. When a site has too many fonts, the user can become disoriented with so many shifts in the visual design. The chosen typefaces should have a variety of weights and styles that can be used strategically in the UI design.

What is the significance of fonts? ›

Fonts can create mood and atmosphere. Fonts can give visual clues about the order a document should be read in and which parts are more important than others. Fonts can even be used to control how long it takes someone to read a document. The professional printing industry has recognized this fact for a long time.

What is the meaning of type font? ›

A typeface is the underlying visual design that can exist in many different typesetting technologies, and a font is one of these implementations. In other words, a typeface is what you see and a font is what you use.

What is the meaning of font style? ›

A font style refers to the specific design and appearance of characters in a typeface. It encompasses various attributes, such as the shape, weight, spacing, and decorative elements of the letters. Font styles play a crucial role in visual communication by conveying a particular mood or conveying a message effectively.

What are symbols fonts? ›

The Symbol font contains Times New Roman Greek capitals and lowercase, figures and basic punctuation together with a collection of mathematical signs and general purpose Pi characters. Use for setting mathematical and scientific work and as a compliment to the symbols found in standard fonts.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5986

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.