Serif and Sans Serif Fonts: Know the Difference – A font has a vital role in graphic design. Choosing the right font is crucial because mistakenly choosing a font affects the message that needs to be delivered. This causes difficulty in communication and even reduces the effectiveness of the message.
There are a lot of fonts provided today. And sometimes, these make us even more confused when choosing our font. Because each font has a different meaning, we need to have an in-depth understanding of our font; merely looking at the display is not enough.
Before we dive deeper into it, do you know what the font is? A font is a collection of letters, numbers, symbols, and other characters that have a distinctive style and are designed for printing and electronic display.
There are many types of fonts. Font types in graphic design are grouped into several main categories: serif, sans-serif, script, display, and monospace. Each category has unique characteristics and different uses.
This time, we will talk about two popular fonts in the graphic design world: serif and sans-serif. Both are similarly popular, and many still think that those two fonts are exactly the same because of their names. It can’t be more wrong because the two fonts are totally different and actually the exact opposite of each other, be it on the display or the use.
So, what makes them different? How do we use them in design? Get ready for our explanation below, because choosing the right font for your design will make it easier to understand.
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Before talking about what differs them, let’s first find out the definition of each font.
Serifs are small lines attached to letters. Their origins are a mystery. One theory suggests they appeared when scribes used their brushes or quills, leaving small marks with the writing implement as they finished each stroke. It was an accident, however, somehow it made everything more aesthetic, and later it is used until now.
It is believed that serif fonts came from the Latin alphabet carved into ancient Roman stones. These fonts are generally used for their good readability. Not only does it stand out for its readability, but it also has a classic and aesthetic vibe.
We have talked about the uniqueness of the serif font—small marks on the edges of letters. It appears to be classical, traditional, and formal, so it is often used in official documents, invitations, and companies’ logo designs.
Actually, there are varieties of them, such as sleek and pointed stroke styles, thick and intersecting stroke styles called slab serif, etc.
The classic vibe becomes the attractiveness of this type of font. It looks dignified, professional, luxurious, and historical.
Some of the advantages of this font are: it presents a traditional and classic vibe as this font came from the 18th century, and it has high authority among other fonts, giving leadership and dependability vibes.
By looking at the advantages, serif font becomes the best choice for certain things, such as printed material, professional and academic settings, branding for luxury products, and art and literature.
For printed material like books or novels, this font is the best choice because it has been used since the 18th century. This font makes reading for a long period of time comfortable.
The serif font has professional and formal vibes, which is why it is the best choice for important documents. Many academic institutions use the serif font for their dissertation writings because of its solemnity and credibility.
Luxury products often use serif font in their logos and branding materials to show grace and elegance.
Serif font has a long history and artistic vibe that can be used in creative projects. This font is popular among art and literature communities as it is often used in poetry books, magazines, and art gallery brochures.
Long story short, sans-serif fonts are the opposite of serif fonts. It doesn’t have any small lines in each letter at all.
The origin of the this typeface started in printed media around 1805. This font is popular for its high clarity and readability in advertisements, be it in lowercase or uppercase style.
If we talk about books or novels, then serif fonts are superior. However, sans-serif fonts dominate digital media. Computer screens mostly use this font for its clarity and readability.
While it is true that serif fonts are readable, computer screens are often unable to display their details well. Thus, those fonts become the better option.
We can call sans-serif a modern font; however, the origin of this font is considered strange. Even so, many modern designers use this font as a modernist effort to let go of the past. In 1928, Futura became one of the first popular fonts, and later, Helvetica followed.
Some of the superior aspects of these fonts are their modern and futuristic vibes. This font makes a new trend in minimalist and simple concepts, and it also attracts a younger audience as it tends to be more up-to-date in era development.
Sans-serif fonts are often used in high-tech and startup companies. However, not only that, there are many aspects that make this font good to be used.
Digital media most frequently uses sans-serif fonts. In screens like monitors or smartphones, the readability level of this font is higher, especially when using small sizes. Beside its readability, this font looks more modern for digital media.
Sans-serif fonts are superior for their modernity and simplicity. Companies that want to show an advanced, efficient, and modern concept usually choose this font in their branding activities. And it’s not rare to see this font in their logos as well. Famous brands like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Netflix also use sans-serif fonts.
Clear letterforms make sans-serif suitable to be used in name tags, transportation information boards, and warning signs as they need a high level of quick readability.
Clarity is important in technical and academic concepts. Sans-serif fonts are often used in graphs, diagrams, and presentations to make sure information is delivered well. For short text like presentation, especially, sans-serif fonts are more preferable.
Even though both fonts have the word ‘serif’ in them, they are grouped into different types. One of the most striking distinction is whether or not it has serifs in the letters.
Aside from what has been mentioned previously, there are many advantages and functions to each font. Below is our summary of the two fonts’ comparison.
Difference between serif and sans serif
Bonus! Tips to choose the right font
Choosing the right font is an important step to make sure messages are delivered well. Even after knowing the significant diversity between serif and sans-serif fonts, choosing the right font to use may still be difficult.
Below are some tips to help you choose the right font to use.
When choosing a font, context on how the text should appear is essential. Serif fonts are used in long textbooks, while sans-serif fonts are used for digital contents and name tags.
Make sure you test the font you choose on various devices, especially if the content is in printed or digital media. Pay attention to the clarity, space, and aesthetic aspects of the whole platform.
Each font has its own personality and character. Thus, choosing the right font is essential to representing the brand according to the objectives of the company.
It is a must to consider the readability needs of the audience. For example, for a small-size font product, you will prefer to use sans-serif fonts as they are more readable than serif fonts. The main point of your chosen font shouldn’t be on the aesthetic side only, because if it’s not readable for the audience, then it will only become a fatal mistake.
Don’t be scared to explore more about mixing and matching fonts. Sometimes, by using both fonts, an interesting contrast can be created. The key is to keep the harmony and not use too many fonts.
Being up-to-date on the trend is important. We shouldn’t copy the entirety of it, but knowing the trend will help us relate to its development. And yet, we shouldn’t rely on what has been popular in recent moments. Remember! Trends come and go, but good design principles are timeless.
In order to choose a font, consider not only the aesthetic side but also the character of each font, for example, serif with its classic vibe or sans-serif with its futuristic vibe.
You need to have an in-depth understanding of fonts, because only by doing so are we able to adjust the objective, function, and use of them well. At the same time, it will make your design easier to understand by the target audience.
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