Fonts Serif Text Lines Common Include Times Sans

Most "word processing programs" (software programs that allow users to create and format documents, like Microsoft Word and WordPerfect) have "dozens" (groups of 12) or even hundreds of "fonts" (styles of letters) "installed" (included in a computer program). These fonts can be divided into three categories: "serif fonts," "san serif fonts," and "other fonts."

"Serif fonts" are fonts that have short lines at the ends of most of the "strokes" (one movement of a pen when writing) used to write letters. Common serif fonts include Times New Roman, Garamond, and Bookman Old Style. "Sans serif fonts" are fonts that are made from simpler lines and do not have short lines at the ends of strokes. Common sans serif fonts include Arial, Calibri, and Tahoma. "Other fonts" include graphic-based fonts, like Webdings (Webdings) and Wingdings (Wingdings), and fonts that are very artistic, like Burnstown Dam and Planet Benson 2.

In general, serif fonts have greater readability than sans serif fonts. Studies of "reading speeds" (how quickly people are able to read text) show that most people are able to "scan" (quickly read the most important parts of) text written in serif fonts more quickly than text written in sans serif fonts.

Different fonts are used for different purposes. Times New Roman and Arial are probably the two most common fonts in the United States. Both of them are "appropriate" (acceptable) for reports, resumes, and letters, although Times New Roman is probably the better choice for more formal, longer documents. ESL Podcast Learning Guides use Arial. Websites tend to use Arial or Verdana.