Since Microsoft Word became the standards for both students and professionals, most people – regardless of whether or not they have any design background – are familiar with fonts; however, typography has a lot more to it than many people realize. While there are many classifications when it comes to typography, below is a simple crash course highlighting three main categories:
Serif
Serif fonts have small lines, called serifs, attached to each letter along with thick and thin transitional strokes. These fonts are the easiest on the eyes for reading and are often used in long blocks of text, such as a novel. Example: Times New Roman
Sans Serif
Sans serif fonts have simple lines without serifs, hence the name SANS (without) serif, and evenly sized strokes. These fonts are often used for headings, as well as web text, since they have a cleaner display on computer screens than serif fonts. Example: Helvetica
Script
Script fonts have a calligraphic or handwritten look. Since they are difficult to read in long blocks of text, they are often used decoratively to add style, such as on an invitation. Example: Edwardian Script
Now that you know the differences among these three categories, you can make the best font choices for your design projects.