To loathe Comic Sans with a passion!

[ComposHat]

I had to go into a local primary school last week and the first thing that struck me was the absolute dominance of Comic Sans.. it was everywhere! From the school sign, to labels and signs, every single one of them in this most loathsome of fonts???? It doesn't say 'fun and friendly' to me, it says 'ugly and inelegant.'

My dad (ex primary school teacher) uses it on emails and it drives me mad! I have to convert the text into another font before I can read the thing.

He even sends off relatively formal letters in this type (I've tried explaining that it is like writing a formal letter with a wax crayon, but he pays no heed.)

He's not the only one, when I worked for social services, 'return tpo court' letters (quite a big deal) were sent out in comic sans and a letting agent recently sent out a form for me in Comic sans - it looked child-like and amateurish and I'm having second thoughts about using them.

There's no need for it, even the most basic version of Windows has lots of beautiful fonts to use at the mere click of a mouse, yet people insist on using Comic Sans

Grrrr!

[Thumbwitch]

Imscarlet, I've tried to get into that website but it's having some troubles - keeps saying it's down! Finally managed it by googling it and going in via another website! opendyslexic.org/ just in case it's working again.

It still has the curly a though, not the handwriting one. I'm not dyslexic myself so can't say whether or not it's going to work for people with dyslexia - but it's not going to be as good for the a.

[edam]

I'm glad to say the 'but comic sans is the only typeface suitable for people with dyslexia' myth has been dismissed. Grrrrrrrr.

[Imscarlet]

Whoops! [www.opendyslexic.org] hopefully that one works!

[TheCraicDealer]

I got a solicitor's letter through work once written in Comic Sans. I'm sorry to say I immediately assumed they got their LLB in a Happy Meal. It seems to scream, "Look at meeee! I'm FUN, I'm using a FUN font!".

Amazing to think of the vitriol a typeface can provoke. Interesting about the autistic/dyslexia angle, I'll try to be less judgy in future. Not making any promises though.

[Hulababy]

I work with YOUNG dyslexic children, as we are an infant school - so oldest children are in Y2. Hence why we are recommended to use Comic Sans or Sassoon over fonts like Arial.

[Hulababy]

And yes - we are told it is better for dyslexic children and those struggling to read.

At school most signs are in it, or Sassoon, even those aimed at adults. This is partly for consistency within school - loads of different fonts would look far worse.

[Hulababy]

I will often use Comic Sans for work purposes. I work in an infant school and not all those lovely fonts referred to in the OP have a proper a. At school we have Sassoon which I prefer - but I don't have it on all the computers I use to do prep on.

[ParadiseChick]

imscarlett that link isn't working but I'd love to see!

[Illustrationaddict]

I hate it too, you are not alone! Love the bancomicsans campaign, hilarious!

[Imscarlet]

This is the dyslexia font if anyone is interested. Actually if anyone is dyslexic, I'd love to know what you think of it, thinking about using it with a child who has dyslexia at school.

//www.opendyslexic.org/

[DolomitesDonkey]

Thank you shellington, I shall check out Lucida. :)

[Shellington]

Dolomites for a simple one, I quite like Lucida Handwriting. (Or take a photo of your actual signature / a variation of it on a piece of paper, upload as a jpg and insert image into your document?)

[DolomitesDonkey]

I use comic sans for the signature in my newsletter. Clearly I've committed a grave crime for which I apologise unreservedly, however as I've no time to peruse new fonts - please tell me where and which new don't to download to have a "hand-writing" like font.

I like verdana and Rockwell. I think I may be on the brink of a dangerously time-consuming slippery slope.

[Startail]

Yes century gothic is much nicer if you want DC friendly a.
I think it has ok g too. not all DCs like g looking like an 8

[Startail]

As an old dyslexic TNR is my font of choice, it makes words the shape I expect.

Arial is my pet hate, nasty bland disjointed square letters. No overall shape to words.

The font my kindle fire is using at the moment is horrible. Sort of unserifed type writer.

Comic sands is nasty. My 12y uses it sometimes, oddly mydyslexic, but arty DD1 doesn't. I m not sure what her lap tops set atthis week.

[Imscarlet]

On phone so can't link but there is a new typeface available designed for people who have dyslexia. The bottom of the letters are weighted more. Google dyslexia font and it should come up.

[Thumbwitch]

"Its total bullshit to use the dyslexia argument to support its use, when there are so many other fonts that are equally good and well known about and used."

Well I'm sure that people who have reading issues will be pleased to know that you think their argument is total bullshit. One of my friends who has autism and dyslexia uses comic sans as it is the ONLY typeface that she can read with complete ease - even arial and the other "equally good" fonts aren't as easy for her. I'll tell her that you think she's talking total bullshit, shall I?

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Comic Sans and clip art

[Moominsarehippos]

For a child's invite? For big + bold, go for a gill sans bold (not roman boldened) or for more 'growed up' garamond. Or if you are feeling very creative (and have lots of time) do a linocut (I have done it, it took bloody ages but looked magnificent).

A collective of type buffs is a 'bore' or 'pedant'.

[ReadytoOrderSir]

Would just like to say that I've been dipping into this thread while typing a letter to HMRC and clicking on fonts. I was about to print the letter when I spotted the single word in "Earwig Factory" in the middle!!!

[oinkment]

Yes but which font would you use on a birthday invitation?