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AIBU?

To loathe Comic Sans with a passion!

135 replies

ComposHat · 04/05/2013 07:46

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!

OP posts:

Report

ComposHat · 04/05/2013 08:21

I've been Googling and the British Dyslexia Association doesn't recommend Comic Sans above and beyond all others, it recommends:

'a plain, evenly spaced sans serif font such as Arial and Comic Sans. Alternatives include Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet'

I know it is only a font, but it is one that is wildly inappropriate in most contexts, a bit like wearing dirty trainers to a funeral.

People will judge you for using it in formal/semi-formal contexts, it just screams 'I am a slovenly twat who takes take no pride in what I've just written'

OP posts:

MardyBra · 04/05/2013 08:25

passive aggressive comic sans note

BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:26

I'm running Microsoft Word 2007 on my Windows 8 laptop - I still have Gill Sans. Presumably that means that Office 2010 doesn't have it?

What a shame. It's my absolutely favourite.

And YADNBU to hate Comic Sans. It is an aberration outside of the classroom.

BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:29

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com/_4pxYj3kb0Kw/Se3_yhD_E5I/AAAAAAAAFDg/H22C6VzWgq0/s400/comicsans.290.jpg&imgrefurl=loopyrocket.blogspot.com/2009/04/comic-sans-must-die.html&h=290&w=250&sz=32&tbnid=yaK4eEFtSGl53M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=78&zoom=1&usg=__HLJCSFp3mA6XmhcL2x7WVhCoZVk=&docid=bQhi6V0q3PuPMM&sa=X&ei=KriEUYe1NYyb1AXSp4HoAg&ved=0CHEQ9QEwBw&dur=407" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank"> Look!

washngo · 04/05/2013 08:30

Composhat - children who are dyslexic want to be able to read signs, labels, instructions, not just worksheets and teaching aids. Comic sans is entirely appropriate for schools, perhaps not for professional, adult communications.

Dinosaurdrip · 04/05/2013 08:31

My DP has that film meringue33 he is a bit of a geek though.

HintofBream · 04/05/2013 08:33

What is the Mumsnet font? (sorry, typeface, and thanks Horry) It looks like Comic doesn't it?
I like Times Roman and on my antiquated desktop you have to choose it, the default is Ariel.

Moominsarehippos · 04/05/2013 08:33

As a qualified and trained typographer and graphic designer... I bloody hate it with a passion. There's also one called something like 'kid print' and it is beyond awful. It looks shit.

I shall now grumble for a while about people learning Powerpoint and claiming to be graphic designers...

Bloody shit typography. No eye for type, layout or colour. Bloody amateurs, lines lines lines. Flippin WordArt - ugly bastardised useless piece of crap. Publisher...publisher?? What kind of half-shit package is that? Vista-bloody-print. Crap quality, crap designs, crap illustrations...everything looks like Americana Mid 1990s bleh design...and bloody over priced. Shall I start on my local print shop? For they are truly stupid. 200gsm the same as 130gsm? I think not! K (as in black) is for Key KEY KEY!!! not Kolor - that's not even a word!!

I could go on for days... And suspect I shall.

BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:34

Mumsnet font is Verdana

BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:35

Let it all out, Moomins ...

Curioustiger · 04/05/2013 08:36

pendant alert: typeface is the family, eg Comic Sans; font is the exact version eg Comic Sans Regular 10pt

horry I think I love you

ComposHat · 04/05/2013 08:36

wash and BDA recommend a number of other more appropriate fonts other than comic sans.

The rest of the world won't be in comic sans for children with dyslexia either.

OP posts:

Moominsarehippos · 04/05/2013 08:36

Serif fonts are easier to read. I learned this at print school over 20 years ago.

I like Garamond - nice rounded shapes. Ahhhh I love a nice lower case g (all wiggly) and a swishy upper case R with a long, elegant tail. Also, a nice &

startwig1982 · 04/05/2013 08:37

Yabu. I use it all the time in my lessons (secondary Maths) as it is the most dyslexic friendly font. We get told off for not using it. We also have to have a coloured electronic whiteboard background as its better for sen.

OrbisNonSufficit · 04/05/2013 08:38

No, YANBU, many many people hate comic sans. Me included! It's so twee and hideous, I think I hate it because it seems to be used when people want to be cutesy and harmless (like chintz) which winds me up (although I take the point about kids learning to read/write, but surely that's limited to a very small amount of printed material).

And it's not the only font suitable for dyslexic people - the British Dyslexia Association says any plain, evenly spaced font is fine. Arial, Verdana, Tahoma etc.

IllegalYoniFarm · 04/05/2013 08:38

Mardy that notice is hilarious!!

ananikifo · 04/05/2013 08:39

YANBU. I loathe comic sans for its use in professional adult settings.

willowstar · 04/05/2013 08:40

I despise it outside of schools. I use calibri 12 usually as I find it easy to read and looks crisp. I also really dislike times new roman but nowhere near as much as I dislike comic sans.

GoldenGreen · 04/05/2013 08:41

I was told years back that Arial was the best for people with dyslexia and visual impairments so I have always used it. Good to know there are acceptable alternatives.

Moominsarehippos · 04/05/2013 08:45

People who use script fonts for signatures should be banned from typing anyway. Who are they fooling?

I suppose I get just as irritated when whatever is written is full of bad grammar or typos. I have been known to mark up marketing materials and post them back.

MortifiedAdams · 04/05/2013 08:46

It has it's place - Primary Schools.

It does not belong on official documents such as the council parking permit attached to my car windscreen. I give it an evil glare most times Im.in the car.

BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:47

Way to go!

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BIWI · 04/05/2013 08:47

(That was to Moomins!)

Moominsarehippos · 04/05/2013 08:50

I'm a sad saaaad typographer. I remember doing layouts the old fashioned way, with board, scalpel, glue and coloured pens. Not this new fangled dtp (hate that expression) malarky.

ZillionChocolate · 04/05/2013 08:51

Love you a bit ComposHat.

Does any one have any suggestions for a better looking dyslexic friendly font? I need something formal and serious for work.

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