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!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oh, I wasn't objecting to another thread in the slightest! Just wondering if anyone else could remember, or indeed what conclusion we came to.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I quite like Garamond.

TNR is really ugly though, isn't it? It has absolutely no style.

[Havingamadmoment]

Dh and I develop websites. Not long ago we had a client who was convinced the best font to have on his serious business website was comic sans. He had made a picture on his computer and everything of what he wanted it to look like it had comic sans and clip art. My dh managed to keep a straight face all the way through which I was most impressed at, especially as they discussed the parts he felt should flash.

[oinkment]

Is there a collective noun for a group of typeface buffs? A paragraph? A parentheses?

Anyway, while you're all here please advise on the perfect font to use on my 7yr old daughter's birthday invitation. I usually use the dreaded comic sans for kid stuff but have been thoroughly put if after reading this thread. Lots of her friends parents are designery types who have probably been privately appalled at some of the things I send!

[Sunnywithshowers]

YANBU (children excepted).

Two fonts walk into a bar. The barman shouts 'Get out! We don't want your type in here!'

Moomins I was the junior in an insurance company marketing dept in the late 80's, in charge of looking after mounted artwork. Ah, the smell of Spray Mount...

[Shellington]

Yanbu to loathe it personally, YABU to think there's no need for it. I don't like the 't' on comic sans but as other people say, the 'a' is correct for young children.

However, it is also a compatibility point - when transferring, downloading and sharing documents it is a (pretty much) guarantee that all other computers will have that font in their library, rather than use a more obscure one and have it default to Times or Arial at the other end.

Sassoon Primary / Infant actually Rules All, but isn't as widely installed. :)

[BIWI]

at Sunnywithshowers!

I should point out that there are lots of typefaces with the same kind of 'a' as we would write. Berlin Sans or Century Gothic are two of them

[Allalonenow]

Collective noun for a group of typeface buffs; A pica?

I hate and loathe TNR, it makes my eyes scream. I normally use Garamond because it is calm and elegant.

[ParadiseChick]

I hate Times New Roman more!

[Moominsarehippos]

There is s slim cut of Times that is quite elegant. Can't remember the name though.

[oinkment]

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

[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!!!

[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'.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

Comic Sans and clip art

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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

[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/

[Illustrationaddict]

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

[ParadiseChick]

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