Sans Serif Fonts
While some older writing is serif-free, such as Norse runes, sans serif fonts are mostly associated with modern typefaces. In 1928, Futura became one of the first popular sans serif fonts and other typefaces like Helvetica soon followed.
Sans Serif Fonts
When it comes to web fonts, designers have many options to choose from. Google Fonts library has over 600 font families; however, many of those are unversatile and unsuitable for body copy. I have chosen the selected fonts based on quality, legibility, versatility, and number of available styles and weights.
Roboto was designed by Christian Robertson and is the official font family of the Android operating system. Roboto comes in 12 styles with weights ranging from thin to ultra-bold. The font is very modern and essentially combines the best aspects of classic fonts such as Helvetica, Arial, and Univers. Regular Roboto font feels slightly condensed so it allows more characters per line.
Designed by Paul D. Hunt, Source Sans Pro is the ultimate corporate-style sans-serif web font. It comes in a whopping 12 different styles with weights from extra-light all the way to ultra-bold. The font itself is not the most exciting one on this list, but it is probably the most professional. It works in pretty much every situation and it keeps legibility with every size.
Tip: The font-family property should hold several font names as a "fallback" system, to ensure maximum compatibility between browsers/operating systems. Start with the font you want, and end with a generic family (to let the browser pick a similar font in the generic family, if no other fonts are available). The font names should be separated with comma. Read more about fallback fonts in the next chapter.
We recommend these fonts because they are legible and widely available and because they include special characters such as math symbols and Greek letters. Historically, sans serif fonts have been preferred for online works and serif fonts for print works; however, modern screen resolutions can typically accommodate either type of font, and people who use assistive technologies can adjust font settings to their preferences. For more on how font relates to accessibility, visit the page on the accessibility of APA Style.
Instructors and publishers vary in how they specify length requirements. Different fonts take up different amounts of space on the page; thus, we recommend using word count rather than page count to gauge paper length if possible.
The old usability guideline for online typography was simple: stick to sans-serif typefaces. Because computer screens were too lousy to render serifs properly, attempting serif type at body-text sizes resulted in blurry letter shapes.
Unfortunately, the new guideline is not as clear-cut as the old one. Legibility research is inconclusive as to whether serif fonts are truly better than sans serif.
I used to supplement the "use sans serif" guideline by advising designers to use Verdana because it was well suited to old computers. Today, however, I wouldn't recommend Verdana. It surely doesn't hurt to use it; Verdana is still very readable on modern screens. But we can now do better.
(Of course, while you can now safely deviate from Verdana and sans serif, traditional usability guidelines still apply. For example: using more than one or two font families can produce a ransom-note effect and should be avoided; you should also shun overly fancy typefaces with poor legibility.)
In 1816, William Caslon IV designed the first sans serif typeface, Caslon, though at the time it was not widely accepted nor popularized. However, when modernism emerged at the turn of the century, ushering in the design concept of form following function, the sans serif exploded.
During the height of modernism (1920s-1970s), some of the most popular and recognizable sans serifs were created: Futura, a geometric sans; Helvetica and Univers, neo-grotesque sans; and Frutiger, a humanist sans. (Learn more about the classifications of typefaces here.)
Many contemporary brands also desire to be seen as forward thinking, edgy, current, and even youthful. The sans serif connotations of modernity and innovation help reinforce these perceptions, and as audiences, media, and the marketplace constantly evolve, brands do not want to be left behind.
Instead, it is imperative to complete a full brand audit before selecting a sans serif, or any font. Weinzierl urges brands to get specific about their identity and find a sans serif that supports it. There are many options that allow brands to communicate who they are, so they should resist the temptation to choose the trendiest look. Brands should also consider custom fonts, as the design process and ownership can be more valuable than finding and using the right font.
Sans fonts are minimal but approachable: Open Sans Font is neutral and friendly, Lato is stable but warm, and Roboto (in the same family is Roboto Slab) is natural and unforced. All are very readable.
Stark is a modern sans serif font family with five different weights, plus italics, for a total of 10 fonts. Although only uppercase letters are shown in the preview, lowercase letters are included in the package. It comes with all Latin characters, numbers, and punctuation. A web font version is also included. Whether you need a font for body copy or headlines, Stark could be an excellent choice. It also works well for packaging, merchandise, brochure design, and some branding projects.
Bergen Sans is a geometric font family that includes six different fonts. With OpenType features, Bergen Sans is sure to become one of your go-to choices. It includes support for extended Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek characters.
Sofia Pro is a geometric sans serif that comes in eight different weights, plus italic versions. With very rounded curves, Sofia Pro has a look that is subtly different than many others shown here. As a large font family, and with a big collection of glyphs included, Sofia Pro can be used for many different purposes.
Bison is a stunning all-caps font that features tall letters and crisp lines. There are four different weights plus two outline fonts, with italic versions of each. In total, 12 different fonts are provided in the package. The demi-bold and bold weights feature strong letters that are perfect for headlines. A web font version is available.
Made Tommy comes with seven weights, plus another seven weights of an outline variation. In total, there are 14 fonts in the package. With options from thin to heavy, Made Tommy can be used for a multitude of purposes. The package includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, and multilingual support. A web font version is available.
Magdelin is a beautiful minimal typeface that includes a total of 40 fonts. There are ten different weights plus italics, and ten weights of an alternate variety with italic versions of each. Attention to detail makes Magdelin a sold choice for just about any type of project from web design to branding. OpenType features like stylistic alternates, ligatures, fractions, and more are included.
Quick is a minimalist sans serif that has a distinct look. There are three different weights: regular, light, and bold. An italic version is also included. The package comes with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation, symbols, and multi-language support.
Glaukon is a modern sans serif that comes in regular and italic variations. Uppercase and lowercase letters are included, so it can be used for many purposes, including body copy. A web font is also included.
This neutral, flexible, sans-serif typeface is the system font for iOS, iPad OS, macOS and tvOS. SF Pro features nine weights, variable optical sizes for optimal legibility, four widths, and includes a rounded variant. SF Pro supports over 150 languages across Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic scripts.
A companion to San Francisco, this serif typeface is based on essential aspects of historical type styles. New York features six weights, supports Latin, Greek and Cyrillic scripts, and features variable optical sizes allowing it to perform as a traditional reading face at small sizes and a graphic display face at larger sizes.
Gain insight into typographic principles and how they apply to the San Francisco fonts, the result of a deep collaboration between design and engineering teams. This typeface defers to the content it displays to give text unmatched legibility, clarity, and consistency.
Accessible fonts, color, and alt text for visual images are very important and must be factored into the design of your content. The information on this page will help ensure your text and images are accessible to all users. To view any of the Google Slides tutorials larger, click the full-size icon ( ) underneath each embedded presentation. You can use the arrows and play buttons ( ) or pause button ( ) to proceed at your own pace.
Today, sans-serifs are the most modern and sought-after fonts. Most often, fonts of this particular style become interface fonts for big-name brands, decorate popular sites, and are frequent on posters, billboards, and in store windows.
Simple at first glance, neat and versatile, they have taken over the world and become the new rule of good manners. Using sans fonts in your projects means understanding current trends and inviting the user to a dialogue.
Old sans-serifs are the sans serif typefaces that originated in the Victorian era. Such fonts, although they did not have serifs, had a rather extravagant appearance compared to the later sans-serifs.
Neo-sans-serfis or new grotesques appeared later than the old ones. They looked much sleeker and stricter than their predecessors. These fonts are more functional and highly adaptable for any application. Neo-sans-serifs are low-contrast and monospaced.
Humanist sans font, as you might guess from the name, move away from austerity towards humanism. In them, you may feel the calligraphic influence and there are references to serifs and dynamics. As a rule, these are mixed-width fonts with high contrast of strokes. They have real italic styles, that is, the characters are not only oblique but also change their shape. In the TypeType collection, you can get to know the humanist sans-serifs TT Wellingtons and TT Corals. 041b061a72