There is quite a bit of debate on the web about what font is best for websites. It seems that every blogger has their preference. Some prefer Verdana, 10-point, and others prefer Arial, but only at 12-point. Times New Roman, while supposedly attractive, doesn’t appear to be easier to read. The most legible are considered to be Arial, Courier, Calibri, and Verdana.

There are only a few fonts to choose from that all computers can read. Verdana, Georgia and Trebuchet are installed on Apple and Windows operating systems, so are sure bets. Times New Roman (serif) and Arial (sans serif) are usually the default computer fonts when a certain font isn’t readable.

So what will you choose for your websites? Without getting too deep into the Great Font Fights, here are some tips to consider:

1) Choose Serif or Sans Serif: Serif fonts have those little lines at the points of the letters, like this. They make the eye flow easily from one letter to the next, especially in high resolution print. For low resolution, like most computer screens, sans serif is preferred. However, remember Times New Roman has a feeling of formality and establishment, and that can work in your favor on a website where reliability or trustworthiness is important.

2) Study the studies: Here’s an interesting study done in 2001 on readability of fonts online. Conclusion? Arial 12 pt, or Verdana 10 and 9 pt.    http://bit.ly/WilsonFontStudy

3) Decide what message you want to get across: Comic Sans is a fun typeface, as the name implies. A law firm doesn’t need a fun font. It needs a serious font, perhaps like Times New Roman. Don’t let the font distract from your overall message. And this from the web designer sitting near my workspace: “Never, ever, ever use Comic Sans unless you are sending a picture of a kitten to your grandmother.”

4) Test what the fonts will look like: Here are two very cool websites that allow you to try different fonts and sizes on sample text. Decide what looks best for your purpose.

http://bit.ly/TypeTester

http://bit.ly/JiggetyTest

5) Go for the quick read: As mentioned, Arial, Courier, Calibri, and Verdana are easily read. Verdana is generally considered best by designers.  Larger fonts can help, but too large makes it harder for the eye to capture a grouping of words, which makes it slower to read.

6) Consider the background: There’s a reason most print is black print on white background. White text with black background can be OK, too. But avoid ultra-contrast, such as red text on green background. Yikes. Be sure the font you’ve chosen is easily read on the background you’ve used.

7) Keep it simple: No more than three fonts per webpage, please. Don’t confuse your reader. Use Times New Roman for headlines, and Arial for the body, and your readers will thank you.

What are your favs? Have you had any lightbulbs go off with regards to fonts? Let us hear from you.