Fonts and professionalism

Wossi · 18-09-2007, 15:12

I have a bit of a bug bear when it comes to fonts. My sister and my dad (who I work with) seem to think that sending E-mails and letters to customers using Comic Sans is perfectly fine and it's a "Friendly" font. Personally I find it childish and immature not friendly but they don't seem to get it.

If you are sending the letter or e-mail to a friend or family member then I could care less what font you use, but when it comes to business it really grinds my gears.

Anyone else see what I'm getting at, or am I the only one?

Feek · 18-09-2007, 15:14

Comic Sans has it's place and business related emails and letters isn't it. It is quite a friendly font but it's been heavily overused.

I quite like Trebuchet MS as some may remember

Goose · 18-09-2007, 15:17

Our mail client strips out all the useless junk, so everything just appears as text. It seems to be the best approach.

However, on MSN this does become an issue. People seem to prefer 'cute' over 'readable'.

Blackstar · 19-09-2007, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feek

I quite like Trebuchet MS as some may remember

Another fan here, i do my essays and letters in it

After_8 · 20-09-2007, 15:08

Comic Sans is not appropriate for ANYTHING. It has several flaws as a typeface (which I'll not go into here for fear of looking FAR too geeky) which were mostly caused by it never having meant to be a typeface in the first place. It makes everything look amateurish.

I always tell my students that I won't mark any work they hand me in Comic Sans.

Feek · 20-09-2007, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by After_8

It has several flaws as a typeface (which I'll not go into here for fear of looking FAR too geeky) which were mostly caused by it never having meant to be a typeface in the first place. It makes everything look amateurish.

I'm quite interested to know the reasons if you don't mind sharing - It's interesting.

Goose · 20-09-2007, 15:25

Isn't it supposed to be for comic book-type stuff, hence the horizontal and vertical strokes are wrong? Or have I just made that up?

Rich_L · 18-09-2007, 15:16

I don't know really, if it was a customer you had a long relationship with then a girl/secretary can probably get away with it.

I have different styles generally to suit the situation, when addressing solicitors/partners in e-mails I'll be very formal, if dealing with trainees/paralegals they get a formal email first then depending on the reply it will be slightly less formal from then on.

However, we have a company 'font' - Tahoma, which we use for all communications

Mark · 18-09-2007, 15:41

Our 'official' font is Frutiger 55 Roman

BBx · 18-09-2007, 15:50

Marketing (me) uses Helvetica Neue and the rest of the company has to use Arial.

I cry when I see an email in Tms New Rmn

BB x

18-09-2007, 15:12	#1
Wossi Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the middle Posts: 1,385	Fonts and professionalism I have a bit of a bug bear when it comes to fonts. My sister and my dad (who I work with) seem to think that sending E-mails and letters to customers using Comic Sans is perfectly fine and it's a "Friendly" font. Personally I find it childish and immature not friendly but they don't seem to get it. If you are sending the letter or e-mail to a friend or family member then I could care less what font you use, but when it comes to business it really grinds my gears. Anyone else see what I'm getting at, or am I the only one?

18-09-2007, 15:14	#2
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Comic Sans has it's place and business related emails and letters isn't it. It is quite a friendly font but it's been heavily overused. I quite like Trebuchet MS as some may remember __________________

18-09-2007, 15:17	#3
Goose The list is long, but distinguished Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Århus, Denmark Posts: 1,643	Our mail client strips out all the useless junk, so everything just appears as text. It seems to be the best approach. However, on MSN this does become an issue. People seem to prefer 'cute' over 'readable'. __________________

20-09-2007, 15:08	#5
After_8 Nice weak cup of Earl Grey Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 47	Comic Sans is not appropriate for ANYTHING. It has several flaws as a typeface (which I'll not go into here for fear of looking FAR too geeky) which were mostly caused by it never having meant to be a typeface in the first place. It makes everything look amateurish. I always tell my students that I won't mark any work they hand me in Comic Sans. __________________ "I'm happy to grow up, but I won't pretend that fun things aren't still fun out of fear of looking silly."

20-09-2007, 15:25	#7
Goose The list is long, but distinguished Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Århus, Denmark Posts: 1,643	Isn't it supposed to be for comic book-type stuff, hence the horizontal and vertical strokes are wrong? Or have I just made that up? __________________

18-09-2007, 15:16	#8
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	I don't know really, if it was a customer you had a long relationship with then a girl/secretary can probably get away with it. I have different styles generally to suit the situation, when addressing solicitors/partners in e-mails I'll be very formal, if dealing with trainees/paralegals they get a formal email first then depending on the reply it will be slightly less formal from then on. However, we have a company 'font' - Tahoma, which we use for all communications __________________

18-09-2007, 15:41	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Our 'official' font is Frutiger 55 Roman

18-09-2007, 15:50	#10
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	Marketing (me) uses Helvetica Neue and the rest of the company has to use Arial. I cry when I see an email in Tms New Rmn BB x

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