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

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

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'.

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

Belmit · 18-09-2007, 16:09

Emailing someone formally at a workplace in Comic Sans is a bit like writing a letter in crayon. We get emails from students in it all the time, usually like this:

From: twinkly_glitter@hotmail.com
Subject: passwrod

i reset my passwrod and now I don't now it. cld you send me a new one pls.

J.

Admiral Huddy · 18-09-2007, 16:27

We have to use a font called "BayernlbFont" for all our documents here??? Here is a 100 page document on how i'm going to re-structure your banking system.. "It's in the wrong font Paul".

Piggymon · 18-09-2007, 16:41

Tahoma FTW !

phykell · 18-09-2007, 16:45

MS Trebuchet as already mentioned and Tahoma for web sites. For emails, it's boring but I prefer Arial.

As for other "friendly" fonts - great for personal communication but not really for business unless you're in design or something else "arty".

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, 15:16	#3
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, 15:17	#4
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'. __________________

18-09-2007, 16:09	#7
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Emailing someone formally at a workplace in Comic Sans is a bit like writing a letter in crayon. We get emails from students in it all the time, usually like this: From: twinkly_glitter@hotmail.com Subject: passwrod i reset my passwrod and now I don't now it. cld you send me a new one pls. J. __________________

18-09-2007, 15:41	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Our 'official' font is Frutiger 55 Roman

18-09-2007, 15:50	#6
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

18-09-2007, 16:27	#8
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	We have to use a font called "BayernlbFont" for all our documents here??? Here is a 100 page document on how i'm going to re-structure your banking system.. "It's in the wrong font Paul". __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

18-09-2007, 16:41	#9
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	Tahoma FTW ! __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

18-09-2007, 16:45	#10
phykell Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 833	MS Trebuchet as already mentioned and Tahoma for web sites. For emails, it's boring but I prefer Arial. As for other "friendly" fonts - great for personal communication but not really for business unless you're in design or something else "arty". __________________