Understanding serif and sans-serif fonts

Here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. We provide, high quality, effective, web design solutions for local companies and businesses across Manchester, and the surrounding area, including Wigan and Southport. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about serif and sans serif typography.

What’s the difference between serif and sans-serif fonts?

Serif and sans-serif fonts have long been battling for the number one position in web design. So what are the differences between these two typography styles? And which should you choose? Well, there is actually only one main difference, and this is the decorative tails or flicks.

Serif fonts use a decorative flick, curl, or tail as part of the design of each letter. This is a more traditional style of typography, that can be closer to typical cursive handwriting. On the other hand, sans-serif fonts do not use this decorative feature. Instead, each letter is designed within it’s own space, with a blunt edge.

Should you use serif or sans-serif typography for your website?

When deciding which type of font to use for your website, there are a number of things to consider. These include:

  • The purpose- different areas of text on a website serve different purposes, and that is why it is not uncommon to use two different typography styles on the same web page. For title or heading text, you will need to grab attention and invoke the interest of your potential customers or clients. Either a serif or a sans serif font can be used effectively for this purpose. However, for the text that makes up the main body of the content, you will need a much plainer font, to maintain legibility on all screen sizes and devices. And that’s why a sans-serif style can be good idea.
  • The branding- company branding is also something you should seriously consider when deciding between serif and sans-serif typography. For some brands, with a quirky or playful persona, a serif font can better reflect this aspect of the branding, when compared to a plainer, sans-serif option. However, for companies or businesses with a more serious image, sans serif typography can be a better option, better reflecting the branding.
  • The background- if the background content to your above the fold space is more important than the typography, you will need to make sure you choose a typography style that can stand out from this effectively, creating the right amount of contrast. Usually, for more “busy” background content, a sans-serif font can be a better option, and this may even need to be used in bold, with increased letter spacing, depending on the exact content of the background.

For more information or advice about the right typography for your website, or any other professional web design and marketing information get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.