Difference Between Serif and Sans Serif

Serif vs Sans Serif
 

Most of us like to play with the fonts that are there in MS Word and keep changing the fonts when making texts in Word or even while sending or receiving emails. There are lots and lots of fonts, but nearly all of them can be basically divided into two categories of serif and sans. If you ask people about their differences, you are likely to draw a blank. However, even if you choose a particular font, you can still choose either serif or sans serif version of the font. If you do not know the difference between serif and sans serif, read on as this article highlights these differences to make your text more attractive and readable. 

Serif Typeface

Serif is a typeface that is characterized by decorative feet of the letters. In other words, it s easy to recognize this typeface by the small lines that are seen trailing out of the edges of the letters typed in this typeface. Serif s a typeface that is believed to have originated in the times of the Romans that decorated their letters while engraving them on stones. The stone engravers made these trailing lines to neaten the letters and alphabets that they carved on stone. Serif is a word that is believed to have been derived from the Dutch shreef that means a line or a stroke of a pen or pencil.

Serif fonts are readable in print; therefore, they are loved by newspapers and magazines. If you make use of Times New Roman font, you know that it makes use of serifs while if you are a lover of Arial font, it is clear that you like sans serif.

Sans Serif Typeface

Sans is a French word that means without. Thus, sans serif is a typeface that does not have the trail or lines emanating from the edges of the letters and alphabets. Thus, there are no flourishes and the letters seem to be simple and rounded in sans serif. Sans typeface is clean and makes for a good readability on the internet. There are no decorative feet of the letters in sans typeface and yet it looks clean and elegant. Verdana, Arial, and Tahoma are some of the good examples of sans serif typeface.

What is the difference between Serif and Sans Serif?

• Serif and sans serif are actually typefaces that can be used for most fonts.

• Serif is characterized by decorative feet of the letters that are absent in sans serif.

• Serif is a word that comes from Dutch shreef that means line or stroke of a pen.

• Sans is a French word that means without.

• Sans is considered simple yet elegant, whereas serif is considered heavy and decorative.

• Serif is better for the print, whereas sans is better for the web as there s lesser resolution on the web.

• While Arial is the best example of sans typeface, the best example of serif is Times New Roman.