What are Fonts?

Fonts are the different styles typed letters using a computer. Computer (or PC) fonts are among the amazing breakthroughs of the recent decades of the computer age. Using a PC now affords users as many as 150 different fonts just as a default to choose from. Just click on the small arrow of the window showing the font styles (usually found at the upper left corner of the screen) and numerous font options would drop from it. To choose what specific font to use, merely click on an option.

Font Names

Fonts differ from each other in design, measurement, and name. Here are some examples of font names: Agency FB, Algerian, Arial, Arial Black, Arial Narrow, Arial Rounded MT Bold, and so on. They are arranged alphabetically, so it should be easy looking for a particular font in the list. Be sure to see what font style is apt for a particular composition work. The usual font for writing articles, letters, reports, and the like is Times New Roman or Arial. That should be easy to find among font names that start with the letter "T" or "A". Some fonts are styled larger, some narrower, some thinner, and some a mixture of sorts.

Different Font Sizes

In most programs beside the font window is a window that designates font size. There's a small arrow in this window also pointing down. Click on it. A list of numbers, often from 8 to 72, drops down. These numbers determine what size or how big the fonts appear on screen and in print. The smaller the number the smaller the size. For common write-ups like reports, articles, and similar compositions, size 10 to 12 is often used, or other sizes near it. For titles, users may want bigger fonts, like those sized 18 to 25. For footnotes or captions a size 9 or 10 may suffice.

Other Font Options

Fonts, aside from having various styles and sizes, may also be rendered bold, italicized, underlined, or in different colors. Often right under the font window are capital letters “B,” “I” (italicized), and an underlined “U.” Here are their uses: If users want to have a font or fonts (even whole sentences) with heavier shades or thicker, they simply have to highlight them (click and hold while the cursor is at the targeted letter and drag to the extent desired) and then click on “B.” The same procedure is used for italicizing or underlining a letter or word; only difference is, click on the appropriate capital letter.

To color fonts differently, we simply highlight them and then click on the small arrow right beside the box option “A” with a thick colored line under it. After clicking, a chart of colors and color shades drops down. To choose the color simply click on it. There are some 70 colors and shades to choose from.

Typing technology has come a very long way. With today's PCs, fonts are no longer just typed, they are created.