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Study Reveals What Your
Choice of Computer Font Says About You
Jan. 26, 2002
What "type" are you?
The printed word is a powerful
communication tool. It can say as much about your personality
as the clothes you wear, give you power and status or make the
love of your life go weak in the knees.
A new study called "The
Psychology of Font," commissioned by printer company Lexmark
International inc. and written by psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman,
examines how your choice in computer fonts serves as a form of
social coding, exposing one's true character and influencing
the message one is trying to convey. Ultimately, the study revealed
conclusions about the types of font that are most appropriate
for certain situations, as well as the emotional or psychological
associations certain fonts may elicit. Below, Lexmark lists helpful
tips for choosing the best fonts for getting your message across
to others.
Resume Writing -- Just as wearing the right clothes to
a job interview is important, using the right font for your resume
can be as vital. When applying for more conservative or traditional
positions, write your resume in Serif styles, such as Times or
Times New Roman. These fonts project the image of respectability
and trustworthiness. For more trendy or contemporary jobs, fonts
like Verdana or Helvetica are quite popular because of their
modern feel. Be sure to stay away from Courier when writing your
resume -- unless of course you want to appear impersonal and
stuck in the past.
Love Letter -- When writing a love letter (or love
e-mail) pay close attention to the font you choose. Fonts with
big round O's and tails, like Humana, appear friendly and affectionate.
And Mayday, a beautifully rounded, soft and curvy font, is said
to be quite inviting. At the same time, fonts like Times and
Palatino express harshness, and may declare to your loved one
that things are over, rather than proclaiming your love to him
or her.
Power Letter -- When writing a letter to demand power
and respect, such as one to request money owed, font size should
be taken into account. Small fonts (e.g., 11 points) tend to
express greater confidence and importance than larger fonts,
implying that the writer is so important that he doesn't need
to express the magnitude of his message. In addition, Courier,
a font with otherwise limited usability, may serve its purpose
well in this case by indicating the writer's authority and purpose.
Thank You Notes -- As electronic or formally typed thank
you notes become more common, font choice should be a priority.
Straight and sincere fonts, like Geneva, give off cheerful energy
and state that you are genuine about your gratitude. Using a
Courier-New font will express an automation-like coldness that
may not be appropriate when giving thanks.
For more information about
this study, visit www.lexmark.co.uk.
Article reprinted from www.napsnet.com.
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