What's Wrong with Comic Sans?
Comic Sans is a type face you either love or hate.
It was created in 1994 by Microsoft in-house font designer Vincent Connare, who was appalled to see Times New Roman being used in cartoon speech bubbles. Turning to comic books for inspiration, he created Comic Sans. Although it was specifically designed for instructional software and programs aimed at children, it somehow got bundled into Windows 95 as one of the system fonts. From there, its popularity took off. And its popularity continues to grow so quickly, that it threatens to overtake Helvetica and Times New Roman by 2013.
This enrages Holly and Dave Combs, who started Ban Comic Sans, an international movement with this mission:
While we recognize the font may be appropriate in a few specific instances, our position is that the only effective means of ending this epidemic of abuse is to completely ban Comic Sans.
If you start to look, you’ll see Comic Sans everywhere. Love it or hate it, the main thing is to know enough about typography to understand why you should probably avoid it.
Type is a voice, and the type you choose is the tone of that voice. Ideally, it supports your message by being transparent, invisible. It’s the same with the best writing—the style serves the purpose and never draws attention to itself, never distracts the reader from the message.
Imagine a Danger: Do Not Enter sign. It’s probably in Arial Black, which would add authority. Appropriate, right? Imagine a legal document in Times New Roman—just the right amount of serious. Imagine a wedding invitation in a script—it’s elegant, formal, romantic. Now imagine any of these documents in Comic Sans. Ridiculous, right? And see what the American dollar bill looks like in Comic Sans. It’s just wrong.
Okay, comic sans does have appropriate uses, such as in comic book design, or in a sixth grader’s essay. It’s been used on Beanie Babies since the late 1990s. And that seems right. But does it belong on building signs? Or on information sheets for people with cancer? On legal documents?
Does it belong in business writing? No way. Its tone is childish, silly and friendly to the point of annoying. Definitely not professional. It says “Don’t take me seriously.”
This font has always bothered me, mostly because of it’s misuse. I have a printer rep who has it set as his default email font – it’s entirely inappropriate for business use.
I actually like it as a refreshing change…. Embrace the change. Or, change the change. Your call.
Completely absurd. This is what happens when people take life too seriously. Let it go folks… there more important things going on in the world. Now, how do I change the font of this post to Comic Sans??
This whole argument is absurd, just like in the example given:
“Imagine a Danger: Do Not Enter sign. It’s probably in Arial Black, which would add authority. Appropriate, right? Imagine a legal document in Times New Roman”……
Why would one use Comic Sans in either of these cases, just like why would one use Arial Black in a legal document. If one does, than that is a judgement issue, and that in itself lies the problem. Kind of like someone not holding a door open for a women/elderly. Or like me typing THIS WHOLE COMMENT IN CAPS.
Geese find a real problem to deal with, they’re plenty out there, this is exactly like a nosey neighbor trying to be important to a community……I mean really? Ban Comic Sans? It’s that big of an issue? (shakes head in disbelief).
Now Comic Sans, tomorrow Cancer….
I think it’s ridiculous that for the ban comic sans website to extrapolate 100% usage of comic sans by 2030, and to claim that by 2022 the US Federal Reserve will use Comic Sans for all currency is preposterous.
It’s tongue-in-cheek for sure. Designed to shock. On the other hand, people do use Comic Sans in shockingly inappropriate ways.
The only thing worst than comic sans is Curls. I have actually seen this used TOO many times in logos and even signage. Seriously?
Kinda funny to see people taking the ‘Ban Comic Sans’ movement seriously. Grow a sense of humour, and, while you’re at it, learn some typography. Font misuse is just a sign of typographic ignorance. Leave the design for the designers and only use Vincent’s finest where it’s appropriate.
‘Comic’ Dave–I completely agree with you.
A business associate just showed me a proposal he wants to submit to a law firm. It was written entirely in Comic Sans. First thing I did–surprise surprise–was change the font. I showed him this blog and he replied:
_______
Maybe I’m different than most people but when I
first found comic sans I felt it was like a soul mate.
It just seems to represent the tone I wish to
communicate; casual attitude towards how I live my
life and effective. Sort of ‘happy go lucky’.
________
I get that, of course. Still, I’d prefer to see him portray his lightheartedness rhetorically, by making good word and style choices (which he does), and NOT typographically. He’s trained as a marketer, not as a designer. It’s just like using big words and cliches to portray your professionalism. A strategy guaranteed to backfire.
Is there actually any point to this? Yes, using Comic Sans on a legal document is rediculous, but imagine a children’s educational book in Times New Roman, rediculous right? Or that Script you mentioned being used on a light hearted, humerous website…Preposterous, I know.
I don’t know exactly why you’re frustrated, but taking it out on one of the easiest to read and well-loved fonts is the wrong way to go about it. Grow up and if you really want to make a difference then become a politician and change the matters that are actually affecting people
Sincerely, The World
My work contract was in Comic sans! :O
It’s stupid to hate it. It’s just a casual, silly font, entirely appropriate in some situations.
Get angry at the people who use it in business and things like contracts -__-.
That’s just being stupid.
I know it’s a bit extreme to hate it, but it’s a stance that makes people stop and think about their choices.