It’s easy to forget that the book fonts we see today are the result of hundreds of years of design evolution. From layouts that emulate handwriting to the clean, crisp serif layouts you’ll find in most publications, modern fonts are the culmination of centuries of people blending form and function into something gorgeous, yet barely noticed by their users. Of course, as an author, you can’t get away with this same nonchalance: font selection is an essential step in designing your book, both inside and out.
what is a font?
Before we begin, let’s clear up a bit of terminology. true typography experts will be quick to point out how the term “font” is commonly misused in everyday non-technical conversation.
You are reading: Fonts used in books
For typographers, “typefaces” are different font designs, such as times new roman and arial. “Fonts,” on the other hand, are size, weight, and style variations on typefaces, such as Times New Roman 12-point bold and Arial 14-point italic. however, for convenience, we will use the term “font” to refer to both general type styles and their variations.
how to choose the font for a book
Choosing the “right” font for the body of a book often comes down to individual taste. With the exception of a few universally reviled typefaces (cough, cough, comic sans), almost any legible font can be considered. That said, there are a few things any discerning book designer will want to keep in mind.
has to be readable
Imagine a beautiful chair. it may be the most beautiful thing to look at, but if it’s uncomfortable to sit on, what good is it really? the same goes for fonts. While you obviously want your font to look good on the page, it also needs to do its job and be easy to read so readers can immerse themselves in your words without getting distracted or having to figure out what you’re saying.
serif or non-serif?
Although you may not know the serif by name, you’ll definitely have noticed these little lines or strokes coming off the end of letters in certain fonts like Times New Roman (and the modified Times font that we use here on the Reedsy blog!).
Serifs supposedly guide the eye from one letter to the next, making the reading experience easier and less tiring, although there isn’t really much scientific evidence for this. but as a result of this theory, you will commonly see serif fonts used for large bodies of text, while ‘sans serif’ fonts, literally sans serifs, are generally reserved for shorter pieces of text such as chapter titles and headings. /p >
All of that being said, humans are adaptable and your reader should be able to adapt to pretty much any source after a chapter or so. If there’s a font choice that you think would really elevate or set your work apart, feel free to choose novelty over convention.
style is still important
To engage your reader, you’ll want a modern, sleek font that’s attractive, but this is quite subjective, so again, choose one you like. Your choice of font should also be influenced by the content of your book. You can get a little creative with titles and headings that capture the spirit or genre of your book a little better. or even go out of your way and do something original with the body copy, as long as it makes sense for your book design. many of the so-called typographical rules can be broken if the situation really calls for it.
use fonts to tell a story
for example, the novel chinatown interior deals with the idea of typecasting and stereotypes in the film industry. To give it the feel of a Hollywood movie, the book is written in script format using Courier as the standard font.
Needless to say, this is an unusual choice for a novel: to use a specific font that is often strongly discouraged for book typesetting. but in the case of inner Chinatown, the courier service is a very intentional choice that serves a particular purpose and contributes to the impact of the book itself. this is an excellent example where typical font conventions can be eschewed in favor of effect.
Pro Tip: Some sites like myfonts allow you to try samples of text in a particular font before you take the plunge and purchase it. this is especially helpful when choosing between very similar fonts, as you may not be able to spot subtle differences until you see them in a larger block of text.
10 Brilliant Book Fonts
1. garamond
Fast fact: Designed from the work of noted 16th-century engraver Claude Garamond, this font family rose to fame as a standard option in Microsoft Word.
if this source were a character: garamond, a 1920s detective lurking in the shadows of a new york alley, waiting for a corrupt district attorney to leave a related nightclub with the mob, right at his house in a suspenseful thriller.
2. caslon
Quick fact: Caslon’s designer William Caslon spearheaded the development of an English typographic style, sparking a move away from imported Dutch fonts that were common in England at the time.
See Also: About Us | Bell&039s Books
If this source were a character: caslon, a no-nonsense bespectacled professor, who still gets visits from alumni years later because they feel they owe all their success to him. clear and reliable, caslon is excellent for nonfiction.
3. baskerville
quick fact: baskerville was novel in the 18th century for its contrasting thick and thin lines. John Baskerville, the creator of this font, was heavily influenced by his background in calligraphy.
If this font were a character: baskerville, lady of the manor, runs the house like a tight ship. her servants tremble under her iron gaze, but her icy exterior melts when she sits on her easel. baskerville walks the corridors of a work of historical fiction that transports you.
4. sabon
Quick fact: You may notice from the image above that each variant of the Sabon font has the exact same letter spacing (or tracking, as typographers call it). This is a consequence of limitations of the hot-metal typesetting machines used at the time of its development.
if this font were a character: sabon, a shy hopeless romantic, takes a look at the bride who doesn’t know his true feelings, before finally plucking up the courage to go and say ‘hello’ . from there springs a sweet and dreamy romance.
5. dante
quick fact: dante was originally designed in the mid-20th century, for the exclusive use of the officina bodoni, a private publisher admired by book collectors around the world.
if this source were a character: dante, a rambunctious teenager who just pressed the big red forbidden button in the control room. the spaceship wobbles. Dante dares to take you on a hilarious sci-fi adventure.
Speaking of which, do you want to take readers on an otherworldly adventure? check out our post on how to write science fiction!
6. bembo
Quick fact: Unlike many typefaces which are named after their designers, Bembo takes its name from the author who first used it in publication: Italian poet Pietro Bembo.
if this source were a character: bembo, a photographer with a passion for travel dining alone in the shade of a palm tree, a third serving of fried fish is already on the way, but can he really fill the abyss? inside him? bembo is an excellent choice for evocative literary fiction.
7. Jason
quick fact: although this typeface was actually designed by hungarian puncher miklós kis, it was originally misattributed to anton janson, whose name it still bears.
if this source were a character: janson, a wise old soul who, after years living the fast-paced life of a musician, has traded his trumpet for a paddle, growing fruit and vegetables in abundance. . take a trip down memory lane with janson in your memoir.
8. bison
Quick fact: This all-caps sans serif font was inspired by the animal from which it takes its name. (But to be honest, we don’t really see the resemblance.)
if this font were a character: bison, a big, responsible CEO, feet up on his desk, looking out over the city from the 90th floor. bison brings a classy, confident touch to headers and titles.
9. comic captain
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fast fact: Clearly inspired by the style of lettering found on the pages of comics, captain comic is the sophisticated older sister of comic sans. use with caution!
if this font were a character: comic captain, a fearless hero, climbs a clock tower in the dead of night, aware of the danger that awaits him at the top, but unafraid. the comic captain reigns supreme in an action-packed graphic novel.
10. little pro
Quick fact: Pequena Pro was designed in 2016 by Rodrigo Araya Salas and supports both Roman and Cyrillic alphabets. (Look, these quick facts can’t all be winners.)
if this source were a character: little pro, a talking hippo, is looking for food (as usual) when she comes across a family of meerkats trapped on the shore and offers to help them across the river. tiny pro is a delight for a children’s book.
how to access book sources
The easiest way to get the right fonts for your book is to work with a professional typographer. they’ll have access to font libraries, and many of these experts can even create custom typefaces, if your project calls for it.
But if you take the DIY approach to formatting your book, you’ll have to do the fonts yourself. here’s what you need to know if you’re taking this route:
You don’t buy a font, you license it. If you are going to print physical copies in addition to publishing eBooks, you should confirm that the font can be used in print and not just in digital works (some are).
fonts come in packages. Quickly switch to typographical terminology here: To use all fonts in a given typeface (for example, Caslon Regular, Caslon Bold, and Caslon Italic), you must purchase the entire Caslon family of fonts, either individually or as part of a package.
free is not always good. Free font download links can sometimes contain viruses. Also, keep in mind that the person offering the free font might not have the right to distribute it, and there might be consequences for using it.
On that note, here are some reliable sites that offer free and paid fonts:
paid:
- linotype
- myfonts
- font store
free:
- dafont
- google fonts
⚠️ Whether you download your fonts for free or buy them, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully so you understand exactly what you can and can’t do with them.
all fonts have a time and a place, yes, even comic sans, but that place may not be in your book. As you undertake this critical selection process, make sure you’re thinking about the specifics of your book and precisely what you want your source to accomplish.
See Also: Jennifer Worth – Book Series In Order