As though there isn't enough to worry about on-line, along comes a study to tell us to beware the fonts we use.
A study called The Psychology of Fonts, written by psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman, warns that our selection of fonts can identify writers as anything from sex-kittens to nerds.
A careless choice can influence what the reader thinks about the user. "Be careful before you automatically use the default font on your computer," Dr. Sigman said. "You could be sending out all the wrong messages."
The study, commissioned by printer-maker Lexmark, said that with the demise of personal handwriting, people are left to pick up personality cues from the writer's selection of font.
"The influence is subliminal, yet the medium and the message should ideally complement one another," the study said. "Otherwise an incongruity develops, as if the person is saying one thing yet displaying the opposite facial expression or tone of voice."
Dr. Sigman wrote that general observations can be made about types of fonts.
Fonts with "big round Os and tails," he said, are regarded as friendly, "perhaps because aspects of the font appear to mimic the human face."
Angular fonts suggest "rigidity, technology, coldness" - if psychiatrists were to typify them, Dr. Sigman said they would suggest a person who is emotionally repressed or "anally retentive in nature."
Courier fonts are associated with "cheapskatedness" and are used by "older administrative staff and secretaries who may harbour latent nostalgia for the bygone era of typewriters and carbon paper, and old-school journalists who report associations with whiskey, cigarettes late nights and goose-neck lamps."
Serif styles - those with little flourishes on the strokes of individual letters - suggest a compromise between old and new styles. Sans-Serif fonts (those without the curliques, such as Arial, Universe and others) are the "sensible shoes of print" that convey little emotion, and are a good choice for those who wish to blend in and give away as little of themselves as possible.
Handwriting-style fonts were designed to suggest a personal touch, such as the signatures at the bottoms of mass-mailed letters sent out by banks and corporations wishing to project a "folksy and chummy" image. But their unintended effect is to make the readers ask, "Why is he being so friendly and familiar?"
Using "soft and curvy" fonts such as Georgia or Shelley send the message that you're a sex kitten.
Sans-serif fonts - those without the little curlicues at the ends of the strokes in each character, such as Arial or Universal - suggest users value their safety and anonymity.
Comic Sans, however, which emulates the hand-printed style of the dialogue balloons in a comic strip, suggests the user is an attention-seeker, because it allows for more expression of character.
Dr. Sigman suggested certain fonts for different kinds of letters:
Job applications and résumés should be written in Times, Times New Roman or Palatino for more conservative positions, and in Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, Modern or Universal for more trendy industries. Courier is good only when applying to be governor of the Bank of England, Dr. Sigman said.
Love letters should use fonts with rounded letters and tails, to appear friendly. Italicized fonts "possess a softening emotional quality."
Dear-John letters should not be written in italicized fonts lest they give readers false hope, or make them feel patronized; Times will reduce the harshness of the content, while Verdana or Hoefler Text are more respectful. For bluntness, use Courier.
Resignation letters come in two kinds. A fond farewell should be written in a font "with a human edge," such as New York or Verdana. Those wishing to make an abrupt exit should use Times New Roman or Arial for "a dispassionate quitting," or Courier New "for automaton-like coldness."
"The technology to express yourself through your choice of font is at its peak and very accessible," Dr. Sigman said. "Using the wrong font may give people the wrong impression about you and could affect decisions that will shape your future."
The study suggests fonts for certain celebrities. Among them:
A font called Shelley suggests someone like sexy singing starlet Jennifer Lopez.
A trustworthy and respectable font such as Times would be appropriate for CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge.
A no-nonsense but still informal font like Verdana suggests a "professional yet appealing" quality, such as that projected by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson.
Comic Sans would be appropriate for shock comedian Tom Green, a classic attention-seeker.
A flossy but strong font like Palatino suggests a sexually ambiguous character such as Latino singer Ricky Martin.
Dr. Sigman offers two rules to bear in mind when writing important letters:
Size matters, particularly for business letters seeking to project a powerful image. "Make sure that the font is small and minimalist," Dr. Sigman said. "Less is definitely more. Large fonts reveal certain insecurities."
Match your font to your message when writing résumés. "Use Times when applying for traditional positions and Verdana for more contemporary companies," suggested Dr. Sigman. "If you're writing your resignation letter, be professional and don't let them know that they upset you - use Courier New for automaton-like coldness."