What does serif and sans-serif mean?

Answer 1

Serif and sans-serif refer to styles of fonts. A serif is a stylistic embellishment -- or fancy piece -- so serif fonts are fonts that have extra pieces while sans-serif (sans meaning without) are fonts that don't.

To see examples of the difference, you can take a look at the fonts on your computer, Times New Roman (with the tiny lines on the top and bottom of the upper-case "i" so that it doesn't look like an lower-case "L") is a serif font, while Arial is a sans-serif font.

Because the brain reads serif fonts more quickly, most novels are written in serif fonts and textbooks in sans-serif.

Answer 2

In short: little feet.

A serif font has little accents on the ends of the strokes that make up the letters. On many of the capital letter, these flourishes are located at the end of the up or down strokes. If you look to the top of the page, the "A" "n" and "r" in the Answers.com logo clearly show the serifs at the bottom of the letters.

Sans is a French word meaning "without." You will hear from some people that Serif is a French word meaning "little feet." This is poppycock. The word "serif" in French means the same as it does in English: the little flourishes on the letters. Either way, sans serif fonts are lacking in those flourishes. Here on Answers.com, all the page text is displayed (by default) in sans serif. Notice the "n" and "r" in your question in the header? See how they're lacking the "feet?"

Answer 3

A Serif font has a line attached to the edges or ends of letters, serif fonts are considered old style designs or formal among designers. Sans Serif obviously the opposite and it is a more legible font for body text.

Answer 4

Serif fonts have the little flicks on the end of the letters, Times new Roman is a common example of a serif font.

Sans serif fonts do not have these flicks or decorations. Arial is a popular sans serif font.

Answer 5

Serifs are the small extensions at the ends of letters like L and T. 'Sans' means without.

Thus, a serif typeface has these small markings. A sans serif does not.

Answer 6

A serif font has those little :tails" at the end of the letters that make it more readable for extended periods. San-serif would be like Arial and the like.

Answer 7

Serif fonts have little "tails" on the letters to make extended reading less tiresome.

Answer 8

A: Easier to read online