What Your Favorite Font Says About You

Sometimes fonts speak louder than words.

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Image via Complex Original
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Like handwriting, we associate font choices with specific personalities. People who use Helvetica usually have an eye for clean design and art—the famous font is even the mainstay for the NYC Metro—whereas those who use Comic Sans are just embarrassing themselves. Different sub-cultures even have their own fonts. In Hip-Hop, Cooper Black has become a go-to typeface for album covers, posters, and T-shirts. Typography ranges from high tech to incredibly dirty. We chose fifteen typefaces and gave them a personality test. Here is our interpretation of What Your Favorite Font Says About You

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Times New Roman

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Times New Roman

Times New Roman just screams traditional, and chances are that TNR-lovers are afraid of change. In 2007, Microsoft changed their default font to Cambria instead of Times New Roman. So, we can only surmise that if you use still use Times New Roman, your software program is more than six years old, or you switch back to Times New Roman every time you write something. God forbid you accidentally send out a document in Cambria.

Helvetica

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Helvetica

Helvetica says that you are artsy and interested in design. Even if it's not true, Helvetica gives off the impression that you've got your life together. The font was selected as the original typeface for the New York Metro, and it has held a special place in the art world ever since. Helvetica is typography's equivalent of Swiss people—neutral and beautiful.

Comic Sans

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Comic Sans

If you use Comic Sans, now is the time to never use Comic Sans again. The joke of the font world, Comic Sans is silly, stupid, and makes you look completely unprofessional. This embarrassing typeface is what people thought looked cool when the Internet first came into being. They were wrong. Today there is a whole online movement to get rid of the typeface Ban Comic Sans (and they have T-shirts!). Then again, maybe we're all a little too harsh on Comic Sans.

Curlz

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Curlz

If you're using Curlz, then you're probably also still using Microsoft paint to draw on people's faces. You're either very immature, stuck in 1999, or trying to be ironic. This poor font had no hope with a name like Curlz—does anyone still pluralize with a "z" anymore? Using Curlz is like saying "fo shizzle" instead of "for sure" or "bling bling" instead of just "bling." If you're not trying to give off the impression of being outdated then you should avoid Curlz.

Arial

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Arial

The usual Arial-lover also uses TextEdit as their word processor of choice and ends most relationships with "It's not you. It's me". Arial is the font for the insecure and clingy. It's trying to be as cool as Helvetica, but it's just not, so no wonder it has some confidence issues. Even Times New Roman is a better choice. And lets face it, after all these years with Arial, you just may not be ready for Helvetica. It does serve one purpose, however. Arial is bigger than TNR, so it makes your papers look a whole lot longer.

Lucida Calligraphy

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Lucida Calligraphy

We're guessing you used this font to make party invitations back in the 90's, liked it, and haven't changed since. If this is your favorite font, you're a mom with teenagers. This font is perfect for PTA meetings, book clubs, sorority events, and Zooey Deschanel. We do like the fact that the woman who invented this typeface married the guy who came up with Wingdings. Awwww, typography love.

Rockwell

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Rockwell

Rock on if you use Rockwell. This underrated font is classy with the perfect amount of edge. Rockwell users wear a suit during the day and leather pants at night. Your business-by-day-party-by-night attitude will get you far in life, so don't change. And don't stop using Rockwell. People who know how to lead the party and the morning meeting are rare. Congratulations on being one of them.

Cambria

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Cambria

Cambria is the baby of the font world, created in 2005. Unfortunately, it is one of those inventions that is new and modern but completely useless. They should sell Cambria on late-night infomercials. Default settings are often too simplified or inefficient, and Cambria, which became Microsoft's go-to in 2007, is no exception. If this is your font of choice, we sympathize with you. You're just a victim of the default. 

Verdana

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Verdana

If you use Verdana, you probably still use Myspace and Blogspot. Consider switching to Bookman Old Style, which is Tumblr's typeface. When it comes to Verdana, the name is the most interesting part of this font. Using it says the same about you—unless you have a common name, and then you don't even have that going for you.

Courier

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Courier

When this font was created, it was designed so that one full page of a screenplay that used Courier was equal to exactly one minute of video. Courier typeface pigeonholes you into the film industry. You definitely drink your coffee without milk or sugar, chain smoke, wear all black, and go to poetry slams. Film is your life, but that doesn't mean you're successful. Most likely you're unemployed.

Futura

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Futura

You are a sports fan or design crazed if you use Futura. Futura is a great typeface, but it is somewhat overused. One of the oldest typefaces on our list, it was designed in 1927. If you like Nike, Supreme, Aaron Draplin, or Barbara Kruger, then this font is for you.

Impact

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Impact

If you like Impact, you are probably a Redditor, and you really, really like memes. You get all your advice from a duck. Your bad days are shared by a kid named Brian. A sassy cat taught you everything you know about being grumpy. And the celebrity you want to meet the most is the Ridiculously Photogenic Guy. If all these references are second nature for you, you are Impact-obsessed.

Franklin Gothic

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Franklin Gothic

Franklin Gothic is the vanilla ice cream of fonts. It's a classic. You're probably a rich banker if you use this font, or maybe you're just good at Monopoly. It's steady, reputable, but maybe a little boring. This font makes us trust you with our money, but if you call us on Friday night, we're probably busy.

Papyrus

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Papyrus

If you are not James Cameron, you have no business using Papyrus. The typeface of Avatar is the guilty pleasure of the font world. Use Papyrus sparingly because too much is just plain obnoxious. And then it's impossible to take you seriously.

Bradley Hand

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Bradley Hand

You hate your roommates, but you're too scared to tell them. Bradley Hand is the way you make your passive aggressive notes seem less angry. If you're using Bradley Hand, you might want to see a therapist to deal with your issues. Or just change fonts. Right now, your notes probably look something like this

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