The US State Department is in disarray after it changed its default font
Is there anything more divisive than a font choice?
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The US State Department has sent shockwaves throughout its workforce after ditching Times New Roman as the font of choice in official communications.
The evergreen staple has been used by the government body since 2004, but a leaked cable has revealed that this is about to change.
As reported inThe Washington Post, the iconic font will be substituted in favor of Calibri for the purposes of better readability in digital formats.
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Sans serif
The cable, written by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, explained that san serif fonts - those without the small protrusions at the ends of each letter - are easier to read at smaller sizes on digital devices like smartphones, making them preferable for those with visual impairments.
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Microsoftalso replaced Times New Roman with Calibri as the default font in itsword processorsoftware in 2007, when the font was was first released. Perhaps this is another reason for the State Department’s decision - If they do use the company’s products in document creation, it would be a lot more convenient that having to change the font every time you start a new document.
However, even Calibri is now set to go out of fashion.In 2021, Microsoft themselves wanted to change up their default fontin Microsoft 365, and created five new custom fonts for users to pick from to replace Calibri. For now, though, Calibri is still holding the top spot within the IT giant’s estate.
AsTechCrunchnotes, Noto, the font jointly created by Monotype andGoogle, is specifically designed for today’s consumption of written content, with it being compatible with all languages and symbols, which would be appropriate for the State Department, given its broad remit and international dealings. It too is also sans serif.
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Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he had experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.
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