Comments on: The Font Is Not The Story

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Wed, 11 May 2005 17:37:32 +0000

Underlining is an old-school way of notifying a typesetter of a difference. Italics are generally acceptable these days. I am, sadly, old school, but don’t let that bother you.

By: Lorra

Lorra — Wed, 11 May 2005 15:59:49 +0000

Since we’re getting techinical: Please somebody tell me whether you should use Italics or underlining for emphasis, titles, etc.
Chicago Manual says italics – but I have heard otherwise and need to know ASAP. Thank you!!!

By: HelenKay

HelenKay — Wed, 11 May 2005 14:46:20 +0000

I would add that people get worked up about everything – font, word count, margins, headers, submission envelope size and how to address said envelopes to editors and agents. You name it. The font and word count issues are particularly annoying because they arise every week. Really, every single week on writer loops, message boards, and anywhere else you might find nervous and insecure writers.

Booksquare (I know you have a name but I like writing Booksquare), thanks for the congrats and the comments about me being a nice person. You may be the only person in the blogosphere who feels that way.

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Wed, 11 May 2005 14:28:16 +0000

Karen, Karen, Karen, let me assure you that there are indeed people who get worked up about fonts and word count (some with good reason, though not that good these days!). It is a symptom, not a disease. Hmm, maybe it’s more a sign of insecurity. Love my font, love me.

It gets back to the notion that there’s a “publishing standard” for determining word count. This goes back to the olden days when people used typewriters with only one font. Courier 12 = 250 words a page. Except when it doesn’t because your margins are off or some such nonsense. Oddly enough, most editors I’ve spoken with/heard speak are unaware of this publishing standard. They are genuinely perplexed.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 11 May 2005 04:14:28 +0000

What are you all talking about? People get worked up about word count? What’s wrong with Word’s? Don’t tell me it’s not accurate. (Microshit stirkes again.) And font? I’ve taught off and on for years and it’s never come up . . . actually, that’s not quite true. I’ve had to tell students sometimes to quit getting fancy with the font (the script faces are particularly egregious), but no one has ever asked.