Best serifed font for reading?

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell · January 29

Hey all! Just loooking for your input… what would you recommend as the best serifed font for reading in Logos? Other than Times New Roman, which I already know about! 😁

Thanks! I use Logos desktop and mobile, just in case that makes a difference, and you would recommend two separate ones…

Veli Voipio · January 29

I seem to use Tex Gyre Schola font in my desktop, no idea why. Probably long time ago I thought it is good, similar to Century Schoolbook typeface. A screenshot is below.

I also use the widest (loose) line spacing, it seems to make reading easier.

(I've also read that readability is related to the spectrum of the font: lower frequencies are easier to read than higher. If you take a two-dimensional Fourier transform of the text, you can compare the spectrums of the fonts. Serif fonts have a lower spectrum, thus they are easier to read. 😐)

Yasmin Stephen · January 29

No claim for the best but I use Gentium Plus on desktop, and I like it a lot. I had to add it to Windows first, and it was then available in Logos.

On mobile, I use Palatino out of the limited number of available fonts.

(Btw, can we add fonts to the mobile app?)

John · January 29

The two fonts designed by Microsoft especially for reducing eye strain on screen displays are Georgia (serif) and Verdana (non serif).

Verdana - Wikipedia

https://community.logos.com/home/leaving?allowTrusted=1&target=https%3A%2F%2Fen.m.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FVerdana

Verdana is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Matthew Carter for Microsoft Corporation, with hand-hinting done by Thomas Rickner, then at Monotype. Demand for such a typeface was recognized by Virginia Howlett of Microsoft's typography group and commissioned by Steve Ballmer.[1][2] The name "Verdana" is derived from "verdant" (green) and "Ana" (the name of Howlett's eldest daughter).[3]

At the time they were created, computer fonts were mostly copied from print typefaces, so they were the best available.

DMB · January 29

John

Jan 29, 2025

The two fonts designed by Microsoft especially for reducing eye strain on screen displays are Georgia (serif) and Verdana (non serif).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdana
At the time they were created, computer fonts were mostly copied from print typefaces, so they were the best available.

I tried out Georgia .. nice. Thank you.

RJ · January 29

Personally, I've never liked Georgia or Verdana, and don't use them. Font preferences are pretty personal, though, aren't they? I like a high x-height, so the default Noto Serif is my favourite, whereas my husband uses a big ugly slab serif on his tablet (yuck 🤣), so it's your choice really!

John · January 29

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1355761#Comment_1355761

I like big font sizes too, like your husband 😇

It’s always a trade-off between how much information you want on the screen and how readable you want it to be.

Verdana and Georgia were designed to be more readable at smaller sizes.

I do not understand why so many still make Times New Roman the universal default. There was a time when compatibility across platforms was the big issue. It could be relied upon to be there, and to support multiple languages when Unicode was still a new thing.

But so many people just use it because it’s the default 😐

Veli Voipio · January 29

I seem to use Tex Gyre Schola font in my desktop, no idea why. Probably long time ago I thought it is good, similar to Century Schoolbook typeface. A screenshot is below.

I also use the widest (loose) line spacing, it seems to make reading easier.

(I've also read that readability is related to the spectrum of the font: lower frequencies are easier to read than higher. If you take a two-dimensional Fourier transform of the text, you can compare the spectrums of the fonts. Serif fonts have a lower spectrum, thus they are easier to read. 😐)

RJ · January 29

Ew.

🤣😉

DMB · January 29

Just to show how my new Georgia font is just so peachy!! And why almost no one would like my preference/reason below.

In Logos, I'd assume just one font might be constricting (eg one for reading, another for study, etc).

RJ · January 30

That tiny, Georgia doesn't look so bad 😉

John · January 30

@RJ

That tiny, Georgia doesn't look so bad 😉

True, but Verdana would be even better 😎

Bohuslav Wojnar · January 30

I tried all kind of serif fonts. For reading books on mobile devices, I like to use Bookerly of Amazon. On the desktop after trying some other options I always ended up with the Logos default font. It is just the best for Logos IMHO.😊

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell · January 30

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1355761#Comment_1355761

Oh fer sure RJ, I[m just lookin' to see what's out there… 😊

Carmen Gauvin-O'Donnell · January 30

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1355772#Comment_1355772

Hey all, after seeing all your posts, and trying out a few new things, I wound up going back to Logos' default serifed font, BUT LOOSENING THE TEXT, which all of a sudden made everything much more pleasant to read. I had had it set on "tight" for some reason, and that was the problem, not so much the font! 🙄 So thanks Veli! Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! 👍️

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Verdana - Wikipedia

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