Scripts Perfect Font Pairings
Script typefaces are emotional, lyrical, and even passionate communicators. They elevate the written word with a unique soul and heart. Copy set in script exemplifies something greater than the sum of its parts.
Among all letter styles, scripts are perhaps the most expressive and versatile typographic tools. The bold, rounded strength of a typeface like Forte™ conveys a very different personality than the passionate Bendigo™, while both are distinctly different from the refined elegance of Elegy™.
Caveats for pairing scripts
First, scripts are harder to read than serif or sans serif typefaces. We are not as familiar with their character shapes as we are to those in more traditional typeface designs. This slows down the reading process – and can affect document comprehension and information retention. Studies have also shown that blocks of script copy are not inviting to the reader.
While scripts stand out, they also tend to create a busy visual texture that is subtly off-putting to readers. A few words set in a script can make for an engaging and powerful headline – and they can be excellent choices for creating wordmarks. Just don’t rely on them for textual copy.
What to look for in fonts that pair well with script typefaces
- Avoid pairing two script fonts together. Script typefaces carry strong, distinct personalities that often compete rather than complement. Mixing two scripts in the same design tends to create visual confusion rather than harmony.
- Pair script fonts with simple, clean typefaces.
- Choose sans-serif or serif fonts with minimal decoration to balance the decorative nature of scripts.
- Complement or contrast the script’s demeanor with it companion design. For example, pair a formal, elegant script with a classic serif like Walbaum or a playful, casual script with a friendly sans-serif like Gotham® Rounded.
There are hundreds of script fonts and a thousands of excellent fonts to pair with them. Pairing guidelines are pretty straightforward. Just remember that scripts are a strong spice, so fold them into your projects with care.
EXPLORE OTHER FONT PAIRING GUIDES
The Gill Sans® Nova family is part of Monotype’s revived and reimaged Eric Gill Series suite of typefaces. The Gill Sans Nova typefaces are contemporary digital designs, in a wide range of weights, with alternate characters and extended language support.
The first Trade Gothic typefaces were released in the late 1940s by Jackson Burke. They were condensed sans popular for “trade” work, and were just named “Gothic” with numeric suffixes. Later, regular-proportioned versions emerged, leading to the unified name “Trade Gothic” for the family.