Times New Roman has serifs, the small lines at the ends of letters

Times New Roman is a serif font. The serifs are the tiny lines or feet that extend from the ends of letters like T, A, and M. In Times New Roman, these lines are thin and formal, which is why the font looks traditional and official — it was designed in 1931 for the Times of London newspaper.

If you compare Times New Roman to a sans-serif font like Arial or Helvetica, the difference is obvious. Arial letters end in clean, flat edges with no extra lines. Times New Roman letters have those small horizontal strokes attached. That distinction — serif or no serif — is the most basic way to sort fonts into families.

The serifs in Times New Roman are proportional to the letter size and positioned at the baseline and top of the characters. They give the font a formal, printed appearance, which is why it became standard for business documents, academic papers, and formal letters for decades.

Key Takeaways

  • Times New Roman is a serif font because it has small lines extending from the ends of its letters.
  • Serifs are the defining feature that separates serif fonts from sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica.
  • Times New Roman was originally created for newspaper printing and carries a formal, traditional appearance because of its serif design.
  • The serifs in Times New Roman are thin and consistent, making them visible at any readable size but not overwhelming the letter shapes.

How serifs affect readability and appearance

Serifs change how a font looks on the page and how your eye moves across it. The small lines create a visual connection between letters, which some readers find easier to follow in long passages of text. This is why Times New Roman and other serif fonts have been the standard choice for printed books and formal documents.

On screen, serifs can sometimes appear less sharp than sans-serif fonts, especially at small sizes. This is because serifs are thin lines that may not render cleanly on low-resolution displays. However, at normal reading sizes in documents, Times New Roman remains clear and legible.

The formal appearance of serifs also matters for tone. A document in Times New Roman signals tradition and authority — which is why it remains the default font for legal documents, academic submissions, and business correspondence. A sans-serif font like Arial or Calibri signals a more modern or casual tone.

When Times New Roman is the right choice

Times New Roman works best for documents where formality and tradition matter. Academic papers, resumes, cover letters, and official correspondence often call for a serif font, and Times New Roman is the most recognizable choice. Many style guides, including MLA and Chicago, either recommend or require serif fonts for body text.

If you are writing something that will be printed, Times New Roman is a safe choice because it was designed for print and renders cleanly on paper. The serifs actually help guide the eye along lines of text in printed material.

Times New Roman is less ideal for web content, presentations, or casual communication. For those contexts, sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana often work better because they appear cleaner on screens and feel more contemporary.

Times New Roman versus other serif fonts

Times New Roman is not the only serif font available. Other common serif fonts include Georgia, Garamond, and Palatino. Each has a different character — Garamond feels more elegant and historical, Georgia was designed specifically for screen display, and Palatino is slightly more rounded and friendly.

The difference between these fonts lies in the thickness of the serifs, the width of the letters, and the overall proportions. Times New Roman has relatively thin serifs and a narrow, efficient design. Garamond has more delicate serifs and a lighter overall appearance. Georgia has thicker serifs and was built to remain readable at small sizes on computer screens.

If you are choosing between serif fonts for a formal document, Times New Roman remains the most universally recognized and accepted option. If you want something with a different character, Georgia or Garamond are the next most common choices.

How to identify serifs in any font

To spot whether a font is serif or sans-serif, look at the ends of vertical and horizontal strokes in letters. In Times New Roman, look at the top and bottom of the letter T, or the ends of the letter M. You will see small lines extending outward. Those are serifs.

In a sans-serif font like Arial, those same letters end in straight, clean edges with nothing extending beyond the main stroke. The word "sans" means "without," so sans-serif fonts are simply fonts without those extra lines.

This distinction applies to every letter in the alphabet. Once you know what to look for, you can instantly tell whether any font is serif or sans-serif by examining just one or two letters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do serifs exist if they make fonts harder to read on screens?

Serifs were designed for print, where they actually improve readability by creating visual connections between letters. When computers became common, serif fonts were already the standard for formal documents, so they remained in use even though sans-serif fonts work better on screens. Tradition and convention kept Times New Roman as the default choice.

Can I change a document from Times New Roman to a sans-serif font without losing formatting?

Yes. Select all the text in your document, then choose a different font from the font menu. The text will reflow to fit the new font, but your paragraph breaks, spacing, and other formatting will remain intact. You may need to adjust margins or spacing if the new font is significantly wider or narrower.

Is Times New Roman considered outdated?

Times New Roman is traditional and formal rather than outdated. It remains the standard font for academic papers, legal documents, and formal business writing. However, many modern designers and organizations prefer sans-serif fonts like Calibri or Helvetica for a contemporary appearance. The choice depends on the context and tone you want to convey.

What is the difference between a serif and a slab serif?

Slab serifs are thicker, more block-like versions of serifs. Times New Roman has thin, delicate serifs. Fonts like Courier New or Rockwell have thick, rectangular slab serifs that are more prominent and bold. Slab serifs are often used in headlines or display text because they are more visually striking.