Why does Microsoft Word now use Calibri as its default font?

If you will remember, it used to be Times New Roman. I wonder if the change was ever explained.

As for me, I'm more partial to Arial as my default font. Font size preferably 12.

I prefer Times New Roman, 12, no space.

In the past years there has been a shift from most documents being printed to most documents being electronic. For viewing on a screen, you want a sans serif font. Times New Roman is a serif font, so that's why that was changed. As to why Calibri was the specific sans serif font chosen, as opposed to, say, Arial, it's because it was designed specifically for Microsoft and it's special font technology.

Calibri is much more beautiful and easy on the eyes than Times New Roman, that shit makes me cringe for some reason.

Is there a particular reason why you would want a sans serif for electronic viewing? (I'm more partial to sans serif myself as a general rule of thumb, but that's personally speaking)

This.

I actually like Calibri as a sans serif font. It reads very nicely on a screen. Arial doesn't read as nicely and I'll always prefer a full-serif font on paper.

i like calibri better as well. but since it is not allowed on my college papers it gets annoying when I have to change the font on every new word document....i know i could just save it to times new roman in the settings but i like to complain about it every time lol.

Its been Calibri for many years, and it the best standard font

I just wish MS word was free again.

Times New Roman should be the default for everything because that's the standard font that most schools follow.

I think Calibri is also the default font in Wordpad. From what I read a few years ago, Microsoft set the default at Calibri because calibri looks better on a computer screen than it does printed, so that is an encouragement for people to read docs on the screen and save paper to be more environmentally friendly (though I think there is some debate over whether or not reading all these documents digitally is more eco-friendly than reading them on paper. Reading them digitally saves paper, but it also uses electricity).

Schools and teachers generally want their assignments in Times New Roman, 12 font and double-spaced.

Anyways I prefer to use WordPerfect. WordPerfect 11's default is Times New Roman, but there is a newer edition of WordPerfect and I'm not sure what its default is.

I'm trying to understand why this is discussion worthy.

Calibri looks childish and unprofessional. When I review docs in Calibri I send them back telling them to change it.

As someone stated Calibri isa san serif font and is easier to read on screen compared to serif fonts like Times New Roman. Helvetica is preferred by most professionals for electronic documents. Since there is no Helvetica on Windows, Windows has shifted to Helvetica knock-off Calbri as default

I would imagine it's because the small serifs do not render well when they are sub-pixel widths on (relatively) low-resolution 72dpi screens (the vast majority of screens out right now).

And that is your problem right there. There is nothing to understand, it just is.

MS word sucks ever since they changed the interface.

Why the hell did they get rid of the the "file" tabs, and implement some horrible circle-start-like mechanic.

For sure. The resolutions of screens can make the serifs difficult to discern. That's basically it.

Consider this. I am currently using a 1920x1080 24" screen. That equates to a max resolution of about 92 ppi (pixels per inch). The highest resolution you will find on computers will be about 220, which is the MBP retina screen. You will actually find that most computer-based images/fonts/etc. are designed for 72 ppi. Now, most printed things are a much higher resolution. For example, most household printers will print at 300 ppi. What this higher resolution equates to is a higher ability to display fine details well, such as serifs.

Obviously it is still fine to read serif fonts on screens. You probably still use them frequently. But it just isn't necessary and can look a bit ugly, especially when you consider anti-aliasing problems and the lower resolution. Might as well just remove them, right?

Did you just upgrade or something? Been the default for like 8 years now.

Okay.

Pretty sure that's only in Office 2007. 2010 and the new one are way better than 2003 if you ask me.

Calibri, Arial and Verdana are my 3 fonts of choice so I'm quite happy with the change (not that I bother with Office anymore).

What do you mean, not bother with office. What would you use to type documents then.

Courier master race

calibri is much better looking than times new roman. but since i'm a 2nd grade teacher i use comic sans a lot because it is the easiest font for kids to read.

I personally don't have the best eye sight, and tend to use Courier when taking notes, TNR when writing a final report.

Not a fan of Calibri. I like Arial for sans serif and Times New Roman is pretty good for serif.

I guess maybe that bob user was just joking.

What are you, 100 or something?

Wordpad, WordPerfect, OpenOfficeWriter, WordStar, a type-writer, notepad. Who knows.

It's a bit weird, but I actually am preferring Calibri, and I doubt I would have ever gotten to it myself due to the sheer amount of fonts available in word.

I agree that it is disgusting. Reflects on society really. I use Adobe Jenson Pro like a real man. And anyone found double spacing or 1.5 spacing in my house will receive a slap around the face.

What do you mean, are you 100 or something. What does that imply?