Comic Sans: [kom-ik sanz] an abominable font designed by unemployed court jesters in the Middle Ages; a type catastrophe known to reduce reputable speakers to infantile rubble.
The word ‘comic’ should tip you off. This font is absolutely off limits—unless, of course, you are in the unique position of openly mocking presentations, in which case you get a tongue-in-cheek exemption.
Comic Sans appears in your font book not as a viable option, but as a reminder of human folly. For the same reason, battlegrounds are memorialized, the Roman Coliseum is left standing, and Shaq’s cinematic debut ‘Kazaam’ is still available for purchase. Absent of these harrowing reminders of our inherent weaknesses, we’re apt to make these mistakes again.
Some might say, “Wars still occur, human atrocities are still committed. Can’t we just use our beloved font?” True: humanity does not learn every lesson it ought. But no sequel to ‘Kazaam’ was ever made, and if we can bounce back from that, we can bounce back from anything.
Such typographical blundering—wincingly tolerated for decades—does elicit certain feelings of futility. Can we strive, day in and day out, for the perfect presentation when we know that Comic Sans is still being used—perhaps at this very moment?
We can; but more so, we must.
The Takeaway: Use big boy or girl fonts. Comic Sans is not your friend; it will sabotage your efforts and make your presentation look as though it was written by kindergarteners.
