Davidoff, a student at Rutgers University, says, typographically speaking, the reason there has been a big shift to sans serif during the past 10 to 15 years is because sans
serif fonts are optimal for reading on a screen, particularly because they are more legible at smaller point sizes than
serif fonts.
In sum, the goal of the present experiment was to examine whether or not the use of a
serif font produces an advantage over a sans
serif font in an ecological setting: normal reading.
Because
serif fonts are easier to read, they are recommended for large blocks of text.
(1990) 52 12- and 14-point Universe medium (a sans
serif font) or 14-point Century Schoolbook (a
serif font) typeface (unmodified fonts).
Signs, labels, and subheadings are often done in a plain sans
serif font. Text is usually done in a
serif font since these fonts are generally easier to read.
Times New Roman is an example of a
serif font. "Sans serif" means "without serif." Arial and Helvetica are examples of these fonts.
A
serif font style is easier to read in body copy than a sans serif style.
If I have a quibble it is that the clarity of Puglisi's writing is marred by the publisher's choice of an eye-straining sans
serif font.
On his first point, Berleant explicitly assumes that the body of proposals are in a
serif font, and takes his figures (which I infer have been incorrectly reproduced) to suggest "submitting proposals with section headings in a sans-serif font."
Consider typing the body of your text using a cleaner sans
serif font, such as Helvetica, Futura or Arial.