vodori

You can argue that there are no bad typefaces, just bad choices. Each typeface has a personality, and selecting the wrong personality for your message can distort it entirely. 

And yet, some typefaces probably should be buried and forgotten, either because they're overused, dull, or downright homely. The classic example of a font designers love to hate is Comic Sans. It was meant to be used for comic books, not the educational pamphlets in a dentist's office. Had it never been preinstalled on your computer, you'd probably see it a lot less.

While it's easy to pick on, Comic Sans is far from the only font that sets off aesthetic alarm bells. Here are a few other mainstays that have worn out their welcomes, along with some more refreshing alternatives for rendering your text. 

Times New Roman

Always a default, and consequently, always unoriginal. It is easy to read, especially in long blocks of copy—but that's because it's designed for print, not for the web. If eye-catching design is your goal, you couldn't select a more antithetical font.

Consider instead: Droid Serif, Lora, Calluna.

Brush Script

It doesn't look like any handwriting in modern times, which pretty much defeats the purpose of a script font. And yet, along with Mistral, this remains a popular choice when looking for a casual script. That popularity is not shared by people who have to try and read it, however.

Consider instead: Wisdom Script. (Available at the Lost Type Co-op, a collaboration of font fans 100% funded by users.)

Impact

Not a terrible typeface, but plenty of stronger options exist. It's readable, but really too thin for its weight. Its ascenders and decscenders are short, making it more difficult to read. Plus, these days it's nearly impossible to shake Impact's association with LOLCats.

Consider instead: A bold-face version of Helvetica, League Gothic, or Franklin Gothic.

Copperplate

This font dates back to the early 1900s, originally created to mimic engraved letters on copperplate. It's wide and squarish, and best for short headlines since it's difficult to read in long blocks of content. Although it can make sense for stationery and invitations, it has no business in body copy.

Consider instead: Adelle, Arvo, Rockwell.

Courier

It's well made, but abused often. It's meant to mimic a typewriter, so the width and height of its letters translate poorly to an electronic screen. Fans of old-school design can find plenty of it on Mad Men or Downton Abbey—and leave the typefaces of the past back in the past.

Consider instead: Droid Sans Mono, Morse code.

Papyrus

Styled after Egyptian quill writing, an influence so clear and specific that the font fits with almost no design situation you're likely to encounter. That became doubly true after it was used as the signature font for Avatar, angering a lot of designers...who still paid to see the movie anyway.

Consider instead: Hieroglyphics, rewatching Firefly. 

Finally, if you're looking for free fonts that aren't pre-installed on your computer, check out websites such as Font Squirrel, Dafont, or Google Web Fonts. You should be able to find a more appealing and original option for your project.

What do you think?

What typefaces do you think belong in the dustbin of design history? Will you defend Times New Roman with the zeal of a centurion? Let us know in the comments.