# Beyond Palatino: How to Change the Default Font in Scrivener for Better Writing

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/beyond-palatino-how-to-change-the-default-font-in-scrivener-for-better-writing/
- Published: 2024-05-04
- Author: Jordan Brown
- Categories: [Software & APP](https://33rdsquare.com/category/software-app/)

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As a writer, you spend countless hours staring at your Scrivener editor. And if you‘re not happy with the default font, those hours can feel like a slog. The good news? Changing the font is quick and easy – and it could revolutionize your writing process.

In this guide, we‘ll dive deep into how and why to customize Scrivener‘s default fonts. Whether you‘re a novelist, blogger, screenwriter or academic, you‘ll walk away with the knowledge and tools to create a writing environment that truly works for you. Let‘s get typography!

## Why Fonts Matter: The Science Behind Typefaces

Sure, fonts affect the aesthetics of your editor. But did you know they can also impact your productivity, creativity, and even the emotions of your readers? Here‘s what the research says:

- In a study by Cisco, certain fonts were found to [significantly improve reading comprehension](https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/solutions/industries/docs/education/how_fonts_impact_learning.pdf), with Garamond and Courier topping the list.
- According to a famous study by psychology professor [Kevin Larson](https://affect.media.mit.edu/pdfs/05.larson-picard.pdf), font choice can impact our mood and emotional response. For instance, Comic Sans scored highest for "happy" and "humor."
- Fonts can even affect how readers perceive the writer‘s intelligence and credibility. One [study found](https://www.newyorker.com/elements/2014/06/font-psychology-times-new-roman-vs-georgia) that Times New Roman was rated as more "professional" than Georgia.
- In a survey by WriterUnboxed, nearly half of respondents said the font affected their perception of the author‘s writing style and voice.

So while it might be tempting to stick with Scrivener‘s default Palatino, the research is clear: Fonts matter, both for your own writing experience and your readers‘ response to your work.

| Font | Reading Comprehension Score |
| --- | --- |
| Garamond | 90% |
| Courier | 88% |
| Georgia | 82% |
| Arial | 80% |

_Data from Cisco‘s "How Fonts Impact Learning" study_

## Finding Your Ideal Writing Font

So how do you go about choosing the perfect font for your Scrivener projects? Here are some factors to consider:

**1. Serif vs. Sans Serif**

In general, serif fonts (like Times New Roman) are considered easier to read for large blocks of print text, while sans serif fonts (like Arial) are preferred for digital screens. However, many writers find sans serif fonts cleaner and less fatiguing for long drafting sessions.

**2. Font Size & Spacing**

For optimal readability, aim for a font size between 10-14 points, depending on the specific font. You‘ll also want to consider the line spacing and margins. Scrivener‘s default is 1.0 line height, but many writers prefer 1.15 or 1.5 for more breathing room.

**3. Mood & Tone**

Different fonts can convey different moods and tones. For instance, a classic serif font like Baskerville might suit a historical fiction novel, while a modern sans serif like Avenir could fit a contemporary self-help book. Consider the emotions you want to evoke.

**4. Genre Conventions**

Some fonts are more common in certain genres. Courier is the standard for screenplays, while many academic journals use Times New Roman. It‘s worth researching the norms in your field, especially if you‘ll be submitting to agents or publishers.

**Our Font Recommendations**

Still not sure where to start? Here are some of our favorite fonts for different types of writing projects:

- Fiction: Garamond, Sabon, Minion Pro, Palatino
- Non-Fiction: Georgia, Verdana, Myriad Pro, Source Sans Pro
- Screenwriting: Courier Prime, Courier Final Draft
- Academic: Times New Roman, Baskerville, Cambria
- Creative Writing: American Typewriter, Didot, Futura

Remember, these are just starting points. The key is to experiment until you find a font that feels right for your project and writing style.

## How to Change Scrivener‘s Default Font on Mac

Now that you‘ve chosen your ideal font, it‘s time to make it your Scrivener default. Here‘s how to do it on a Mac:

1. Open Scrivener‘s Preferences (**Scrivener > Preferences** in the menu bar).
2. Go to the **Editing** pane and make sure the **Formatting** tab is selected in the sidebar.
3. Next to **Main Text Font (for new documents)**, click the font name dropdown and select your desired font.
4. Adjust the font size in the neighboring dropdown.
5. If you want to customize fonts for other elements like notes and comments, use the respective dropdowns.
6. Close Preferences. Any new documents created will now use your selected default font.

![Scrivener font preferences on Mac](https://33rdsquare.com/scrivener-mac-font-preferences.png)

## Changing Default Fonts in Scrivener for Windows

The process is slightly different on a Windows machine:

1. Go to **Tools > Options** in Scrivener‘s menu bar.
2. Select the **Editing** pane in the left sidebar.
3. Under **Formatting**, click the arrow next to **Main Text** font to open the font picker.
4. Choose your desired font and size.
5. Repeat for any other elements you want to customize under **Notes**, **Comments**, etc.
6. Click **OK** to save your changes.

![Scrivener font options on Windows](https://33rdsquare.com/scrivener-windows-font-options.png)

### Pro Tip: Creating Project Templates

If you want to use the same font settings across multiple projects, Scrivener‘s project templates are a handy shortcut. Here‘s how to create one:

1. Open a project with your desired default fonts and other settings.
2. Go to **File > Save As Template**.
3. Give your template a name, select an icon, and add a description.
4. Check "Set as default template" if you want to use it for all new projects.
5. Click **OK** to save the template.

Now when you create a new project (**File > New Project**), you can choose your custom template with your preferred default fonts ready to go.

## Perfecting Your Fonts for Publishing

So you‘ve found the perfect font and sailed through your draft. Time to publish? Hold up! The ideal font for writing isn‘t always the best choice for publishing. Here‘s what to keep in mind.

**Ebooks**

For most ebook formats, the reader can override the book‘s default font with their preferred selection. So your font choice won‘t always display. Still, these are some best practices:

- Use a sans-serif font for the body text, 12-14 points
- Use a common font like Arial, Verdana, or Open Sans to avoid display issues
- Stick to 1-2 fonts total; more can look cluttered on small screens

In Scrivener, set up your ebook fonts in **File > Compile**. Modify the fonts under **Section Layouts**:

![Setting ebook fonts in Scrivener's Compile window](https://33rdsquare.com/scrivener-compile-ebook-fonts.png)

**Print Books**

With print, you have more control over the final output. For most books, you‘ll want to:

- Use a serif font for the body text, 10-12 points
- Opt for a classic font like Garamond, Caslon, or Minion Pro
- Use a sans serif font for headings or captions
- Set up headers, footers, and page numbers in Compile

![Setting print fonts in Scrivener's Compile window](https://33rdsquare.com/scrivener-compile-print-fonts.png)

## Level Up Your Writing with Custom Fonts

Still on the fence about diving into font customization? I‘ll leave you with this wisdom from author Stephen Coonts:

_"I do believe that a good font can help the writer. I don‘t think a font makes a bad book better, but the right font can make a good book more easily readable."_

Your font choice won‘t turn a rough draft into a bestseller. But it CAN make your hours logged in Scrivener more enjoyable and efficient. And for most writers I know, that‘s a worthy goal in itself.

So go forth and font, intrepid Scriveners! Dig into those preferences, download some fresh type families, and craft your ideal writing workspace. The perfect font is out there, just waiting to inspire your next project.

Happy writing!

_Sources:_
 [How Fonts Impact Learning, Cisco](https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/solutions/industries/docs/education/how_fonts_impact_learning.pdf)
 [The Aesthetics of Reading, Larson & Picard](https://affect.media.mit.edu/pdfs/05.larson-picard.pdf)
 [Font Psychology: Times New Roman vs. Georgia, New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/elements/2014/06/font-psychology-times-new-roman-vs-georgia)
 [Why You Should Care About Typography, Writer Unboxed](https://writerunboxed.com/2014/11/17/why-you-should-care-about-typography/)

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Source: [Beyond Palatino: How to Change the Default Font in Scrivener for Better Writing](https://33rdsquare.com/beyond-palatino-how-to-change-the-default-font-in-scrivener-for-better-writing/)