Designing a memorial involves many considerations, and choosing the right headstone inscription font is one aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked – in fact, choosing a font is something many people spend quite some time carefully pondering when visiting our memorial showroom in Newport to choose a headstone for a loved one.
The font plays a crucial role in the overall design while also adding personality to the memorial.
There will likely be certain styles of font that you sway towards but the most important factor to keep in mind is legibility; the inscription should be easily readable for years to come.
When it comes to inscription text for headstones, there are four particular font types that can be considered more popular than most:
1. Serif
Serif Fonts
These are formal fonts with small decorative strokes on the ends of letters. Serif fonts are commonly used for print across many different mediums and materials due to their easily readable design.
Example of Serif inspired font letters:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Above font: Times New Roman
2. Sans-Serif
Sans-Serif Fonts
Sans-serif fonts are considered more modern than serif fonts. They lack decorative strokes but are still commonly used for their simple design and readibility.
Example of Sans-Serif inspired font letters:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Above font: Roboto
3. Gothic
Gothic
Also known as Blackletter or Old English, Gothic fonts are more elaborate with dramatic thin and thick strokes. They often feature decorative swirls on the serifs which make them easily stand out.
Example of Gothic inspired font letters:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Above font: Almendra Display
4. Script
Script
Script lettering is based on calligraphy and resembles cursive handwriting. Made up of flowing strokes, it’s often used as an elaborate alternative to Serif fonts.
Example of Script inspired font letters:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Above font: Dancing Script
Considerations for Choosing a Memorial Font
When designing a memorial, choosing the right font type is crucial as it impacts the overall look and readability of the inscription. The material used for the memorial should also be taken into account as each stone may have different capabilities for engraving certain font types.
For example, coarser stones may not be suitable for delicate script fonts, while softer materials such as sandstone tend to look better with thin script rather than heavy block fonts.
Granite is a durable option, but thin fonts, although possible, may be less appropriate.
Slate, another popular stone choice for memorials, has limitations for deep cuts, so thin, elegant fonts with flourishes are ideal for it.
W.S Moore has been creating custom memorials for families in Newport and South Wales since 1920. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you in honoring your loved one, feel free to schedule a consultation with our compassionate family advisors. You can reach us by phone on 01633 855 902, by email at info@wsmoore.co.uk, or through our easy online booking form.
