In my last post, I talked about why we put two spaces between sentences, delving briefing into typeface and fonts. Now let's talk about fonts in detail.

We're in a period of transition between electronic delivery and killing trees. Some agents and publishers still want a hard copy of your manuscript, but many prefer--and will ask for--electronic submissions. This is a revolution in the industry. Whereas snail mail demanded mono-spaced fonts like Courier, most agents and publishers will accept proportional fonts in email submissions.

Bestselling author Orson Scott Card writes:

"But now that publishers are getting the final manuscript electronically, they can handle an ordinary proportional font. Times Roman is standard, but I use Bookman Old Style because the letters are so open and the text is warm and readable."

You'll read all kinds of conflicting advice about the "standard" font and font-size. That's because there is no standard. Most agents and publishers don't care what you use, as long as they can read it without squinting through a magnifying glass. In a survey of over 500 editors, 90% stated that they had no preference in font choice for submitted manuscripts.

Of course, different agents and publishing houses will have their own quirks, pet peeves, and eccentricities. When in doubt, look them up. You’ll find their submission guidelines listed somewhere on their website. If you're submitting a manuscript to them, you should always read these guidelines and ensure that you properly format your manuscript. It’s a mark of a professional and helps to get your submission the attention it deserves.

Formats for Manuscripts [A Writer's Edge]

Check out the original article on my website.