Here's why:
* Serif vs. Sans Serif: Serif fonts (like Times New Roman) have small strokes called serifs at the ends of their letters. These serifs can sometimes make the space between a letter and a punctuation mark appear tighter, particularly for characters like commas, periods, and apostrophes. Sans serif fonts (like Arial) lack these serifs, creating a more open look that might make the spacing feel larger.
* Letterforms: The shape and design of individual letters within a font can influence how punctuation appears alongside them. A font with extremely condensed letterforms might make spacing feel tighter, while a font with wider letterforms could make it seem more expansive.
* Character Width: Even within a single font, different characters have varying widths. This can make punctuation appear more or less spaced depending on the surrounding letters. For example, a comma might seem closer to an "i" than to a "w" due to the varying width of these letters.
* Kerning: Kerning is the process of adjusting the spacing between individual letter pairs within a word. This can subtly affect the perceived spacing between punctuation and the last letter of a word.
Key Points:
* Typography's Role: Fonts play a crucial role in creating a visually pleasing and readable text, but they don't alter the fundamental rules of punctuation spacing.
* Subtle Differences: The impact of font choices on punctuation spacing is often subtle and may depend on the specific font, size, and context.
* Consistency: The most important thing is to ensure consistent punctuation spacing throughout your document to maintain readability.
Example:
You might find that in a serif font like Times New Roman, a period at the end of a sentence feels more tightly connected to the preceding letter compared to the same sentence set in a sans-serif font like Arial. This is because the serifs at the end of the letters in Times New Roman can create a visual illusion of less space.
In Conclusion:
While fonts don't directly change punctuation rules, they can subtly influence how spacing is perceived. Choosing the right font can help create a more pleasing and legible text, but it's crucial to prioritize consistent punctuation usage across your documents.