What’s in a font? Fonts can make you feel sophisticated, visualize things and take you on a journey.

But they can also give you a headache.

When used correctly fonts are awesome. Much like this whimsical font that instantly takes you to childhood. Or, then there’s this medieval, calligraphic font that’s just plain serious.

Even if you’re not creating a logo fonts still matter. Think about how many times you have landed on a website or picked up a magazine and read something just because the font pulled you in?

Then there’s readability. Viewers get annoyed when something isn’t easy to read. Fonts can help the cause. So, when do you use what font?

Font choice depends on many things, but below are some basics:

I need a font that works on a busy background: You really shouldn’t put text over a busy background, but if you just have to then go with a sans-serif font and put a saturated box behind it. Common sans-serif fonts are Arial and Helvetica.

I need a font that signals importance: If you want people to “read this now” or “click here,” then try a heavy, stark font. One you may have easy access to is Impact. If you want something cool and different then try Bemio or Chunk Five.

I need a font that works well in flat design: Colorful, flat design is in right now and what’s more trendy than a trendy font? Find a fresh new sans-serif and serif font and mix the two throughout the design.

What’s the best font for long copy? Use a serif font for body copy. It can help guide readers down the page.

What font works well for headlines? According to a study by Smashing Magazine, 60 percent of websites use sans-serif fonts for headlines. Arial, Verdana, Lucida Grande and Helvetica are among the popular choices.

If you’d like to suggest some of your favorite fonts used in design, just leave a comment below.