Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Understanding Monospace Fonts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 28, 2017)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
In general, there are two types of fonts. The first is proportional space, and the second is monospace. Proportional space fonts are designed so every letter only occupies the minimum horizontal space necessary for the letter. Thus, an "i" takes less space than a "w." Monospace typefaces, on the other hand, are designed so every letter and character takes the same amount of horizontal space. If you have ever spent any time working on typewriters, then you are familiar with monospace fonts—all the fonts used by typewriters fall into this category.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1214) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Understanding Monospace Fonts.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Applying bold and italics formatting to text is easy in Word. If you want to apply bold and italics simultaneously, you ...
Discover MoreWant to get your typeface exactly the right size? Here's how you can specify just the size you want Word to use.
Discover MoreWant to change the way a strikethrough line appears? It's not as easy as you think, as you find out in this tip.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-01-29 00:03:02
Allen Wyatt stated, “… monospace fonts—all the fonts used by typewriters fall into this category.”
That’s almost true. Nearly all typewriters used a monospaced font, but the IBM Executive, introduced in 1944 used a proportional font. During my undergraduate college years of the early to mid-1970’s, one of my fraternity brothers had an electric Executive typewriter. With his permission, I typed letters on it that looked spectacular, with narrow i and punctuation, along with extra-wide uppercase W and M, and several widths in between.
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments