What Is Times New Roman?
Times New Roman is a transitional serif typeface commissioned by the British newspaper The Timesin 1931. The project was led by Stanley Morison, typographic adviser to Monotype, with letterforms drawn by Victor Lardent, an artist in the newspaper's advertising department.
Morison based the design on Plantin, an older Monotype typeface derived from 16th-century designs by Robert Granjon. The goals were clear: maximize the amount of text per column inch (efficiency) while maintaining excellent readability at small sizes. The result was a typeface with relatively sharp serifs, moderate stroke contrast, and a slightly condensed width.
The font debuted in The Times on October 3, 1932, and was released commercially by Monotype in 1933. It has since become one of the most widely used typefaces in history, bundled with Windows since version 3.1 (1992) and included in every major word processor.
Why Is Times New Roman Still Popular?
Times New Roman's endurance is largely a product of distribution. Microsoft included it as the default font in Word from 1992 until 2007, when Calibri replaced it. By then, billions of documents had been created in Times New Roman, establishing it as the de facto standard for:
- Academic papers— APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago 17th edition all accept or recommend it
- Legal documents— Many courts specify Times New Roman at 12pt or 14pt in their formatting rules
- Government forms— Federal agencies frequently use it for official publications
- Resumes and cover letters— Its professional, conservative appearance makes it a safe choice
- Print publishing— Its space efficiency and readability at small sizes suit books and newspapers
Unicode vs. Fonts: Understanding the Difference
A common misconception is that you can “copy and paste” Times New Roman. Understanding why this is not possible requires distinguishing between two concepts:
| Unicode Characters | Font Files (e.g., Times New Roman) |
|---|---|
| Define what a character is (letter, symbol, emoji) | Define how a character looks (glyph shape, kerning, hinting) |
| Can be copied as plain text | Cannot be copied as text — requires installation or CSS |
| Appearance varies by platform | Appearance is consistent when the font is available |
| Works in social media bios and messages | Works in documents, websites, and apps with font access |
Unicode's Mathematical Alphanumeric Symbolsblock (U+1D400–U+1D7FF) includes serif bold, italic, and bold italic characters originally intended for mathematical notation. These characters have a serif-like appearance, which is why this tool offers them as the closest copy-paste alternative. However, they are not Times New Roman — their rendering depends on each platform's default math font.
How to Use Times New Roman in Documents
Microsoft Word
- Open your document and select all text (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A)
- Click the font name dropdown in the Home tab toolbar
- Type “Times New Roman” and select it from the list
- Set the font size to 12pt
Google Docs
- Click the font dropdown in the toolbar (default is “Arial”)
- Type “Times New Roman” in the search field
- Select it — Google Docs includes it as a web font
- Set font size to 12pt using the size dropdown
LibreOffice Writer
- Select text and open the font name box in the toolbar
- Type “Times New Roman” (available if installed on your system)
- If not available, use “Liberation Serif” — a metric-compatible open-source alternative bundled with LibreOffice
Apple Pages
- Select your text and open Format > Font > Show Fonts (Cmd+T)
- Search for “Times New Roman” in the font panel
- Select it and adjust the size as needed
Academic Formatting Guide
Times New Roman remains the most common font choice for academic papers. Here are the requirements for the three major citation styles:
| Style | Font | Size | Spacing | Margins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA 7th Ed. | Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, or Georgia | 12pt / 11pt / 11pt / 11pt | Double | 1 inch (2.54 cm) |
| MLA 9th Ed. | Times New Roman (recommended) | 12pt | Double | 1 inch (2.54 cm) |
| Chicago 17th Ed. | Times New Roman or similar readable serif | 12pt | Double | 1 inch (2.54 cm) |
Best Free Alternatives to Times New Roman
If you need a free, licensed serif font for web or print, these Google Fonts alternatives are your best options:
- Tinos— Metric-compatible drop-in replacement. Same line breaks, page counts, and spacing. Best for converting existing TNR documents.
- EB Garamond— Closest visual match (~85% similarity). Elegant proportions with variable weight support (400–800). Best for print and editorial design.
- Libre Baskerville— Larger x-height improves long-form readability. Excellent for books, articles, and academic content.
- Merriweather— Specifically engineered for screens. Stays crisp at small sizes on monitors and mobile devices. Best for web body text.
- Source Serif 4— Adobe's open-source serif. Wide weight range (200–900) with optical sizes. Modern and versatile.
- Cormorant Garamond— Nearly identical proportions and x-height to Times New Roman. High-contrast design ideal for headlines and display text.
Platform Compatibility
Where Unicode serif text works vs. where you need the actual font:
| Platform | Unicode Serif | Real Times New Roman |
|---|---|---|
| Works (bio, captions) | Not available | |
| Discord | Works (messages, bio) | Not available |
| Works (messages, status) | Not available | |
| X (Twitter) | Works (posts, bio) | Not available |
| Works (posts, about) | Not available | |
| Google Docs | Displays but not semantic | Built-in (font menu) |
| Microsoft Word | Displays but not semantic | Built-in (font menu) |
| Websites (CSS) | Not recommended | Via CSS font-family or Google Fonts (Tinos) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Unicode serif text in academic papers or resumes. Word processors treat Unicode math characters differently from regular text — spell check, search, and formatting tools will not work correctly. Always use the actual font via the font menu.
- Assuming Unicode renders identically everywhere. Different devices and operating systems use different fallback fonts for Unicode math symbols. What looks serif on your phone may appear differently on someone else's.
- Confusing the CSS preview with copy-paste text. The live preview at the top of this page uses your system font via CSS — it shows how Times New Roman looks but cannot be pasted as styled text. Use the Unicode alternatives section for copy-paste.
- Using long Unicode serif paragraphs on social media. Unicode serif text is best for short headings, names, and accent text. Long blocks can be harder to read and may cause accessibility issues.
Accessibility Considerations
Unicode serif characters (from the Mathematical Alphanumeric Symbols block) are visually styled at the character level, not through semantic markup. This creates important accessibility limitations:
- Screen readers may announce each character individually (e.g., “mathematical bold capital H”) rather than reading the word
- Text search (Ctrl+F) will not match Unicode serif characters with their normal equivalents
- Translation tools may not process Unicode-styled text correctly
- Users with dyslexia or low vision may find non-standard characters harder to read
Recommendation:Use Unicode serif text only for decorative, short-form content like social media bios, display names, and headings. For body text and any content where accessibility matters, use your platform's native formatting options (HTML <em>, <strong>, CSS font-style: italic, or Markdown).
Explore More Font Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this the real Times New Roman font?
- No. The Unicode serif characters generated by this tool are mathematical symbols that visually resemble serif typography, but they are not the actual Times New Roman font file. For the real Times New Roman in documents, use your word processor's font menu. This tool provides the closest Unicode alternatives for platforms where you cannot select fonts, plus a live CSS preview using your system's Times New Roman installation.
- Can I copy and paste Times New Roman text?
- You cannot copy the Times New Roman font itself as plain text — fonts are rendering instructions, not characters. However, you can copy the Unicode serif-style characters generated by this tool and paste them into social media bios, messages, and posts. The text will appear with a serif-like aesthetic on most platforms that support Unicode.
- Why can’t Unicode replicate Times New Roman exactly?
- Unicode is a character encoding standard, not a font format. It defines what characters exist (like ‘A’ or ‘é’), but it does not control how they are rendered. Fonts like Times New Roman are .TTF or .OTF files that contain specific glyph designs, kerning tables, and hinting data. Unicode’s Mathematical Alphanumeric Symbols block includes serif-styled characters, but they lack the precise letter-spacing, stroke contrast, and proportions that define Times New Roman.
- Can I use Unicode serif text on Instagram?
- Yes, the Unicode serif alternatives work in Instagram bios, captions, and comments. However, Instagram may render these characters slightly differently depending on the device and operating system. For best results, use short headings or names rather than long paragraphs, and preview on your target device before publishing.
- Does Unicode serif text work on Discord and WhatsApp?
- Yes, both Discord and WhatsApp support Unicode mathematical serif characters. They will display in messages, bios (Discord), and status updates (WhatsApp). Note that Discord’s built-in Markdown formatting (using asterisks for bold/italic) will not affect Unicode characters since they are already styled at the character level.
- How do I use Times New Roman in Google Docs?
- In Google Docs, click the font dropdown in the toolbar (it usually says ‘Arial’ by default), type ‘Times New Roman’ in the search box, and select it. Google Docs includes Times New Roman as a web font, so it works even if the font is not installed on your computer. Set the size to 12pt for academic papers.
- Is Times New Roman free?
- Times New Roman is a proprietary font owned by Monotype. It comes pre-installed on Windows and most versions of macOS, so most users have it at no additional cost. However, it is not an open-source or freely redistributable font. For web projects where you need a free, licensed alternative, use Tinos (metric-compatible) or EB Garamond (visually similar) from Google Fonts.
- What is the best free alternative to Times New Roman?
- For exact document layout compatibility, Tinos (Google Fonts) is the best choice — it is metrically compatible, meaning line breaks and page counts stay the same. For visual similarity, EB Garamond is considered the closest match at approximately 85% similarity. For screen readability, Merriweather or Libre Baskerville are excellent choices. All are free and available on Google Fonts.
- Does Times New Roman work on Mac?
- Yes. Times New Roman has been included with macOS for decades. It is available in all Mac applications including Pages, Keynote, Numbers, TextEdit, and web browsers. If it is missing, you can install it via Microsoft Office or download it from authorized font distributors.
- What font is required for APA format?
- APA 7th edition (2019) accepts several fonts: Times New Roman at 12pt, Calibri at 11pt, Arial at 11pt, Lucida Sans Unicode at 10pt, or Georgia at 11pt. Times New Roman at 12pt remains the most widely used and recommended option. The paper should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides.
- What is the difference between Times New Roman and Times?
- Times New Roman was designed by Stanley Morison and Victor Lardent for The Times of London in 1931–1932. ‘Times’ is a slightly different version created by Linotype, with minor differences in character width and proportions. On most computers, selecting ‘Times’ or ‘Times New Roman’ produces nearly identical results, but they are technically distinct typefaces from different foundries (Linotype vs. Monotype).
- Can screen readers read Unicode serif text?
- Not reliably. Screen readers may announce Unicode mathematical serif characters individually (e.g., ‘mathematical bold capital B’) rather than reading the word naturally. This makes Unicode-styled text difficult or impossible for visually impaired users to understand. For accessible content, always use your platform’s native formatting (HTML tags, Markdown, or rich text) instead of Unicode character substitution.
- How do I add Times New Roman to my website?
- Add this CSS: font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; — this uses the system font with fallbacks. If you need guaranteed cross-platform consistency, use the free Google Font Tinos instead: add the Google Fonts link tag to your HTML head and set font-family: 'Tinos', serif. See the Code Snippets section above for ready-to-use code.