MICROSOFT WORD

Version tested: 365 MSO (Version 2410 Build 16.0.18129.20158) 64-bit

Operating system tested: PC

Date tested: 25 November 2024 / Missy Meyer

Cost: $69.99 USD/year for Microsoft 365 Personal; a version of Word is often included with Windows.

Where to get it: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365

Font file types to use: TTF/OTF, outline (MS Word is not meant for single-stroke or double-stroke font use.)

How to See & Use the Fonts

First, make sure that the font is installed on your computer or device. Check the “Install fonts on [operating system]” guides for more information.

I’ve had a few folks write to me for support on how to use single-stroke and double-stroke fonts in Microsoft Word.

The short answer is: you can’t, so don’t.

The longer answer: here’s an example of Spicy Sketcher 2, the double-stroke version of Spicy Sketcher, shown above Spicy Sugar, the regular outline version of the font. As you can see, no part of Spicy Sketcher 2 is currently visible.

If you apply a style to the text, such as this orange outline and fill from the top row of the style options, then you can see the letters. But you can’t really do much with them. You can’t send this Word file to a cutting machine, or an engraving machine, or otherwise use it for the typical situations where you’d want this style of font.

If you go through that style menu and just choose “Outline,” then select a color and stroke width, things get even funkier; only parts of some letters will show up. No idea why this happens!

Anyhoo, you can print what you’ve made if you applied one of the styles that works; here’s a PDF I printed of our sample. But the text looks funky and jagged and weird. If that’s the look you’re going for, then this is the way to do it.

But in summary:

If you want to use single-stroke and double-stroke fonts for engraving, embossing, foil quill, sketch pens, and other stylus-based activities, Word isn’t going to work for your purposes. You’ll want to choose a vector design program, or a program specifically made to work with your machine.

And if you want to create solid text designs that you’re going to print out, use an outline font, not a single-stroke font.

If this program has been updated since this test and this guide no longer works, please drop me a line at the contact form so I can update this page!