The display font default sets the display font you see in received emails and folders and also the default you use to compose. The settings are not sent, so they do not affect how your messages appear to recipients. '''Tools > Options > Display''' As an example I set mine to 'Arial', size 14, but you could choose eg: Times. I just find Arial and eay font to read. * Select the font and size You can also set it to display received emails using whatever font the sender used; this the overides the default you have set for the display of received emails. * click on the 'Advanced' button. * Set all the 'Size' options to 14 Under 'font control' * Select: 'Allow messages to use other fonts' * Select: 'Use fixed width font for plain text messages' * click on OK See first image below as aid. This will also mean that the recipient of your emails can do the same, so they can choose to read emails you send using any font they want. '''Tools > Options > Composition > General''' Under HTML section. It is advisable to choose the following: * Font: 'Variable width' and Size 'Medium' It is usually a bad idea to change these settings, because people who receive your messages might find the messages difficult to read. Font: "Variable width" is default. Using "Variable width" actually doesn't do anything to the text in the message body; it just leaves the font style unspecified. Size: "Medium" is default, and using this actually just leaves the font size unspecified. This is the recommended setting, since recipients will then see your message text displayed according to the default font-size settings in their mail clients. Keep in mind that people do not all have their monitor resolutions set the same as yours, so that if you choose a larger or smaller font size because it looks "right" on your monitor, you can't be sure how it will look on the recipient's monitor. You cannot be sure that they even have the same font on their computer. See second image below. You can set the compose font to choose a different or same font from the display default; it is your choice, but as said above, it is not advisable as it may cause reading issues for the recipient. You can also select any font from the Formatting Bar when composing emails. This font is set as specified and only in that email. So I would set up the default font as shown in the images.