“Are there guidelines for the font I use in my application?”

Yes. Our rules for fonts prevent applicants from side-stepping application page limits by requiring:

• 11-point font size or larger
• No more than 15 characters per linear inch (including spaces)
• No more than 6 lines per vertical inch

We recommend but do not require the following font types: Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, and Palatino Linotype.

Legibility is key. Since some PDF converters may reduce the font size from what you used in your source document, always confirm that your final PDF document complies with the font requirements.

Find NIH’s guidance in the Font and Line Spacing section of the Format Attachments page. Also see NIH’s Formatting Attachments (Fonts, Margins, and More) frequently asked questions to learn more.