Ampersand
A stylized character of the Latin et used to represent the word and. Definition: The typographic symbol used to designate the word and (& ) is the Latin symbol for et which means and. The name, ampersand , is believed to be derived from the phrase “and per se and.” On a standard English layout...
Aperture
The partially enclosed, somewhat rounded negative space in some characters. Definition: The aperture is the partially enclosed, somewhat rounded negative space in some characters such as n, C, S, the lower part of e, or the upper part of a double-storey a. Also Known As: counter In typography, a counter or aperture is an area entirely or partially...
Apex
A point at the top of a character where two strokes meet. Definition: The point at the top of a character such as the uppercase A where the left and right strokes meet is the apex. The apex may be a sharp point, blunt, or rounded and is an identifying feature for some typefaces. Also...
Arm
A horizontal or upward, sloping stroke that does not connect to a stroke or stem on one or both ends. Definition: The arm of a letter is the horizontal stroke on some characters that does not connect to a stroke or stem at one or both ends. The top of the capital T and the...
Ascender
An upward vertical stroke found on the part of lowercase letters that extends above the typeface’s x-height. Definition: In typography, the upward vertical stem on some lowercase letters, such as h and b, that extends above the x-height is the ascender. The height of the ascenders is an identifying characteristic of many typefaces. The ascenders...
Ascent Line
The invisible line marking the farthest distance between the baseline and the top of the glyph.
Axis
An imaginary line drawn from top to bottom of a glyph bisecting the upper and lower strokes is the axis. Definition: An imaginary line drawn from top to bottom of a glyph bisecting the upper and lower strokes is the axis. For typefaces that exhibit changes in the thickness of curved strokes, the inclination of...
Ball Terminal
A circular form at the end of the arm in letters. Definition: In typography, the terminal is a type of curve. Many sources consider a terminal to be just the end (straight or curved) of any stroke that doesn’t include a serif (which can include serif fonts, such as the little stroke at the end...
Bar
The horizontal stroke in letters. Also referred to as Crossbar. Definition: The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase A and H is a bar. The horizontal or sloping stroke enclosing the bottom of the eye of an e is also a bar. Although often used interchangeably, the bar differs from an arm and...
Baseline
The invisible line where all characters sit. Definition: In typography, the baseline is the imaginary line upon which a line of text rests. In most typefaces, the descenders on characters such as g or p extend down below the baseline while curved letters such as c or o extend ever-so-slightly below the baseline. The baselineis the point from which other elements of type are measured including x-height and leading. The baseline is also significant in the alignment of drop caps and other page elements.
Beak
A sharp spur, found particularly at the top of letters in some 20th centry Romans. Definition: A beak is a type of decorative stroke at the end of the arm of a letter, connected to the arm by the terminal. Similar to a spur or serif, it is usually more pronounced.
Body Height
The complete area covered by all of the characters in a font. In typography, the body height refers to the distance between the top of the tallest letterform to the bottom of the lowest one.
Bowl
The fully closed, rounded part of a letter. Definition: In typography, the curved part of the character that encloses the circular or curved parts (counter) of some letters such as d, b, o, D, and B is the bowl. Some sources call any parts of a letter enclosing a space a bowl, including both parts...
Bracket
A curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs. Definition: The bracket is a curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs. Brackets can have different shapes with deep or gentle curves. Brackets may taper...
Cap Height
The height of a capital letter measured from the baseline. In typography, cap height refers to the height of a capital letter above the baseline for a particular typeface. It specifically refers to the height of capital letters that are flat—such as H or I—as opposed to round letters such as O, or pointed letters...
Counter
The open space in a fully or partly closed area within a letter. Definition: In typography, the enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) of some letters such as d, o, and s is the counter. The term counter may sometimes be used to refer only to closed space, while partially...
Cross Stroke
A horizontal stroke that intersects the stem of a lowercase t or f. Definition: The horizontal stroke across the stem of a lowercase t or f is a cross stroke. Although often used interchangeably, the cross stroke differs from an arm and a crossbar because it intersects/crosses over the stem. The varying positioning, thickness, and...
Crossbar
The horizontal stroke in letters. Also known as a Bar. Definition: The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase A and H is a crossbar. The horizontal or sloping stroke enclosing the bottom of the eye of an e is also a crossbar. Although often used interchangeably, the crossbar differs from an arm and...
Descender
The part of the letters that extends below the baseline. Definition: The portion of some lowercase letters, such as g and y, that extends or descends below the baseline is the descender. The length and shape of the descender can affect readability of lines of type and is an identifying factor for some typefaces. The...
Beak
A sharp spur, found particularly at the top of letters in some 20th centry Romans. Definition: A beak is a type of decorative stroke at the end of the arm of a letter, connected to the arm by the terminal. Similar to a spur or serif, it is usually more pronounced.
Body Height
The complete area covered by all of the characters in a font. In typography, the body height refers to the distance between the top of the tallest letterform to the bottom of the lowest one.
Bowl
The fully closed, rounded part of a letter. Definition: In typography, the curved part of the character that encloses the circular or curved parts (counter) of some letters such as d, b, o, D, and B is the bowl. Some sources call any parts of a letter enclosing a space a bowl, including both parts...
Bracket
A curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs. Definition: The bracket is a curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs. Brackets can have different shapes with deep or gentle curves. Brackets may taper...
Cap Height
The height of a capital letter measured from the baseline. In typography, cap height refers to the height of a capital letter above the baseline for a particular typeface. It specifically refers to the height of capital letters that are flat—such as H or I—as opposed to round letters such as O, or pointed letters...
Counter
The open space in a fully or partly closed area within a letter. Definition: In typography, the enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) of some letters such as d, o, and s is the counter. The term counter may sometimes be used to refer only to closed space, while partially...
Cross Stroke
A horizontal stroke that intersects the stem of a lowercase t or f. Definition: The horizontal stroke across the stem of a lowercase t or f is a cross stroke. Although often used interchangeably, the cross stroke differs from an arm and a crossbar because it intersects/crosses over the stem. The varying positioning, thickness, and...
Crossbar
The horizontal stroke in letters. Also known as a Bar. Definition: The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase A and H is a crossbar. The horizontal or sloping stroke enclosing the bottom of the eye of an e is also a crossbar. Although often used interchangeably, the crossbar differs from an arm and...
Descender
The part of the letters that extends below the baseline. Definition: The portion of some lowercase letters, such as g and y, that extends or descends below the baseline is the descender. The length and shape of the descender can affect readability of lines of type and is an identifying factor for some typefaces. The..
Descent Line
The invisible line marking the farthest distance between the baseline and the bottom of the glyph.
Diacritic
A ancillary mark or sign added to a letter. Definition: Diacriticals are the accent marks used on some characters to denote a specific pronounciation. Rare in English, they are a common occurrence in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and other languages. Some of the more commonly seen diacriticals include acute, cedilla, circumflex, grave, tilde, and umlaut....
Dot
A small distinguishing mark, such as an diacritic on a lowercase i or j. Also known as a Tittle. When used as a diacritic mark, the term dot is usually reserved for the Interpunct ( · ), or to the glyphs ‘combining dot above’ ( ̇ ) and ‘combining dot below’ ( ̣ ) which...
Ear
A small stroke extending from the upper-right side of the bowl of lowercase g; also appears in the angled or curved lowercase r. Definition: Typically found on the lower case g, an ear is a decorative flourish usually on the upper right side of the bowl. Similar to a serif, the ear can be a...
Eye
Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase ‘e’. Definition: Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase e. Also Known As: counter
Finial
A tapered or curved end. Definition: The part of a letter known as a finial is usually a somewhat tapered curved end on letters such as the bottom of C or e or the top of a double-storey a. Another definition for finial is a swash or ornamental flourish, much like an extended serif, ascender,...
Hairline
A thin stroke usually common to serif typefaces. Definition: In typeface anatomy, a hairline is the thinnest stroke found in a specific typeface that consists of strokes of varying widths. Hairline is often used to refer to a hairline rule, the thinnest graphic rule (line) printable on a specific output device. Hair or hairline is...
Hook
A curved, protruding stroke in a terminal. Usually found on a lowercase f. something curved or bent like a hook
Italics
A cursive alphabet which is matched with a roman font and used along chiefly for emphasis. Definition: While roman typefaces are upright, italic typefaces slant to the right. But rather than being just a slanted or tilted version of the roman face, a true or pure italic font is drawn from scratch and has unique...
Leg
Short, descending portion of a letter. Definition: The lower, down sloping stroke of the K and k is called a leg. The same stroke on R as well as the tail of a Q is sometimes also called a leg. Also Known As: tail A branch or part of an object or system.
Ligature
Two or more letters are joined together to form one glyph or character. Definition: Two or more letters combined into one character make a ligature. In typography some ligatures represent specific sounds or words such as the AE or æ diphthong ligature. Other ligatures are primarily to make type more attractive on the page such...
Link
A stroke that connects the top and bottom bowls of lowercase double-story g’s. Definition: In typeface anatomy, the link is that small, usually curved stroke that connects the bowl and loop of a double-storey g. Also Known As: neck, terminal A connecting element or factor.
Lobe
A rounded projecting stoke attached to the main structure of a letter. A curved or rounded projection or division.
Loop
The enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline of a double-story g. Definition: In a double-storey g, the loop is the enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline that is connected to the bowl by a link. The enclosed or partially enclosed extenders on cursive p, b, l, and similiar letters are also...
Lowercase
The smaller form of letters in a typeface. Definition: The little letters or non-capital letters of the alphabet are lowercase glyphs. They make up the bulk of written text, with uppercase or capital letters used primarily only to start sentences or proper names. The term lowercase is derived from the days of metal type where...
Mean Line
Imaginary line running along the top of non-ascending, lowercase letters. The meanline falls at the top of many lowercase letters such as “e,” “g” and “y.” It is also at the curve of letters like “h.” In typography, the mean line, also (and more simply) known as midline, is the line that determines where non-ascending...
Old-Style Figures
Numbers with varying heights, some aligning to the baseline and some below. Definition: Style of Arabic Numerals where the characters appear at different positions and heights as opposed to the modern style of all numerals at the same size and position are called Old Style Figures. Some Old Style figures sit entirely above the baseline...
Overshoot
Ascenders extending into the space of a following character. In typeface design, the overshoot of a round or pointed capital letter (like O or A) is the degree to which it extends higher or lower than a comparably sized “flat” letter (like X or H), to achieve an optical effect of being the same size....
Quaint
An antiquated sort or glyph, used to recreate the typographic flavor of a bygone age. marked by skillful design marked by beauty or elegance unusual or different in character or appearance pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar
Serif
A stroke added as a stop to the beginning and end of the main strokes of a character. Definition: In typography, a serif is the little extra stroke found at the end of main vertical and horizontal strokes of some letterforms. Serifs fall into various groups and can be generally described as hairline (hair), square...
Shoulder
The curved stroke aiming downward from a stem. The curve at the beginning of a leg of a character, such as in an “m.”
Spine
The main curved stroke of a lowercase or capital S. Definition: The spine is the main left to right curving stroke in S and s. The spine may be almost vertical or mostly horizontal, depending on the typeface. Beyond typography, a spine is specific type of a mathematical curve and the tool used for drawing...
Stem
Vertical, full-length stroke in upright characters. Definition: The stem is the main, usually vertical stroke of a letterform. Also Known As: stroke A main or heavy stroke of a letter.
Stroke
A straight or curved diagonal line. Definition: The main diagonal portion of a letterform such as in N, M, or Y is the stroke. The stroke is secondary to the main stem(s). Some letterforms with two diagonals, such as A or V have a stem (the primary vertical or near-vertical stroke) and a stroke (the...
Swash
A flourish addition replacing a terminal or serif. A swash is a typographical flourish on a glyph, like an exaggerated serif. Capital swash characters, which extended to the left, were historically often used to begin sentences. There were also minuscule swash characters, which came either extending to the left, to begin words, or to the...
Tail
A descending stroke, often decorative. Definition: In typography, the descending, often decorative stroke on the letter Q or the descending, often curved diagonal stroke on K or R is the tail. The descender on g, j, p, q, and y are also called tails. The back, last, lower, or inferior part of something.
Terminal
The end of a stroke that does not include a serif. Definition: In typography, the terminal is a type of curve. Many sources consider a terminal to be just the end (straight or curved) of any stroke that doesn’t include a serif (which can include serif fonts, such as the little stroke at the end...
Tittle
A small distinguishing mark, such as an diacritic on a lowercase i or j. Also known as a Dot. A point or small sign used as a diacritical mark in writing or printing.
Uppercase
A letter or group of letters of the size and form generally used to begin sentences and proper nouns. Also known as “capital letters”. Definition: The capital letters of the alphabet are uppercase glyphs. Uppercase letters are normally used at the beginning of sentences and as the first letter of proper names. The term uppercase...
Vertex
The outside point at the bottom or top of a character where two strokes meet. A point (as of an angle, polygon, polyhedron, graph, or network) that terminates a line or curve or comprises the intersection of two or more lines or curves.
X-Height
The height of lowercase letters reach based on height of lowercase x; does not include ascenders or descenders. Definition: In typography, x-height is the distance between the baseline of a line of type and tops of the main body of lower case letters (i.e. excluding ascenders or descenders). The x-height is a factor in typeface...
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