Alignment
Alignment can be flush left, flush right, justified, or centered. Flush left and flush right are sometimes referred to as left justified and right justified.
Anti-aliasing
Definition unavailable
Apex
The point created by joining two diagonal stems. The peak of the triangle of an uppercase A.
Arabic Numbers
Definition currently unavailable
Arm
Short horizontal strokes, as in the letter T or a stroke angled upward as in the letter K.
Ascender
The stroke of lowercase letters (such as b, d, and h) that ascend above the x-height or meanline.
Ball Terminal
A rounded terminal form at the end of a stroke as in letters a, f.
Barb
The half-serif finish on some curved strokes, as in the letters C, G, S.
Baseline
The imaginary line on which the base of the characters rest.
Beak Terminal
A sharp spur-like terminal, found particularly on the capital letters E, T, and L in serif typefaces.
Bezier Curves
Definition currently unavailable
Bitmap
A pixelated representation of a character or characters in a typeface. Some contemporary typefaces are intentionally bitmapped for screen-based display.
Blackletter
Definition currently unavailable
Body Size
Originally, this was the vertical height of the metal block on which each letter was cast. In digital type, it is the vertical height of its imaginary equivalent, and not the vertical height of the actual letters themselves. (i.e. not the Cap Height.) Body sizes are usually specified in points.
Body Text
Typically type set in multiple paragraphs and below 12 pt in size. Also called Body Copy.
Boldface
A heavier version of a regular or roman typeface within the same typeface family.
Bowl
The rounded stroke found in letters such as uppercase C, G, 0 and lowercase b, c, d, o, p.
Bracket
A swelling at the junction between a stem or stroke of a letter and its serif(s).
Bullet
A special character similar to a dot or a box commonly inserted before items in a list.
California Job Case
Definition currently unavailable
Calligraphy
Elegant handwriting, or the art of producing such handwriting.
Cap Height
The distance from baseline to cap line of an alphabet.
Capline
An imaginary line that runs along the tops of the capital letters.
Capital
Definition currently unavailable
Centered
Text placed at an equal distance from the left and right margins of either the entire page or the imaginary bounding box containing the text.
Character
Each individual letter (either upper or lowercase), individual numbers and punctuation are all separate characters contained within the a typeface.
CMYK
Definition currently unavailable
Colophon
Definition currently unavailable
Composing Stick
Definition currently unavailable
Comprehensive
Definition currently unavailable
Condensed
Narrow version of a regular typeface.
Contrast
The degree of contrast or variation between the thick and thin strokes of a given letter. Typographically speaking, modern serif typefaces such as Bodoni have very high contrast, old style serif typefaces such as Garamond have low contrast.
Counter
The white space completely or partially surrounded by the stroke of a letterform, as in b, c, d, e, g d or o
Cross Stroke
The horizontal stroke in a letterform that intersects the stem as in the lowercase letters f and t.
Crossbar
A horizontal stroke connecting two stems as in A and H.
Crotch
The interior space where two strokes meet.
Curly Quotes
Definition currently unavailable
Default
Definition currently unavailable
Descender
The part of lowercase letters (such as g, j, y, p, and q) that descends below the baseline. In some typefaces, the uppercase J and Q also descend below the baseline.
Didot
Definition currently unavailable
Dingbat
A typographical character which is not specifically a letter, number, punctuation mark, scientific or mathematical character. Bullets are examples of one common form of dingbats, as are check-boxes and arrows.
Display Type
Type used to attract attention, usually above 14 points in size.
DPI
Dots per inch
Drop Cap
The first letter of a paragraph that is capitalized, set in a larger point size and often aligned with the top of the first line. Used to indicate the beginning of a new section of text.
Ear
A short stroke attached to the bowl of the lowercase g. often used to describe the short stroke in the lowercase letter r.
Egyptian
Definition currently unavailable
Ellipsis
A punctuation character consisting of three dots, or periods, in a row. It indicates that a word or phrase has been omitted.
Em Dash
A dash the length of an Em or Em Space.
Em Space
A square space equal to the body size of a given typeface. The width of the capital letter M is commonly equivalent to the Em Space in most typefaces. Also called mutton.
Em, Em Quad
A block of lead material equivalent to an Em Space used to fill negative space in letterpress printing. Also called mutton.
En Dash
A dash the length of an En or En Space.
En, En Quad
A rectangular space not quite as wide as the body size in a given typeface. The En is commonly equivalent as the width of the uppercase N in given typeface.
Expanded
Also called extended. A wide version of a regular typeface.
Eye
The enclosed part of the lowercase letter e.
Face
One of the styles in a family of faces. For example, the italic style of the Garamond family is a face.
Family
Also known as a font family. A collection of faces that were designed and intended to be used together. For example, the Garamond family consists of roman and italic styles, as well as regular, semi-bold, and bold weights. Each of the style and weight combinations is called a face.
Fillet
A contour line which defines the outer edge of a Bracket on a given letter within a old style or transitional typeface.
Finial
The rounded non-serif terminal to a stroke.
Flush Left
A paragraph or block of text in which is aligned on its left edge and ragged or ranged on its right edge.
Flush Right
A paragraph or block of text in which is aligned on its right edge and ragged or ranged on its left edge.
Font
Complete set of all the characters (uppercase, lowercase, numerals, punctuation marks and special characters.) Originally, a font was considered to be to be one typeface at one specific size. Because of digital typography, the contemporary definition of the term font is not specific to one size, but refers to one typeface at multiple sizes.
Font Family
A collection of individual typefaces that were designed to be used together. Font family often consists of a roman, italic, bold, and bold italic typefaces.
Galley Tray
Definition currently unavailable
Geometric
Definition currently unavailable
Glyph
The formal shape or mark found within a typeface that corresponded to a given Character. The Glyph of the letter A within the typeface Bodoni is different from the Glyph of the letter A found within the typeface Garamond, but the character remains the same.
Golden Rectangle
Definition currently unavailable
Gothic
A commonly used term to describe sans serif typefaces developed in the United States from the late 19th century through the 20th century.
Graffiti
A drawing or inscription made on a wall or other surface, usually so as to be seen by the public. A rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls.
Grid
Definition currently unavailable
Grotesque
A commonly used term to describe sans serif typefaces developed in Europe from the late 19th century through the 20th century.
Gutter
Definition currently unavailable
H& J
Hyphenation and justification. A digital method for controlling letterspacing, word spacing and line breaks found within most multi-page layout applications.
Hairline
The thin strokes within a typeface that has strokes of varying weights.
Handwriting
Writing done with the hand. The writing characteristic of a particular person.
Hanging Indent
A paragraph or block of text in which the first line of type is set or aligned further to the left then remaining lines of type within that block or paragraph. Often referred to as outdenting.
Hot type
Definition currently unavailable
Humanist
A form a penmanship or handwriting developed in the 15th century and used in Italy. Often considered the basis or model upon which Old Style Serif typefaces were designed.
Imposition
Definition currently unavailable
Incunabula
Definition currently unavailable
Italic
A sloped version of a Roman typeface within a typeface family. Similar but not always the same as Oblique
Justified
A paragraph or block of text which is aligned on both the left and right margins or edges.
Kern
Typically the removal space between a pair of letters to optically balance the negative space which surrounds them.
Kerning
See Kern. The process of applying Kerning to a line of type.
Lead
Traditionally in letterpress typography, a thin strip of lead was used to separate individual lines of type. In digital typography the term Leading refers to the amount of space (in points) between each line of copy in a block of text.
Leading
See Lead.
Leg
Short stroke off the stem of a letterform, either at the bottom of the stroke (as in the letter L) or inclinded downward (as in the letters R and K).
Lettering
Hand-rendered letters inscribed, as on a sign.
Letterpress
Definition currently unavailable
Letterspacing
Often a manual process of adjusting the spacing between letter pairs within a line or block of text.
Ligature
Two or more connected letters that form one glyph. Common examples are the glyphs fi, fl, ffi, and ffl.
Lightface
A lighter weight version of a regular typeface.
Lining Figures
Definition currently unavailable
Link
The short connecting stroke between the bowl and the loop of the lowercase g.
Logotype
A specific name or type arrangement trademarked and used as a company or corporate identifier. Letterforms found in Logotypes are often modified from their original typeface form.
Loop
The bowl created in the descender of the lowercase letter g.
Lorem Ipsum
Definition currently unavailable
Lowercase
Definition currently unavailable
LPI
Definition currently unavailable
Majuscules
Definition currently unavailable
Master Page
Definition currently unavailable
Meanline
Imaginary line that establishes the height of the body of the lowercase letters. Generally established by the height of the lwercase letter x.
Measure
The width of a paragraph or block of text, usually measured in picas.
Minuscules
Definition currently unavailable
Modern Serif
Definition currently unavailable
Monoline
Definition currently unavailable
Monospace
Definition currently unavailable
Non-lining Figures
Definition currently unavailable
Oblique
A slanting version of a regular typeface. Oblique is similar to italic, but less script-like in form. The oblique typefaces are more commonly found in Sans Serif typeface families than Serif typeface families.
Old Style Figures
Definition currently unavailable
Old Style Serif
Definition currently unavailable
OpenType
Definition currently unavailable
Optical Center
Definition currently unavailable
Ornamented
A typeface that is embellished ornamented or decorated. Generally not used for setting text or body copy.
Orphan
A single word or very short line of type left at the end of a paragraph that has moved to the top of a new column or a new page of text.
Pantone Matching System
Definition currently unavailable
Paragraph Mark, Pilcrow
Definition currently unavailable
Phonogram
A letter, character, or mark used to represent a particular sound. Phonograms are of three kinds: (1) Verbal signs, which stand for entire words; (2) Syllabic signs, which stand for the articulations of which words are composed; (3) Alphabetic signs, or letters, which represent the elementary sounds into which the syllable can be resolved.
Pi Characters
Definition currently unavailable
Pica
Approximately 1/6th of an inch. A pica is equivalent to 12 points.
Pictograph
A picture representing a word or idea; a hieroglyph.
Point
Standard unit of measure in American typography. Approximately 72 points are in an inch. 12 points equals a pica.
Point Size
The common method of defining the size of a typeface in use. Equivalent to the Body Size of a typeface.
PPI
Pixels Per Inch.
Prime Marks
Definition currently unavailable
Printer Outline Font
Definition currently unavailable
Proportional Spacing
Definition currently unavailable
Quad
Definition currently unavailable
Quoins
Definition currently unavailable
Rag, Ragged, Ranged
In flush-left setting of a column of text the right-hand edge is set ragged or ranged. (i.e. irregular line lengths from line to line) The optimal setting of the ragged or ranged edge should display an even but not forced alternation of long and short lines of type. The ragged edge should not create awkward or uncontrolled shapes thru the accidental alignment of the line endings.
Reverse
White or light-colored text surrounded by a darker background color. While appropriate for display type this method greatly reduces legibility, especially with small or text type.
Rivers
In a paragraph of text, a series of wordspaces that accidentally align vertically or diagonally, creating an awkward flow of white space within the column of text.
Roman
Commonly refers to the upright version of a face within a font family, as compared to the italic version.
Sans Serif
A typeface that does not have serifs.
Screen Font
Definition currently unavailable
Script
A typeface based on handwritten letterforms. Scripts come in formal and informal styles and in a variety of weights.
Semantics
Definition currently unavailable
Serif
Small cross-strokes found at the beginning and endings of the primary strokes on a given letterform.
A category of typefaces which have beginning and ending cross-strokes.
Shoulder
A curved stroke that is projecting from the stem, and is not a part of a bowl.
Slab Serif
A classification of typefaces which all have rather thick, heavy serifs. Typefaces with these heavy serifs can be either bracketed or unbracketed and still fit into this category.
Slope
The angle of inclination of the stems of letters within a given typeface.
Slug
Definition currently unavailable
Small Caps
Definition currently unavailable
Sorts
Definition currently unavailable
Spine
The cuved stem or stroke of both the uppercase letter S and the lowercase letter s.
Spur
The extension than articulates the junction of a curved and rectilinear stroke. As in the letters G, b and q in many serif typefaces.
Stem
A main stroke of a letterform. In most cases the stem is either a vertical or an angled stroke.
Stress
The orientation of the letterform, indicated by the thin stroke in round forms such as o, c and e.
Stroke
Any of the linear elements in a letterform; orginally, any mark or dash made by the movement of a pen or brush in writing.
Style sheets
Definition currently unavailable
Swash
A decorative flourish added to a basic Roman or Italic letterform.
Syntax
Definition currently unavailable
Tabular Figures
Numbers within a typeface that all have the same width.
Tail
A diagonal or curved stroke at the finish of certain letters such as Q, j, and R.
Terminal
The end of any stroke that does not terminate with a full serif.
Text Type
Text meant to be read in long passages. Usually 14 pts or smaller. Also called Body type.
Titling Type
A Typeface specifically designed for headlines or titles. Often only consisting of capital letters, and intended to be used a specific point sizes.
Tracking
A mechanical system for adjusting the letterspacing of a line or block of text.
Transitional Serif
Definition currently unavailable
TrueType
One of several digital typeface formats.
Type 1
Anther common digital typeface formats. Each Type 1 typeface has two components a screen font and a printer outline font.
Type
A standardized set of letterforms, a formalized system of letterforms based on handwriting.
Type Family
See Font Family
Type-high
Definition currently unavailable
Typeface Family
See Font Family
Typeface
A set of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols that are designed to work together in setting longer passages of text. A single style within a typeface family.
Typographic Color
The optical "grayness" of text type, particularly visible while squinting when viewing a block of text. The overall typographic color of a block of type is effected by the weight or boldness of the typeface, as well as the x-height and the contrast of the typeface used.
Typography
The art of designing with type. Originally the composition of printed matter from movable lead type. Now the art and process of typesetting by any system or method.
Vertex
The point at the points of both the uppercase letters V and W as well as the lowercase letters v, and w.
Weight
The overall lightness or heaviness of a typeface, which is determined by comparing of the thickness of the strokes to the body size or height of the letters.
White Space
The blank areas on a page. The control of white space or negative space is a significantly important an element in page design.
Widow
A single word or very short line of type left at the end of a paragraph or column of text
Width
Variations in width in typefaces in a typeface family, such as condensed or extended.
Woodtype
Definition currently unavailable
Word Space
The negative space between words in a line or block of text. Text set in flush left or flush right alignment have a fixed word space (i.e. word spaces are all the same width.) In justified text, words spaces vary considerably to allow for both the left and right edges of text to align correctly.
X-Height
Commonly considered to be the height the a lowercase letter x within a given typeface or font. Used to define the relationship between the visual height of the lowercase letters and the visual height of the uppercase letters. Generally speaking, when comparing two different typefaces at the same point size, the x-heights of those typefaces will be different.