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Anatomy of Type
N/A
61
Other
Undergraduate 2
01/22/2014

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Term
Ampersand
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Aperture
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Apex
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Arc of Stem
Definition
[image]A curved stroke that is continuous with a straight stem.
Term
Arm
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Ascender
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Ascender Line
Definition
[image]The invisible line marking the height of ascenders in a font.
Term
Ascent Line
Definition
[image]The invisible line marking the farthest distance between the baseline and the top of the glyph.
Term
Axis
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Ball Terminal
Definition
[image]A circular form at the end of the arm in letters. Definition: In typography, the terminal is a type of curve.
Term
Bar
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Baseline
Definition
[image]The invisible line where all characters sit. Definition: In typography, the baseline is the imaginary line upon which a line of text rests.
Term
Beak
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Bilateral Serifs
Definition
[image]A serif extending to both sides of a main stroke. They are reflexive.
Term
Body Height
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Bowl
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Bracket
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Cap Height
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Cap Line
Definition
[image]A line marking the height of uppercase letters within a font.
Term
Counter
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Cross Stroke
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Crossbar
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Crotch
Definition
[image]An acute, inside angle where two strokes meet.
Term
Descender
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Descender Line
Definition
[image]The invisible line marking the lowest point of the descenders within a font.
Term
Descent Line
Definition
[image]The invisible line marking the farthest distance between the baseline and the bottom of the glyph.
Term
Diacratic
Definition
[image]A ancillary mark or sign added to a letter. Definition: Diacriticals are the accent marks used on some characters to denote a specific pronounciation. 
Term
Diagonal Stroke
Definition
[image]An Angled Stroke.
Term
Dot
Definition
[image]A small distinguishing mark, such as an diacritic on a lowercase i or j. Also known as a Tittle. 
Term
Ear
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Eye
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Finial
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Flag
Definition
[image]The horizontal stroke present on the numeral 5.
Term
Hairline
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Hook
Definition
[image]A curved, protruding stroke in a terminal. Usually found on a lowercase f. something curved or bent like a hook
Term
Italics
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Leg
Definition
[image]Short, descending portion of a letter. Definition: The lower, down sloping stroke of the K and k is called a leg. 
Term
Ligature
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Link
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Lobe
Definition
[image]A rounded projecting stoke attached to the main structure of a letter. A curved or rounded projection or division.
Term
Loop
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Lowercase
Definition
[image]The smaller form of letters in a typeface. Definition: The little letters or non-capital letters of the alphabet are lowercase glyphs. 
Term
Mean Line
Definition
[image]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.”
Term
Old-Style Figures
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Open Counter
Definition
[image]The partially open space within a character that is open on one end.
Term
Overshoot
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Quaint
Definition
[image]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
Term
Serif
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Shoulder
Definition
[image]The curved stroke aiming downward from a stem. The curve at the beginning of a leg of a character, such as in an “m.”
Term
Spine
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Spur
Definition
[image]A small projection off a main stroke.
Term
Stem
Definition
[image]Vertical, full-length stroke in upright characters. Definition: The stem is the main, usually vertical stroke of a letterform.
Term
Stroke
Definition
[image]A straight or curved diagonal line. Definition: The main diagonal portion of a letterform such as in N, M, or Y is the stroke. 
Term
Swash
Definition
[image]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. 
Term
Tail
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Teardrop Terminal
Definition
[image]The teardropped ends of strokes in letters of some typefaces.
Term
Terminal
Definition
[image]The end of a stroke that does not include a serif. Definition: In typography, the terminal is a type of curve. 
Term
Tittle
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Uppercase
Definition
[image]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.
Term
Vertex
Definition
[image]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.
Term
X-Height
Definition
[image]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). 
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