Explorations in Typography /
Mastering the Art of Fine Typesetting

Carolina de Bartolo
with Erik Spiekermann

Glossary /

A/
alphabet/ writing system wherein one character stands for each sound in the language.
ampersand/ ligature for the word “and” from the Latin “et.”
ascender/ part of a letter that extends above the meanline.
auto-hyphenation/ hyphenation automated by software.
B/
baseline/ imaginary line that letterforms sit on inlines of text.
bitmapped/ showing the squared-off forms of pixels.
body/ main part of a text; also body copy.
bold/ heavier weight of a typeface.
bracket/ transitional curved area between stroke and serif.
byline/ credit line, often beginning with the word “by.”
C/
cap height/ distance from baseline to capline.
capitals/ uppercase characters.
capline/ imaginary line at the top of capital letters.
centered/ set ragged on both right and left edges.
character/ letter, punctuation mark or figure.
contrast/ difference in stroke width within a letterform; also called stroke modulation.
clotheslining/ aligning multiple columns along the same top baseline and varying the depths of each.
colophon/ typographic and/or print production specifications, usually listed at the back of a book.
column/ vertical division of a page.
composition/ layout.
D/
descender/ part of a letter than extends below the baseline.
dingbat/ non-alphanumeric mark or ornament.
display type/ type in large sizes, usually for heads; compare text type.
drop capital/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is inset two or more lines into the first paragraph.
E/
em/ relative measure equal to the point size of the type.
em-dash/ longest dash, used for a break in thought in a sentence or a credit line at the end of a text.
en-dash/ used in place of the words “to” or “through”; half the width of an em-dash.
exdent/ paragraph indication where the first lines of each paragraph are shifted to the left; also called hanging indent or outdent.
F/
family/ set of typefaces with coordinated forms and characteristics.
fixed width/ each character having the same width; also called monospaced.
fleuron/ decorative character, usually in the shape of a leaf or flower.
floriated/ decorated with flowers and/or leaves.
flush/ aligned.
font/ used interchangeably with the word “typeface” today, its original meaning was a single point size and weight in a specific typeface.
footnote/ information at the end of a text referenced within the main text.
G/
glyph/ character; form of a letter.
graphic element/ non-alphanumeric mark; examples include a bullet, pilcrow or arrow.
grid/ imaginary lines defining boundaries on a page.
gutter/ space between columns.
H/
head/ title; text that is uppermost in hierarchy.
hierarchy/ order of importance.
horsey/ large and clunky; inelegant.
hyphen/ shortest of the horizontal punctuation marks; used only for hyphenation.
I/
indent/ paragraph indication where the first line of each paragraph is shifted to the right by a small amount, usually one or two ems.
italic/ slanted weight of a typeface; true italic letterforms are not based on their roman counterparts.
initial cap/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is set in a larger point size.
J/
justified/ flush on both the left and right sides of the text block.
K/
kerning/ adjustment of the space between two characters; compare tracking.
L/
leading/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; linespace.
legibility/ used interchangeably with “readability,” its true meaning is the degree to which an individual letterform can be easily read; compare readability.
ligature/ two characters joined into one.
linespace/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; leading.
lining figures/ numbers that are based on the cap height.
lowercase/ minuscule forms of letters; colloquially called smalls.
M/
margin/ space from the edge of the page to the type or printing.
meanline/ imaginary line across the top of lowercase letterforms.
measure/ column width or line length.
monospaced/ each character having the same width; see fixed width.
N/
negative leading/ when leading is set less than point size.
O/
oblique/ slanted weight of a typeface based on the roman.
oldstyle figures/ numbers that are designed based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called text figures.
orphan/ last line of a paragraph alone at the top of a column.
P/
paragraph/ group of related sentences in a text.
paragraph indication/ way of differentiating groups of related sentences within a text.
pig bristles/ excessive punctuation, typically at ends of three or more lines of text in a row.
pilcrow/ classic symbol for a new paragraph.
point size/ measure of type size in points.
punctuation/ analphabetic marks used to organize a text.
R/
ragged/ not flush.
readability/ degree to which a body of text can be easily read; compare legibility.
recto/ originally the front side of a sheet of papyrus;today the right-hand page in a book; compare verso.
revival/ typeface designs derived from an earlier classic design.
rivers/ when word space is optically greater than linespace, whether or not these large word spaces line up vertically; a manifestation of uneven “color” and therefore to be avoided.
S/
sans serif/ typefaces without serifs.
script/ typefaces based on handwriting.
serif/ small stroke at the terminal of a main stroke.
setting/ short for “typesetting.”
set solid/ when point size is set equal to leading.
small capitals/ set of capital letterforms the size of the x-height.
soft return/ line break that is not a paragraph break.
subhead/ head that is lower in hierarchy than one or more heads above it.
T/
terminal/ ending of a stroke in a letterform, a key distinguishing feature in a typeface design.
text figures/ numbers that are based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called oldstyle figures.
text type/ type set in small sizes, usually set between 7 and 10 points, and intended for continuous reading.
tracking/ letterspacing; overall amount of space between letters on a passage of text; compare kerning.
two-letter hyphenation/ when only two letters precede or follow a hyphen; to be avoided for aesthetic reasons.
typeface/ complete group of characters designed to work as a set; today, used interchangeably with the word “font” although technically they do not share the same meaning.
typesetting/ practice of composing type on a page.
typographic color/ overall texture of a body of text; even “color” is your highest typographic priority.
typographer/ person who designs typefaces or who sets type.
typography/ art and craft of setting type.
U/
u/lc/ common abbreviation for upper and lowercase.
underline/ line used underneath a text to give emphasis or differentiation.
uppercase/ capital letterforms.
V/
vernacular/ commonplace, ordinary or everyday.
verso/ originally the back side of a sheet of papyrus; today the left-hand page in a book; compare recto.
W/
widow/ single word or a very short line at the end of a paragraph; also the first line of a new paragraph alone at the bottom of a column.
weight/ varieties of related character sets within a typeface; text faces typically contain roman (regular), bold and italic versions at minimum.
word space/ space between words.
X/
x-height/ distance from the baseline to the meanline; varies in size and ratio to cap height from face to face.
A/
alphabet/ writing system wherein one character stands for each sound in the language.
ampersand/ ligature for the word “and” from the Latin “et.”
ascender/ part of a letter that extends above the meanline.
auto-hyphenation/ hyphenation automated by software.
B/
baseline/ imaginary line that letterforms sit on inlines of text.
bitmapped/ showing the squared-off forms of pixels.
body/ main part of a text; also body copy.
bold/ heavier weight of a typeface.
bracket/ transitional curved area between stroke and serif.
byline/ credit line, often beginning with the word “by.”
C/
cap height/ distance from baseline to capline.
capitals/ uppercase characters.
capline/ imaginary line at the top of capital letters.
centered/ set ragged on both right and left edges.
character/ letter, punctuation mark or figure.
contrast/ difference in stroke width within a letterform; also called stroke modulation.
clotheslining/ aligning multiple columns along the same top baseline and varying the depths of each.
colophon/ typographic and/or print production specifications, usually listed at the back of a book.
column/ vertical division of a page.
composition/ layout.
D/
descender/ part of a letter than extends below the baseline.
dingbat/ non-alphanumeric mark or ornament.
display type/ type in large sizes, usually for heads; compare text type.
drop capital/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is inset two or more lines into the first paragraph.
E/
em/ relative measure equal to the point size of the type.
em-dash/ longest dash, used for a break in thought in a sentence or a credit line at the end of a text.
en-dash/ used in place of the words “to” or “through”; half the width of an em-dash.
exdent/ paragraph indication where the first lines of each paragraph are shifted to the left; also called hanging indent or outdent.
F/
family/ set of typefaces with coordinated forms and characteristics.
fixed width/ each character having the same width; also called monospaced.
fleuron/ decorative character, usually in the shape of a leaf or flower.
floriated/ decorated with flowers and/or leaves.
flush/ aligned.
font/ used interchangeably with the word “typeface” today, its original meaning was a single point size and weight in a specific typeface.
footnote/ information at the end of a text referenced within the main text.
G/
glyph/ character; form of a letter.
graphic element/ non-alphanumeric mark; examples include a bullet, pilcrow or arrow.
grid/ imaginary lines defining boundaries on a page.
gutter/ space between columns.
H/
head/ title; text that is uppermost in hierarchy.
hierarchy/ order of importance.
horsey/ large and clunky; inelegant.
hyphen/ shortest of the horizontal punctuation marks; used only for hyphenation.
I/
indent/ paragraph indication where the first line of each paragraph is shifted to the right by a small amount, usually one or two ems.
italic/ slanted weight of a typeface; true italic letterforms are not based on their roman counterparts.
initial cap/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is set in a larger point size.
J/
justified/ flush on both the left and right sides of the text block.
K/
kerning/ adjustment of the space between two characters; compare tracking.
L/
leading/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; linespace.
legibility/ used interchangeably with “readability,” its true meaning is the degree to which an individual letterform can be easily read; compare readability.
ligature/ two characters joined into one.
linespace/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; leading.
lining figures/ numbers that are based on the cap height.
lowercase/ minuscule forms of letters; colloquially called smalls.
M/
margin/ space from the edge of the page to the type or printing.
meanline/ imaginary line across the top of lowercase letterforms.
measure/ column width or line length.
monospaced/ each character having the same width; see fixed width.
N/
negative leading/ when leading is set less than point size.
O/
oblique/ slanted weight of a typeface based on the roman.
oldstyle figures/ numbers that are designed based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called text figures.
orphan/ last line of a paragraph alone at the top of a column.
P/
paragraph/ group of related sentences in a text.
paragraph indication/ way of differentiating groups of related sentences within a text.
pig bristles/ excessive punctuation, typically at ends of three or more lines of text in a row.
pilcrow/ classic symbol for a new paragraph.
point size/ measure of type size in points.
punctuation/ analphabetic marks used to organize a text.
R/
ragged/ not flush.
readability/ degree to which a body of text can be easily read; compare legibility.
recto/ originally the front side of a sheet of papyrus;today the right-hand page in a book; compare verso.
revival/ typeface designs derived from an earlier classic design.
rivers/ when word space is optically greater than linespace, whether or not these large word spaces line up vertically; a manifestation of uneven “color” and therefore to be avoided.
S/
sans serif/ typefaces without serifs.
script/ typefaces based on handwriting.
serif/ small stroke at the terminal of a main stroke.
setting/ short for “typesetting.”
set solid/ when point size is set equal to leading.
small capitals/ set of capital letterforms the size of the x-height.
soft return/ line break that is not a paragraph break.
subhead/ head that is lower in hierarchy than one or more heads above it.
T/
terminal/ ending of a stroke in a letterform, a key distinguishing feature in a typeface design.
text figures/ numbers that are based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called oldstyle figures.
text type/ type set in small sizes, usually set between 7 and 10 points, and intended for continuous reading.
tracking/ letterspacing; overall amount of space between letters on a passage of text; compare kerning.
two-letter hyphenation/ when only two letters precede or follow a hyphen; to be avoided for aesthetic reasons.
typeface/ complete group of characters designed to work as a set; today, used interchangeably with the word “font” although technically they do not share the same meaning.
typesetting/ practice of composing type on a page.
typographic color/ overall texture of a body of text; even “color” is your highest typographic priority.
typographer/ person who designs typefaces or who sets type.
typography/ art and craft of setting type.
U/
u/lc/ common abbreviation for upper and lowercase.
underline/ line used underneath a text to give emphasis or differentiation.
uppercase/ capital letterforms.
V/
vernacular/ commonplace, ordinary or everyday.
verso/ originally the back side of a sheet of papyrus; today the left-hand page in a book; compare recto.
W/
widow/ single word or a very short line at the end of a paragraph; also the first line of a new paragraph alone at the bottom of a column.
weight/ varieties of related character sets within a typeface; text faces typically contain roman (regular), bold and italic versions at minimum.
word space/ space between words.
X/
x-height/ distance from the baseline to the meanline; varies in size and ratio to cap height from face to face.
A/
alphabet/ writing system wherein one character stands for each sound in the language.
ampersand/ ligature for the word “and” from the Latin “et.”
ascender/ part of a letter that extends above the meanline.
auto-hyphenation/ hyphenation automated by software.
B/
baseline/ imaginary line that letterforms sit on inlines of text.
bitmapped/ showing the squared-off forms of pixels.
body/ main part of a text; also body copy.
bold/ heavier weight of a typeface.
bracket/ transitional curved area between stroke and serif.
byline/ credit line, often beginning with the word “by.”
C/
cap height/ distance from baseline to capline.
capitals/ uppercase characters.
capline/ imaginary line at the top of capital letters.
centered/ set ragged on both right and left edges.
character/ letter, punctuation mark or figure.
contrast/ difference in stroke width within a letterform; also called stroke modulation.
clotheslining/ aligning multiple columns along the same top baseline and varying the depths of each.
colophon/ typographic and/or print production specifications, usually listed at the back of a book.
column/ vertical division of a page.
composition/ layout.
D/
descender/ part of a letter than extends below the baseline.
dingbat/ non-alphanumeric mark or ornament.
display type/ type in large sizes, usually for heads; compare text type.
drop capital/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is inset two or more lines into the first paragraph.
E/
em/ relative measure equal to the point size of the type.
em-dash/ longest dash, used for a break in thought in a sentence or a credit line at the end of a text.
en-dash/ used in place of the words “to” or “through”; half the width of an em-dash.
exdent/ paragraph indication where the first lines of each paragraph are shifted to the left; also called hanging indent or outdent.
F/
family/ set of typefaces with coordinated forms and characteristics.
fixed width/ each character having the same width; also called monospaced.
fleuron/ decorative character, usually in the shape of a leaf or flower.
floriated/ decorated with flowers and/or leaves.
flush/ aligned.
font/ used interchangeably with the word “typeface” today, its original meaning was a single point size and weight in a specific typeface.
footnote/ information at the end of a text referenced within the main text.
G/
glyph/ character; form of a letter.
graphic element/ non-alphanumeric mark; examples include a bullet, pilcrow or arrow.
grid/ imaginary lines defining boundaries on a page.
gutter/ space between columns.
H/
head/ title; text that is uppermost in hierarchy.
hierarchy/ order of importance.
horsey/ large and clunky; inelegant.
hyphen/ shortest of the horizontal punctuation marks; used only for hyphenation.
I/
indent/ paragraph indication where the first line of each paragraph is shifted to the right by a small amount, usually one or two ems.
italic/ slanted weight of a typeface; true italic letterforms are not based on their roman counterparts.
initial cap/ capital letter at the beginning of a text that is set in a larger point size.
J/
justified/ flush on both the left and right sides of the text block.
K/
kerning/ adjustment of the space between two characters; compare tracking.
L/
leading/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; linespace.
legibility/ used interchangeably with “readability,” its true meaning is the degree to which an individual letterform can be easily read; compare readability.
ligature/ two characters joined into one.
linespace/ distance measured in points from baseline to baseline; leading.
lining figures/ numbers that are based on the cap height.
lowercase/ minuscule forms of letters; colloquially called smalls.
M/
margin/ space from the edge of the page to the type or printing.
meanline/ imaginary line across the top of lowercase letterforms.
measure/ column width or line length.
monospaced/ each character having the same width; see fixed width.
N/
negative leading/ when leading is set less than point size.
O/
oblique/ slanted weight of a typeface based on the roman.
oldstyle figures/ numbers that are designed based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called text figures.
orphan/ last line of a paragraph alone at the top of a column.
P/
paragraph/ group of related sentences in a text.
paragraph indication/ way of differentiating groups of related sentences within a text.
pig bristles/ excessive punctuation, typically at ends of three or more lines of text in a row.
pilcrow/ classic symbol for a new paragraph.
point size/ measure of type size in points.
punctuation/ analphabetic marks used to organize a text.
R/
ragged/ not flush.
readability/ degree to which a body of text can be easily read; compare legibility.
recto/ originally the front side of a sheet of papyrus;today the right-hand page in a book; compare verso.
revival/ typeface designs derived from an earlier classic design.
rivers/ when word space is optically greater than linespace, whether or not these large word spaces line up vertically; a manifestation of uneven “color” and therefore to be avoided.
S/
sans serif/ typefaces without serifs.
script/ typefaces based on handwriting.
serif/ small stroke at the terminal of a main stroke.
setting/ short for “typesetting.”
set solid/ when point size is set equal to leading.
small capitals/ set of capital letterforms the size of the x-height.
soft return/ line break that is not a paragraph break.
subhead/ head that is lower in hierarchy than one or more heads above it.
T/
terminal/ ending of a stroke in a letterform, a key distinguishing feature in a typeface design.
text figures/ numbers that are based on the x-height plus ascenders and descenders; also called oldstyle figures.
text type/ type set in small sizes, usually set between 7 and 10 points, and intended for continuous reading.
tracking/ letterspacing; overall amount of space between letters on a passage of text; compare kerning.
two-letter hyphenation/ when only two letters precede or follow a hyphen; to be avoided for aesthetic reasons.
typeface/ complete group of characters designed to work as a set; today, used interchangeably with the word “font” although technically they do not share the same meaning.
typesetting/ practice of composing type on a page.
typographic color/ overall texture of a body of text; even “color” is your highest typographic priority.
typographer/ person who designs typefaces or who sets type.
typography/ art and craft of setting type.
U/
u/lc/ common abbreviation for upper and lowercase.
underline/ line used underneath a text to give emphasis or differentiation.
uppercase/ capital letterforms.
V/
vernacular/ commonplace, ordinary or everyday.
verso/ originally the back side of a sheet of papyrus; today the left-hand page in a book; compare recto.
W/
widow/ single word or a very short line at the end of a paragraph; also the first line of a new paragraph alone at the bottom of a column.
weight/ varieties of related character sets within a typeface; text faces typically contain roman (regular), bold and italic versions at minimum.
word space/ space between words.
X/
x-height/ distance from the baseline to the meanline; varies in size and ratio to cap height from face to face.