This glossary was compiled from two publications:
Typographic Design: Form and Communication
by Rob Carter, Ben Day, and Philip Meggs

Graphic Design Solutions
by Robin Landa

To search the glossary CLICK on the appropriate letter groupings.
Use the browser back button to return to top of the page.


[A-B] [C] [D-E] [F] [G-H] [I-K] [L] [M-N] [O-P] [Q-R] [S] [T] [U-V] [W-Z]


Accents. Small marks over, under, or through a letterform, indicating specific pronunciation or changes in stress.
Agate. Vertical unit used to measure space in newspaper columns, originally five-and-one-half point type. Fourteen agate lines equal approximately one inch.
Alignment. Precise arrangement of letterforms upon an imaginary horizontal or vertical line.
Ampersand. Typographic character (&) representing the word and.
Ascender. Stroke on a lowercase letter that rises above the meanline.
Asymmetry. The arrangement of dissimilar or unequal elements of equal visual weight on a page.
ASCII code. Abbreviation for American Standard Code of Information Interchange. The numbers 0 through 127 represent the alphanumeric characters and functions on the keyboard.
Balance. An equal distribution of visual weight.
Backslant. Letterforms having a diagonal slant to the left.
Baseline. An imaginary horizontal line upon which the base of each capital letter rests.
Binary code. Number system using only two digits: zero and one.
Bit. Smallest unit of information in a computer. Consisting of only one digit, zero or one.
Body size. Depth of a piece of metal type, usually measured in points.
Body type. Text material, usually set in sizes from six to twelve point. Also called text type.
Boldface. Type with thicker heavier strokes than the regular font. Indicated as BF in type specifications.
Byte. Unit of computer information. A byte consists of eight or more bits.
Cap height. Height of the capital letters, measured from the baseline to the capline.
Capitals. Letters larger than - and often differing from-the corresponding lowercase letters. Also called uppercase.
Capline. Imaginary horizontal line defined by the height of the capital letters.
Caps. See Capitals.
Caption. Title, explanation, or description accompanying an illustration on or photograph.
Casting of. Determining the length of manuscript copy, enabling a calculation of the area that type will occupy when set in a given size and style.
Cathode-ray tube (CRT). An electronic tube with a phosphorescent surface that produces a glowing image when activated by an electronic beam.
Central processing unit (CPU). Computer component that controls all other parts, performs logical operations, and stores information.
Character. Symbol, sign, or mark in a language system.
Character count. Calculation of the total number of characters in manuscript copy that is to be typeset.
Chase. Heavy metal frame into which metal type is locked for proofing or printing.
Cicero. European typographic unit of measure, approximately equal to the American pica.
Cold type. Type which is set by means other than casting molten metal. A term most frequently used to indicate strike-on composition rather than photo or digital typesetting.
Colophon. Inscription, frequently placed at the end of a book, that contains facts about its production.
Collage. The cutting and pasting of different bits of materials onto a two-dimensional space.
Command. Code that is keyboarded and entered into a computer's memory, that will instruct a typesetter, editing terminal, or other peripheral as to the specific typographic functions to be performed.
Comp. See Comprehensive layout.
Compensation. In visual organization, the counterbalancing of elements.
Composing stick. Adjustable hand-held metal tray, used to hold handset type as it is being composed .
Composition. Alternate term for typesetting.
Compositor. Person who sets type.
Comprehensive layout. An accurate representation of typography and other graphic elements to be printed. Also called comp.
Computer. Electronic device that performs pre defined (programmed) high-speed mathematical or logical calculations.
Condensed. Letterforms whose horizontal width has been compressed.
Copyfitting. Calculating the area that will be occupied by a given manuscript when set in a specified size and style of type.
Counter. Space enclosed by the strokes of a letterform.
Counterform. Negative spatial areas defined and shaped by letterforms, including both interior counters and spaces between characters.
CPI. Characters per inch.
CPU. See Central processing unit.
CRT. See Cathode-ray tube.
Cursive. Typestyles that imitate handwriting, often with letters that do not connect.
Cutoff rules. Rules used to separate pages into various units, such as advertisements or news stories.
Dazzle. Visual effect caused by extreme contrast in the strokes of letterforms.
Descender. Stroke on a lowercase letterform that falls below the baseline.
Digital computer. A device that translates data into a discrete number system to facilitate electronic processing.
Disk. Thin, flat, circular plate with a magnetic surface upon which data may be stored. Also, a circular grid containing the master font in some typesetting systems.
Display type. Type sizes fourteen point and above, used primarily for headlines and titles.
Dissonance. In design, visual tension and contrast between typographic elements.
Drop initial. Display letterform set into the text.
Editing terminal. Workstation consisting of a keyboard and visual display device, used to input and edit copy prior to typesetting.
Egyptian. Typefaces characterized by slablike serifs similar in weight to the main strokes.
Elite. Size of typewriter type approximately equal to ten-point typography.
Ellipses. Three dots used to indicate an omission in quoted material.
Em. The square of the body size of any type, used as a unit of measure. In some expanded or condensed faces, the em is also expanded or condensed from the square proportion.
Em dash. A dash one em long. Also called a long dash.
Em leader. Horizontal dots or dashes with one em between their centers.
Em space. A space equal to the width of an em quad .
En. One-half of an em (see Em).
En dash. A dash one en long. Also called a short dash .
En leader. Horizontal dots or dashes with one en between their centers.
En space. Space equal to the width of an en quad.
Expanded. Letterforms whose horizontal width has been extended.
Face. The part of metal type that is inked for printing. Also, another word for typeface.
Family. See Type family.
Firmware. Software in hardware form. Fit. Refers to the spatial relationships between letters after they are set into words and lines.
Flow. Elements arranged in a design so the viewers eyes are lead from one element to another, through the design. Also called movement.
Flush left (or right). The even vertical alignment of lines at the left (or right) edge of a column.
Focal point. The part of a design that is most emphasized.
Folio. Page number.
Font. Character set of a given size and style including upper and lowercase letters, numerals, and punctuation marks.
Format. The overall typographic and spatial schema established for a publication or any other application.
Formatting. In digital typesetting and photo typesetting, the process of issuing specific commands that establish the typographic format.
Foundry type. Metal type used in hand composition.
Formal elements. Fundamental elements of 2D design, i.e.. line, shape, color, texture, etc.
Furniture. Rectangular pieces of wood, metal, or plastic used to fill in excess space when locking up a form for letterpress printing.
Galley. A three-sided, shallow metal tray used to hold metal type forms before printing.
Galley proof. Originally, a type proof pulled from metal type assembled in a galley. Frequently used today to indicate any first proof, regardless of the type system.
Grid. Underlying structure composed of a linear framework used by designers to organize typo graphic and pictorial elements. Also, a film or glass master font, containing characters in a pre determined configuration and used in phototype setting.
Grotesque. Name for sans serif typefaces.
Gutter. The interval separating two facing pages in a publication.
Gutter margin. Inner margin of a page in a publication.
Hairline. Thinnest strokes on a typeface having strokes of varying weight.
Hand composition. Method of setting type by placing individual pieces of metal type from a type case into a composing stick.
Hanging indent. In composition, a column for mat in which the first line of type is set to a full measure while all additional lines are indented.
Hanging punctuation. Punctuation set outside the column measure to achieve an optical alignment.
Hard copy. Computer output printed on paper.
Hardware. The physical equipment of a computer system, such as the CPU, input/output devices, and peripherals.
Heading. Copy that is given emphasis over the body of text, through changes in size, weight, or spatial interval.
Headline. The most significant type in the visual hierarchy of a printed communication.
Hot type. Type produced by casting molten metal.
Hyphenation. The syllabic division of words, when they must be broken at the end of a line. In electronic text setting, hyphenation can be deter mined by the operator, or automatically by the computer.
Hue. The name of a color, that is, red or green, or yellow, etc.
Impasto. The buildup of paint on the surface of a canvas or board.
Imposition. The arrangement of pages in a printed signature to achieve the proper sequencing after the sheets are folded and trimmed.
Incunabula. European printing during the first half-century of typography, from Gutenberg's invention of movable type until the year 1500.
Indent. An interval of space at the beginning of a line to indicate a new paragraph.
Inferior characters. Small characters, usually slightly smaller than the x-height, positioned on or below the baseline and used for footnotes or fractions.
Initial. A large letter used at the beginning of a column; for example, at the beginning of a chapter.
Input. Raw data, text, or commands entered into a computer memory from a peripheral device, such as a keyboard.
Interletter spacing. The spatial interval between letters, also called letterspacing.
Interline spacing. The spatial interval between lines, also called leading.
Interword spacing. The spatial interval between words, also called wordspacing.
Italic. Letterforms having a pronounced diagonal slant to the right.
Justified setting. A column of type with even vertical edges on both the left and the right, achieved by adjusting interword spacing. Also called flush left, flush right.
K. Computer term for one thousand bytes of memory.
Kerning. Optical adjustment of interletter spacing that reduces space between characters to produce a better fit.
Keyboard. A device having keys or buttons used to enter data into typesetting and computer systems.
Laser. A concentrated light source that can be optically manipulated. Coined from "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation."
Latin. Typestyles characterized by triangular, pointed serifs.
Leader. Typographic dots or periods that are repeated to connect other elements.
Lead-in. Introductory copy set in a contrasting typeface.
Leading. See Interline spacing.
Letterpress. The process of printing from a raised, inked surface.
Letterspacing. See Interletter spacing.
Ligature. A typographic character produced by combining two or more letters.
Line breaks. The relationships of line endings in a ragged-right or ragged-left setting.
Rhythmic line breaks are achieved by adjusting the length of individual lines of type.
Line length. The measure of the length of a line of type, usually expressed in picas.
Lining figures. Numerals identical in size to the capitals and aligned on the baseline: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10.
Linotype. A machine that casts an entire line of raised type on a single metal slug.
Logotype. Two or more type characters that are combined as a sign or trademark.
Lowercase. The alphabet set of small letters, as opposed to capitals. LPM. Lines per minute, a unit of measure express- ing the speed of a typesetting system.
Ludlow. A typecasting machine that produces individual letters from hand-assembled matrices.
Machine composition. General term for the mechanical casting of metal type.
Makeup. The assembly of typographic matter into a page, or a sequence of pages, ready for printing.
Margin. The unprinted space surrounding type matter on a page.
Mark up. The marking of typesetting specifications upon manuscript copy.
Masthead. The visual identification of a magazine or newspaper, usually a logotype.
Matrix. In typesetting, the master image from which type is produced. The matrix is a brass mold in linecasting and a glass plate bearing the font negative in phototypesetting.
Meanline. An imaginary line marking the tops of lowercase letters, not including the ascenders.
Measure. See Line length.
Minuscules. An early term for small, or lower case, letters.
Minus spacing. A reduction of interline spacing, resulting in a baseline-to-baseline measurement that is smaller than the point size of the type.
Mixing. The alignment of more than one type style or typeface on a single baseline.
Modern. Term used to describe typefaces designed at the end of the eighteenth century Characteristics include vertical stress, hairline serifs, and pronounced contrasts between thick and thin strokes.
Monotype. A trade name for a keyboard-operated typesetting machine that casts individual letters from matrices.
Negative. The reversal of a positive photographic image.
Oblique. A slanted roman character. Unlike many italics, oblique characters do not have cursive design properties.
Offset lithography. A printing method using flat photomechanical plates, in which the inked image is transferred or offset from the printing plate onto a rubber blanket, then onto the paper.
Old Style. Typeface styles derived from fifteenth to eighteenth-century designs, and characterized by moderate thick-and-thin contrasts, bracketed serifs, and a handwriting influence.
Old Style figures. Numerals that exhibit a variation in size, including characters aligning with the lowercase x-height, and others with ascenders or descenders: Iz34567Xgo.
Optical adjustment. The precise visual alignment and spacing of typographic elements. In interletter spacing, the adjustment of individual characters to achieve consistent spacing.
Outline type. Letterforms described by a contour line that encloses the entire character on all sides. The interior usually remains open.
Output. The product of a computer operation. In computerized typesetting, output is reproduction proofs of composition.
Pagination. The sequential numbering of pages.
Paragraph mark. Typographic elements that signal the beginning of a paragraph.
Parallel construction. In typography, the use of similar typographic elements or arrangements to create a visual unity or to convey a relationship in content.
P. E. Abbreviation for Printers Error; used to flag a mistake made by the compositor rather than by the author.
Photocomposition. The process of setting type by projecting light onto a light-sensitive film or paper.
Photodisplay typesetting. The process of setting headline type on film or paper by photographic means.
Phototype. Type matter set on film or paper by photographic projection of type characters.
Photounit. Output component of a photocomposition system, which sets the type and exposes it to light-sensitive film or paper.
Pica. Typographic unit of measurement: 12 points equal 1 pica. 6 picas equal approximately one inch. Line lengths and column widths are measured in picas.
Pictogram. A simplified picture or symbol representing an object or person.
Picture plane. The blank, flat surface of a page.
Portfolio. A body of work used by artists and designers as a measure of one's professional ability.
Point. The smallest unit of measure in typography: 12 points equal 1 pica. 1 point equals approximately 1/72 of an inch. Type body size and interline spacing are measured in points.
Processor. In a computer system, the general term for any device capable of carrying out operations upon data. In phototypography, the unit that automatically develops the light-sensitive paper or film.
Program. A sequence of instructions that directs the operations of a computer to execute a given task.
Quad. In metal type, pieces of type metal shorter than type-high, which are used as spacing matter to separate elements and fill out lines.
Quoins. Wedges used to lock up metal type in the chase. These devices are tightened and loosened by a quoin key.
Ragged. See Unjustified type.
Raster scan. The generation of an image upon a cathode-ray tube made by refreshing the display area line by line.
Recto. In publication design, the right-hand page. Page one (and all odd-numbered pages) always appears on a recto. The left-hand page is called the verso.
Reverse. Type or image that is dropped out of a printed area, revealing the paper surface.
Reverse leading. A reduction in the amount of interline space, making it less than normal for the point size. For example, twelve-point type set on an eleven-point body size becomes reverse leading of one point.
Rhythm. A pattern that is created by repeating or varying elements, with consideration to the space between them, and establishing a sense of movement from one element to another.
Roughs. Sketches which are larger and more refined than thumbnail sketches to show the basic elements in a design.
River. In text type, a series of interword spaces that accidentally align vertically or diagonally, creating an objectionable flow of white space within the column.
Roman. Upright letterforms, as distinguished from italics. More specifically, letters in an alphabet style based on the upright, serifed letterforms of Roman inscriptions.
Rule. In handset metal type, a strip of metal that prints as a line. Generally, any line used as an element in typographic design, whether handset, photographic, digital, or hand-drawn.
Run-around. Type that is set with a shortened line measure to fit around a photograph, drawing, or other visual element inserted into the running text.
Run in. To set type without a paragraph indentation or other break. Also, to insert additional matter into the running text as part of an existing paragraph.
Running head. Type at the head of sequential pages, providing a title or publication name.
Sans serif. Typefaces without serifs.
Saturation. The brightness or dullness of a color; also called intensity and chroma.
Script. Typefaces based on handwriting, usually having connecting strokes between the letters.
Semantics. The science of meaning in linguistics; the study of the relationships between signs and symbols, and what they represent.
Serifs. Small elements added to the ends of the main strokes of a letterform in serifed typestyles.
Set width. In metal type, the width of the body upon which a letter is cast. In phototype and digital type, the horizontal width of a letterform measured in units, including the normal space before and after the character. This interletter space can be increased or decreased to control the tightness or looseness of the fit.
Shoulder. In metal type, the flat top of the type body that surrounds the raised printing surface of the letterform.
Side head. A title or other heading material placed to the side of a type column.
Slab serifs. Square or rectangular serifs that align horizontally and vertically to the baseline and are usually the same (or heavier) weight as the main strokes of the letterform.
Slug. A line of metal type cast on a linecasting machine, such as the Linotype. Also, strips of metal spacing material in thicknesses of six points or more.
Small capitals. A set of capital letters having the same height as the lowercase x-height, frequently used for cross reference and abbreviations. Also called small caps, and often abbreviated s.c.
Software. Components of a computer system consisting of the programs or instructions that control the behavior of the computer hardware.
Solid. Lines of type that are set without additional interline space. Also called set solid.
Sorts. In metal type, material that is not part of a regular font, such as symbols, piece fractions, and space. Also, individual characters used to replace worn-out type in a font.
Stand-alone typesetting system. A typesetting system that is completely self-contained, including editing terminal, memory, and character generation.
Stet. A proofreader's mark meaning that copy marked for correction should not be changed; rather, it should be left as originally set.
Storyboard. Illustrates and narrates key frames of a film or television concept.
Storage. In computer typesetting, a device (such as a disk, drum, or tape) that can receive information and retain it for future use.
Straight matter. Text material set in continuous columns with limited deviation from the basic typographic specifications.
Subscript. A small character beneath (or adjacent to and slightly below) another character.
Superscript. A small character above (or adjacent to and slightly above) another character.
Swash letters. Letters ornamented with flourishes or flowing tails.
Symmetry. The balanced arrangement of similar or identical elements so that they are evenly distributed on either side of an imaginary vertical axis, like a mirror image.
Syntax. In grammar, the way in which words or phrases are put together to form sentences. In design, the connecting or ordering of typographic elements into a visual unity.
System. A related group of interdependent design elements forming a whole. In computer science, a complete computing operation including software and hardware (Central Processing Unit, memory, input/output devices, and peripher als or devices required for the intended functions).
Terminal. See Visual display terminal. Text. The main body of written or printed material, as opposed to display matter, footnotes, appendices, etc.
Text type. See Body type.
Texture. The tactile quality of a surface or the representation of such a surface quality.
Thumbnail sketches. Preliminary, small rough idea drawings.
Transitional. Classification of typestyles combining aspects of both Old Style and Modern type faces; for example, Baskerville.
Typeface. The design of alphabetical and numerical characters unified by consistent visual properties.
Type family. The complete range of variations of a typeface design, including roman, italic, bold, expanded, condensed, and other versions.
Type-high. The standard foot-to-face height of metal types; 0.9186 inches in English-speaking countries.
Typescript. Typewritten manuscript material used as copy for typesetting.
Typesetting. The composing of type by any method or process, also called composition.
Type specimen. A typeset sample produced to show the visual properties of a typeface.
Typo. See Typographical error.
Typographer. A firm specializing in typesetting. Sometimes used to denote a compositor or type setter.
Typographical error. A mistake in typesetting, typing, or writing.
Typography. Originally the composition of printed matter from movable type. Now the art and process of typesetting by any system or method.
U. and l.c. Abbreviation for uppercase and lower case, used to specify typesetting that combines capitals with lowercase letters.
Unit. A subdivision of the em, used in measuring and counting characters in photo- and digital type setting systems.
Unitization. The process of designing a typeface so that the individual character widths conform to a typesetter's unit system.
Unitized font. A font with character widths conforming to a typesetterÕs unit system.
Unit system. A counting system first developed for Monotype, used by most typesetting machines. The width of characters and spaces are measured in units. This data is used to control line breaks, justification, and interword and interletter spacing.
Unit value. The established width, in units, of a typographic character.
Unity. When all the elements in a design look as though they belong together; an integrated whole.
Unjustified type. Lines of type set with equal interword spacing, resulting in irregular line lengths. Also called ragged.
Uppercase. See Capitals.
Value. The range of lightness and darkness of a color, that is, a light red or a dark red.
Verso. In publication design, the left-hand page. Page two (and all even-numbered pages) always appears on a verso. The right-hand page is called the recto.
Visual display terminal. A computer input/out put device utilizing a cathode-ray tube to display data on a screen. Information from memory, storage, or a keyboard can be displayed.
Visual hierarchy. The arrangement of elements according to importance and emphasis.
Visual weight. The illusion of physical weight on a two-dimensional surface.
Volume. On a two-dimensional surface, the illusion of a form with mass and weight.
Weight. The lightness or heaviness of a typeface, which is determined by ratio of the stroke thickness to character height.
White space. The ÒnegativeÓ area surrounding a letterform. See Counter and Counterform.
White space reduction. A decrease in the amount of interletter space, achieved in type setting by reducing the unit value of typeset characters.
Widow. A very short line that appears at the end of a paragraph, column, or page, or at the top of a column or page. These awkward typographic configurations should be corrected editorially.
Woodtype. Hand-set types cut from wood by a mechanical router Formerly used for large display sizes that were not practical for metal casting. Woodtype has been virtually eliminated by display photographic typesetting.
Word. In computer systems, a logical unit of information, composed of a predetermined number of bits.
Wordspace. See Interword spacing.
Wordspacing. In typesetting, adding space between words to extend each line to achieve a justified setting. x-height. The height of lowercase letters, excluding ascenders and descenders. his is most easily measured on the lowercase x.