Nomenclature

Too often, in a discussion of typefaces, the lack of a generally accepted nomenclature for basic strokes produces a troublesome handicap. As a result, either the risk of vague and ambiguous improvised terms must be taken, or an excessive amount of time must be spent in explanation. The purpose of this section is to suggest a standard terminology for the basic strokes of the conventional letter form. It should be noted that no attempt has been made to standardize any but basic structures. It would be extremely difficult to label every minute characteristic of individual typefaces. The subtle features of a letter form do not lend themselves to the same kind of analysis that can be applied to a strict geometric form; in noting the finer characteristics of various letter forms, it is better to rely upon our powers of description.

The material which follows is based upon Joseph Thorp’s Nomenclature of Letter Forms and has been modified and reorganized with the permission of the Monotype Corporation, Ltd., of London.