Typography Definitions

Define weight:

• The density or the lightness of the individual letterforms.
• Example: Light vs. Bold Text 

Define width: 

• How wide a letterform becomes from extending or compressing 
• Example: Compressed, condensed, narrow, normal, wide, extended

Define style:

• Variations in thickness of stroke in letterforms that emphasize the appearance of certain characters
• Example: Light, bold, italic etc. 

Define font

• Font refers to a specific size and style of a given typeface. 
• Example: 12-point Helvetica

Define typeface:

• Typeface describes a complete alphabet including letters, numerals, punctuation marks, accents, special reference marks etc. 
• Example: Every letter, numeral... in Helvetica

Define x-height:

• The height of the lowercase x.

Define cap height:

• The height of capital letterforms. 

Define leading:

• The spacing between the lines of letters (pronounced 'ledding')
• Example: 10/12 Helvetica refers to 10 point Helvetica and 2pt leading.

Define letterspacing (tracking):

• The practice of inserting tiny spaces between words set in capitals or in small capitals to make them more agreeable to the eye. 
• Example: Capitals and small capitals require letterspacing so that they do not appear tightly packed together. 

How is type measured in inches, mm, points or picas?

• Type is traditionally measured in points. 

Define point:

• The unit used for the measurement of letterforms. 

Define pica:

• A printer's unit of type size that is equal to 12 points, about 1/6 of an inch. 

How many points are in an inch?

• A point is equivalent to 1/72 of an inch (0.35 mm) so 1 inch is equal to 72 points. 

If a letter is set in 36 points about how many inches tall is it?

• 1/2 inch tall

How many picas are in an inch?

• There are six picas in an inch. 

How many points are in a pica?

• There are 12 points in a pica.