Typography anatomy: Understanding the parts of a letter

Typography Anatomy

Basics

• Baseline is the ground on which letters sit.
• X-height is the height of lowercase letters like "x" and "o".
• Cap height is the height of uppercase letters.
• Ascender is the part of certain lowercase letters that rise above the x-height.
• Descender is the part of certain lowercase letters that descend below the baseline.

Strokes

• Stem is the main vertical or diagonal stroke of upright letters.
• Crossbar is a horizontal stroke meant to connect two stems or other parts of a letter.

Variations

• Spurs are small bump-like features.
• Counter is the enclosed or partially enclosed negative space within a letter.
• Bowl is the rounded stroke that forms the body of letters.

Individual Features

• Tittle/dot is the feature on the small "i".

Importance

Understanding typography anatomy allows designers to differentiate typeface designs and judge whether they can be used together effectively.

How to Learn

• Go on a type safari to appreciate the morphology of letters.
• Learn calligraphy and printing techniques to understand the construction of typefaces.