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THE ANATOMY OF TYPE
ARM/LEG : An upper or lower (horizontal or diagonal)
stroke that is attached on one end and free on the other.
ASCENDER : The part of a lowercase character (b, d, f, h, k, l, t) that
extends above the x-height.
BAR : The horizontal stroke in characters such as A, H, R, e, and f.
BOWL : A curved stroke which creates an enclosed space within a
character (the space is then called a counter).
CAP HEIGHT : The height of capital letters from the baseline to the top
of caps, most accurately measured on a character with a flat bottom (E,
H, I, etc.).
COUNTER : The partially or fully enclosed space within a character.
DESCENDER : The part of a character (g, j, p, q, y, and sometimes J)
that descends below the baseline.
EAR : The small stroke that projects from the top of the lowercase g.
LINK : The stroke that connects the top and bottom part (bowl and loop)
of a two-story lowercase g.
LOOP : The lower portion of the lowercase g.
SERIF : The projections extending off the main strokes of the
characters of serif typefaces. Serifs come in two styles: bracketed and
unbracketed. Brackets are the supportive curves which connect the serif
to the stroke. Unbracketed serifs are attached sharply, and usually at
90 degree angles.
SHOULDER : The curved stroke of the h, m, n.
SPINE : The main curved stroke of the S.
SPUR : A small projection off a main stroke found on many capital Gs.
STEM : A straight vertical stroke (or the main straight diagonal stroke
in a letter which has no verticals).
STRESS : The direction of thickening in a curved stroke.
STROKE : A straight or curved line.
SWASH : A fancy flourish replacing a terminal or serif.
TAIL : The descender of a Q or short diagonal stroke of an R.
TERMINAL : The end of a stroke not terminated with a serif.
X-HEIGHT : The height of lowercase letters, specifically the lowercase
x, not including ascenders and descenders.
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