30 Typography Terms & What They Mean

If you’re a beginner in graphic design, getting familiar with the specialized language used in the field is key to both your learning and your ability to communicate with other designers. Typography, the art of arranging type, is a fundamental aspect of design, and has its own extensive vocabulary. Understanding these terms can enhance your appreciation for the subtleties of great design and help you make more informed design choices.

Terms like kerning, leading, and serifs are often thrown around in the design world, but what do they actually mean? From basic terms to more complex concepts, knowing the language of typography can transform how you approach your work.

It can help you understand what makes a certain design or font work, or why it doesn’t. A clear understanding can lead you to more purposeful design decisions and ultimately, more impactful work.

In this article, we’ll explore 30 essential typography terms and their meanings. This will give you a good grounding in the language of typography, and whether you’re a graphic designer, a web designer, or just someone interested in design, you’ll find this glossary useful. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

1. Typeface
2. Font
3. Serif
4. Sans Serif
5. Script
6. Kerning
7. Leading
8. Tracking
9. Ascender
10. Descender
11. Baseline
12. X-Height
13. Cap Height
14. Ligature
15. Glyph
16. Widow
17. Orphan
18. Gutter
19. Justify
20. Point Size
21. Pica
22. Em Space and En Space
23. Italics
24. Weight
25. Stroke
26. Alignment
27. Line Length
28. Pull Quote
29. Typeface Classification
30. Margin

1. Typeface

A typeface, also...