S - Typography Terms

Typography Terms - S

Typography Terms - S

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All Terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

sans serif

A typeface without serifs. For example, Helvetica or Modern. Sans serif type is more legible in headings than in a long passage of text. Helvetica is an example of a sans serif typeface. First designed by William Caslon IV in 1816, it was originally referred to as "English Egyptian." Also known as "Gothic" in the United States and "Grotesque" in Europe.

scalable font

(see outline font)

screen font

A font used to display characters on the screen. Screen fonts are created as bitmaps in the same resolution as the monitor.

Script

Script letters are joined and should not be confused with cursive, which are not connected. Since script is difficult to read, its use should be limited to a few lines at a time. Early script typefaces were developed in the sixteenth century, and were based upon formal cursive handwriting.

serif

Small, finishing strokes on the arms, stems, and tails of characters. Serif typefaces are usually used for text since the serifs form a link between letters that leads the eye across a line of type.

serif type

A font that has accents at the end of character strokes. For example, Times or Roman.

set-width

The width of a letter and its surrounding space; the space, needed to set a line of text in a specific typeface. Some programs have tracking to adjust the typeface to make it set looser or tighter. Also known as "advance width."

semiautomatic flow text

Placement in which the text flows to the bottom of the column and stops with the text icon loaded with the rest of the text.

sidebars

Boxes of text at the side of a document presenting material related to, but not necessarily a part of, the text.

side bearing

The space between the origin of a character and its leftmost point (left side bearing), or the space between the rightmost point and width line (right side bearing).

slant

Refers to the angle of a font's characters, which can be italic or roman (no slant).

slug

A line of type cast as a single piece of metal from a linotype machine; strips of metal (lead) sandwiched between lines of type used in letterpress printing which create the vertical spacing between lines knowing as leading.

soft font

A typeface file that is stored on the computer's hard drive and sent to the printer when needed. Also called a downloadable font.

small caps

Capital letters that are the same (or nearly the same) height as the tvpeface's x-height. Some software programs automatically create their own small caps, but true small caps (with correct proportions and weight) are usually only found in expert typefaces.

spacing

The amount of unused space that exists between words, letters, and lines in text. Spacing provides a means to avoid overlapping shapes and letters in order to improve readability. Can be either fixed or proportional. In a fixed font, such as Courier, every character occupies the same amount of space. In a proportional font, such as Arial or Times New Roman(R), character width varies.

spread

Facing pages; made up of an even-numbered page on the left (verso) and an odd-numbered page on the right (recto).

spur

A finishing stroke like the ones on certain uppercase 'G's.

square serif

Originally designed at the beginning of the 19th century, these typefaces have squared-off serifs on the characters' end strokes. Also called 'slab serif' or "Egyptian."

standoff

The distance between the edge of the graphic and the graphic boundary. Determine how close text will flow.

stem

The upright element of a letter or character.

stet

Proofreader mark that means "let it stand": used to direct retention of (a word or passage previously ordered to be deleted or omitted from a manuscript or printer's proof) by annotating usually with the word 'stet'

stress

The vertical, horizontal, or diagonal emphasis on the stroke of a letter.

stretched text

Widening text characters, not the spacing between the characters.

style

A set of formatting information applied to a paragraph that causes text to reformat according to the specifications of that style. (Not to be confused with typestyle.)

style sheet

The collection of all the styles used for one publication.

subhead

May be either a display line enlarging on the main headline, usually in smaller size or a short heading inside the copy used to break up long patches of gray.

substrate

The base or material on which communication is written (e.g. rock, clay, bark, paper, parchment, etc.)

swash capitals

Uppercase letters that have flourishes added to them. Originally designed to go with Italic typefaces.

All Terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

sans serif	A typeface without serifs. For example, Helvetica or Modern. Sans serif type is more legible in headings than in a long passage of text. Helvetica is an example of a sans serif typeface. First designed by William Caslon IV in 1816, it was originally referred to as "English Egyptian." Also known as "Gothic" in the United States and "Grotesque" in Europe.
scalable font	(see outline font)
screen font	A font used to display characters on the screen. Screen fonts are created as bitmaps in the same resolution as the monitor.
Script	Script letters are joined and should not be confused with cursive, which are not connected. Since script is difficult to read, its use should be limited to a few lines at a time. Early script typefaces were developed in the sixteenth century, and were based upon formal cursive handwriting.
serif	Small, finishing strokes on the arms, stems, and tails of characters. Serif typefaces are usually used for text since the serifs form a link between letters that leads the eye across a line of type.
serif type	A font that has accents at the end of character strokes. For example, Times or Roman.
set-width	The width of a letter and its surrounding space; the space, needed to set a line of text in a specific typeface. Some programs have tracking to adjust the typeface to make it set looser or tighter. Also known as "advance width."
semiautomatic flow text	Placement in which the text flows to the bottom of the column and stops with the text icon loaded with the rest of the text.
sidebars	Boxes of text at the side of a document presenting material related to, but not necessarily a part of, the text.
side bearing	The space between the origin of a character and its leftmost point (left side bearing), or the space between the rightmost point and width line (right side bearing).
slant	Refers to the angle of a font's characters, which can be italic or roman (no slant).
slug	A line of type cast as a single piece of metal from a linotype machine; strips of metal (lead) sandwiched between lines of type used in letterpress printing which create the vertical spacing between lines knowing as leading.
soft font	A typeface file that is stored on the computer's hard drive and sent to the printer when needed. Also called a downloadable font.
small caps	Capital letters that are the same (or nearly the same) height as the tvpeface's x-height. Some software programs automatically create their own small caps, but true small caps (with correct proportions and weight) are usually only found in expert typefaces.
spacing	The amount of unused space that exists between words, letters, and lines in text. Spacing provides a means to avoid overlapping shapes and letters in order to improve readability. Can be either fixed or proportional. In a fixed font, such as Courier, every character occupies the same amount of space. In a proportional font, such as Arial or Times New Roman(R), character width varies.
spread	Facing pages; made up of an even-numbered page on the left (verso) and an odd-numbered page on the right (recto).
spur	A finishing stroke like the ones on certain uppercase 'G's.
square serif	Originally designed at the beginning of the 19th century, these typefaces have squared-off serifs on the characters' end strokes. Also called 'slab serif' or "Egyptian."
standoff	The distance between the edge of the graphic and the graphic boundary. Determine how close text will flow.
stem	The upright element of a letter or character.
stet	Proofreader mark that means "let it stand": used to direct retention of (a word or passage previously ordered to be deleted or omitted from a manuscript or printer's proof) by annotating usually with the word 'stet'
stress	The vertical, horizontal, or diagonal emphasis on the stroke of a letter.
stretched text	Widening text characters, not the spacing between the characters.
style	A set of formatting information applied to a paragraph that causes text to reformat according to the specifications of that style. (Not to be confused with typestyle.)
style sheet	The collection of all the styles used for one publication.
subhead	May be either a display line enlarging on the main headline, usually in smaller size or a short heading inside the copy used to break up long patches of gray.
substrate	The base or material on which communication is written (e.g. rock, clay, bark, paper, parchment, etc.)
swash capitals	Uppercase letters that have flourishes added to them. Originally designed to go with Italic typefaces.