Typefaces, or alphabets, consist of many different characters. Each character is
made up of different parts, all of which have a name. Knowing this terminology,
discussed in the following list, not only makes it easier to communicate about
typefaces and their characteristics, but it will educate your eye to see and recognize
the underlying structure of various designs and subsequently the differences between them.

1. Arm: A horizontal stroke that is attached on one end and free on the other
2. Ascender: The part of a lowercase character (b,d,f,h,k,l,t) that extends above the height of the lowercase x
3. Bar: The horizontal stroke in characters such as the A,H, e, f
4. Baseline: The invisible line on which most characters sit.
5. Bowl: A curved stroke which creates an enclosed space within a character (which is then called a counter)
6. 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.
7. Counter: The partially or fully enclosed space within a character
8. Descender: The part of a character (g,j,p,q,y and sometimes J) that descends below the baseline
9. Ear: The small stroke that projects from the top of the lowercase g
10. Hairline: A very thin stroke most often common on serif typefaces
11. Link: A very thin stroke that connects the top and bottom part (bowl and loop) of a two-story lowercase g
12. Loop: The lower portion of the lowercase g
13. Serif: The projection 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, creating a somewhat softer look. unbracketed serifs are attached sharply, and usually at 90-degree angles.
14. Shoulder: The curved stroke of the h,m,n
15. Spine: The main curved stroke of the S
16. Spur: A small projection off a main stroke found on many capital G's.
17. Stem: A straight vertical stroke or main straight diagonal stroke in a letter which has no verticals
18. Stress: The direction of thickening in a curved stroke
19. Stroke: A straight or curved line
20. Swash: A fancy flourish replacing a terminal or serif
21. Tail: The descender or a Q or short diagonal stroke in a letter
22. Terminal: The end of a stroke not terminated with a serif
23. X-height: The height or lowercase letters, specifically the lowercase x, not including ascenders and descenders