Questions tagged [typography]
The style and appearance of printed matter. The art or procedure of arranging type.
177
questions
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0answers
58 views
What is the name of this squiggle symbol? [closed]
I came across a strange symbol while reading the report on the ALGOL 58 programming language (p. 19):
I am referring to the squiggle that appears repeated three times after some semicolons and commas ...
-1
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0answers
20 views
Plus meaning more with percentages
When using the plus sign with percentages, what is the correct format:
"30+% commission"
"30%+ commission"
(Assume that writing "at least 30% commission" is not ...
0
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1answer
47 views
“She´s happy” vs “She's happy” vs “She’s happy” vs …?
I’ve always wondered what the correct apostrophe is when using contractions. Should I use She´s happy or She's happy?
English´s a universal language.
English's a universal language.
Why do a lot of ...
0
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0answers
16 views
Need to learn to write by hand more neat and fast
I searched the internet for tips for writing both fast and neat for exams but only found a few tips on the internet, so I came here looking if anyone had any trade secrets they may be able to share.
...
1
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1answer
50 views
What is the accepted typography for latin phrases? [duplicate]
In an academic article, i'm using a lot of latin phrases both abbreviated (i.e., e.g., etc.) and spelt out (de facto, in situ...). I know that in certain languages, the most commonly accepted form is ...
1
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2answers
46 views
Recommended way to format copyright?
I'm working on a website and want to have a short mention of the copyright of said website in its footer. What is the recommended formatting for such a thing?
I've seen "© YYYY Company", "© Company, ...
1
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0answers
33 views
Why are sub-subsections of the Irish constitution marked with the degree symbol?
The accepted legal practice when referring to sub-subsections of the Irish constitution is to use the degree symbol to mark sub-subsections. For example, Art 40.3.3°. This convention is not used for ...
1
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0answers
63 views
Is there a formal word for when one or more words line up, but are on different lines?
Not entirely sure if this is the best place to ask, but I've always wondered if there is actually a word for this. In the image below, the words "this is" line up. Sometimes this happens when I'm ...
2
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3answers
98 views
Can I put a line break between “von” and “Neumann”?
I'm working on a project that discusses John von Neumann. Is it okay to line-break between "von" and "Neumann," or should I specify this as a non-breaking space?
0
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2answers
42 views
Do I need to use quotes when referring to something? [closed]
Do I need to use quotes here?
You can find those terms under the separate section called “Earthquakes” later in this chapter.
If no quotes are needed, must the word Earthquake still start with a ...
0
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1answer
79 views
Wrong letter cases
When someone writes a title with the wrong letter cases ex: "my Title", is this considered a typo? If not, what is the name of this error?
0
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1answer
467 views
Should we superscript ordinal numbers? [closed]
I have noticed that sometimes we write ordinal numbers with the "th" a little higher than the numbers. But sometimes I see it just attached to it. Which one is correct?
0
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1answer
66 views
What is the numerals style that goes above/below the standard height called, and is there a historic reason behind it?
It's often found on Wikipedia in the titles of articles, and here on this site:
1916
In the example above (if it doesn't render correctly, say you're on mobile, see image below), the 9's tail goes ...
6
votes
1answer
279 views
Which part is the tail of the letter “r”?
I'd like to ask about the sentence from A Case of Identity by Conan Doyle.
"a slight defect in the tail of the ‘r.’ "
Which part is the tail of "r"?
A: The lower part of the straight line of "r".
...
0
votes
2answers
96 views
Which is a more common way, 10+ or 10 then + as superscript?
I don't know which shortened form of "10 or more" is more appropriate, is it 10+ or 10+ (i.e. with the plus sign as superscript). What do you think?
Extra question, when do we use superscript in ...
0
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1answer
111 views
Comma before 'if' in maths definition
I wonder if there is clear guidance about the following construction:
We say that a foo admits a bar, if baz is quz.
I feel that the comma before if breaks the structure of the sentence, and ...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
Pilcrow question
Is there a difference between a shaded and an unshaded pilcrow? I am trying to format a block letter and in the unarranged copy, I am supposed to correct- there are both unshaded and shaded pilcrows.
3
votes
2answers
264 views
What is the equivalent of “euphony” when applied to writing?
In the details below, I use something to stand in for the word I am looking for. Speech may have euphony; writing may have something.
For example, when writing about the relative sizes of items, I ...
1
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2answers
187 views
Word for using extra line breaks to improve readability
I just got a copy of Royal Skousen's The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text (Yale, 2009),
and was immediately struck by his implementation of what he calls "sense-lines":
that is,
the editor ...
2
votes
2answers
163 views
When should terms be italicized versus put in quotes?
When a new term is introduced in a book I am writing or an unusual word or phrase is described I either italicize it, or put it in quotes. However, this has led to an inconsistency in which some terms ...
2
votes
1answer
323 views
Ligatured glyphs vs. Words
When two letters are joined as a ligature, I understand they are considered
to be one individual glyph. I also understand that letters on their own like D
or S are considered nouns or ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
A word for the circular guides that determine the curve of font serifs?
Serif fonts are usually constructed using circular guides to establish the curves of the serifs.
Example:
Is there a word for these circles?
2
votes
1answer
64 views
If a speaker clearly emphasizes a word or a term, should it be written down in quotation marks?
If a speaker clearly emphasizes a word or a term, should it be written down in quotation marks?
e.g. Everyone's so intimidated by "big data."
0
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1answer
63 views
Does it need quotation marks on abstract nouns
I know for sure it needs quotation marks on verbs do, love and etc, in following sentence:
Human related actions like "do", "love", "hate", "sacrifice", and so on.
Because it would not be right ...
2
votes
1answer
352 views
Opening and closing a letter - is there a name for this style?
Sorry if this isn’t the right place for this question, but I’ve Googled high and low and found nothing.
I’ve noticed that some letters start and close with handwriting, e.g. “Dear Mrs Smith” and “...
0
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1answer
301 views
Is “well” an adjective?
I read a Cambridge advanced grammar in use and there's one line says We can use sufficiently before adjectives to express a similar meaning to enough. Sufficiently is often preferred in more formal ...
42
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3answers
8k views
Is there a name for text that reads the same upside-down? [duplicate]
This is similar to a palindrome but, instead of a word/sentence that reads the same forwards and backward, is there a word for words/sentences that read the same right side up and upside-down?
See ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a word for when a logo uses an image for one of the letters?
There's a million examples of this, but the one that comes to mind is "smoke shop" with images of pipes in place of the "S"s, like this:
Is there a word for this?
Edit, September 26, 2018
Thanks, @...
3
votes
1answer
403 views
A word for decorations added to letters
Is there a word for the artistic decorations that are often added to letters in some type-faces / fonts (e.g. caligraphy, etc.)
I'm thinking like a serif, but as far as I know, (I'm open to ...
0
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1answer
1k views
use '/\' to denote that one missed something while writing
I have seen many people use '/\' to denote that they missed something while writing the sentence. Then, above that symbol they write what they missed. Are you aware of this practice?
Let's say, I am ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Is “to battle (something) off” correct?
In the passage Lesson 13 from "400 Must-have words for the TOELF" by McGraw-Hill, there is a sentence that I don't understand.
"According to legend, his arrogance invoked the wrath of God, who ...
0
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1answer
48 views
Quotation marks around a new word when I keep using the word?
I'm writing a technical thesis and I need to explain the meaning of a lot of words. However I'm not a native English speaker.
The so-called "blah" is a thing that does this and that.
Blah was an ...
3
votes
2answers
128 views
What is the category/group for the typographical terms serif and sans-serif
I teach introductory typography to students studying graphic design.
While constructing a list of design factors that affect the appearance, readability, and legibility of a typographic letterform, ...
1
vote
2answers
568 views
Why Was Title Case Invented?
I've seen questions and answers about the "when", but I don't really understand the reason to use this Horrible Way to Type Sentences Which Obviously Hinders Readability. It's really bad when in a ...
3
votes
2answers
8k views
How should the name of a series of books be formatted?
I know that you underline – or if you're typing, you put the words in italics – the titles of books, and that you put chapters or quotations from a book in "quotes," but do you do anything to the font ...
1
vote
1answer
560 views
Is it proper to use all caps for an organization name that is not an acronym?
I'm editing copy for a nine-part educational series about a non-profit organization that I will call Foo Society here. They do admirable work and I'm happy to help more people learn about them. ...
0
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0answers
48 views
Capitalization in 18th Century English [duplicate]
I have often wondered about the (seemingly) arbitrary capitalization of words in 17th & 18th century English, and again today, came across this quote by Edmund Burke in Sylvia Nasar's Grand ...
2
votes
2answers
265 views
Is there a name for this paragraph indentation style?
In longer form poems you sometimes see a verse where the first line is indented to the level of the end of the previous verse’s last line. For example, this Keats poem:
or this poem from Wordsworth:
...
12
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2answers
1k views
Name for making the first few words in a chapter small caps?
What do you call the style of making the first few words of a chapter (or book, article, etc.) uppercase?
Here is an example from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye:
To clarify, I'm not talking ...
-1
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1answer
371 views
typesetting: small caps on possessive apostrophe after name? [closed]
Some typesetting styles use small caps on surnames, e.g.,
"Mᴀᴏ Zedong's Little Red Book". If the surname comes last, however, I'm not sure whether or not the possessive apostrophe-ess should be ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Using dashes for showing a dichotomy spelling
I have trouble with deciding how to use dashes in the following case:
Before moving on, it is worth noting that the complex -- (non-complex)
simple dichotomy is not the same as the complicated --
...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Using ordinal indicators with Roman numerals [duplicate]
Is the use of ordinal indicators with Roman numerals grammatical and if grammatical, is it unneeded? For instance:
She is in VIIth standard.
What about in case the ordinal indicator was written as a ...
7
votes
2answers
6k views
Should spaces be used between “<” or “>” and numbers or letters?
Should spaces be used between "<" or ">" and numbers or letters?
For symbols, what is right? P<10, P <10, P < 10 or P< 10?
For numbers, what is right? 4>2, 4> 2, 4 > 2 or 4 >2?
Is ...
3
votes
1answer
131 views
Pagination styles in novels
While reading novels, I like to put a bookmark on a page where a sentence or a paragraph ends, preferably at the bottom right, which will enable me to just turn the page and put the marker. I can ...
31
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6answers
2k views
Usage of diacritics in loanwords
I was told here that not using diacritics (specifically the cedilla) is bad usage for those who know — I assume — their diacritics.
Is that correct?
Is garcon a correct spelling, in English, of the ...
4
votes
1answer
439 views
Esh (ʃ ) as S in English language? [duplicate]
I was reading a book, "Ancient accounts of India and China" which, I think, was published in the middle of 1856, and I see "S" was replaced by the "ʃ" symbol (in small letter s, it looks more like "f')...
0
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1answer
1k views
Using a space between name initials [duplicate]
Does one need to put a space between initials of the first and the second names. Which one is correct: "Sincerely, J. D." (where J. D. means John Doe) or "Sincerely, J.D."?
1
vote
1answer
437 views
Is reading uppercase sentences hard? [closed]
When there's an uppercase sentence, I've found it's hard to read easily. Is it just me or do others also experience this?
5
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3answers
4k views
Is there an “official” name for a heading prefix, or qualifier?
Consider the image below (the red arrow was added by me, if that's not obvious...)
The heading itself is "Budget and Ownership," but there's a prefix or qualifier of "Challenge #1." Those words aren'...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Connection between the thou/you thee/ye forms of you and the confusion between the thorn (þ) and the letter 'y'?
There's a lot of good information in the answer to an existing question about thou/you and thee/ye, and many are familiar with how shops with the affectation of "Ye Olde Shoppe" get that "Y" from a ...
