Letter Anatomy — True Brew Creatives

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05 Baseline: The invisible line letters sit on.
07 Cap height: How tall a capital letter stands, from the baseline to the top of flat letters like H, E and T.
19 Vertex: Where two strokes meet at the bottom of a letter, as in V, W and M.

01 Advance width: The full space a letter takes up in a line, gaps included. Every letter has its own.
08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
14 Sidebearing: The built-in gap on each side of a letter. It sets how close letters sit, so words space evenly on their own.
16 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter — in WOODY, one board. Its thickness is the stroke weight.

06 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R. WOODY builds its bowls from straight boards.
12 Overshoot: Where a round letter like O, C or S runs slightly past the cap height or baseline, so it doesn’t look smaller than flat letters like H and E. Pointed tips, like the top of an A, often do it too. WOODY’s D does it top and bottom.
15 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
15 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
18 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. WOODY’s are sawn board ends, like the tip of this Y.

02 Apex: Where two strokes meet at the top of a letter, as in A and the middle of W.
09 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
11 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.

08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
17 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.

04 Ascender: The part of a lowercase letter that rises above the x-height, as in b, d, h and k.
13 Shoulder: The arch that leaves a stem and lands on the next stroke, as in h, m and n. WOODY nails a flat board across instead of bending one.
15 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

06 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R. WOODY builds its bowls from straight boards.
17 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.
10 Descender: The part of a lowercase letter that drops below the baseline, as in g, p, q and y.

18 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. WOODY’s are sawn board ends, like the tip of this Y.
06 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R. WOODY builds its bowls from straight boards.
15 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

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01 Advance width: The full space a letter takes up in a line, gaps included. Every letter has its own.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
10 Sidebearing: The built-in gap on each side of a letter. It sets how close letters sit, so words space evenly on their own.
12 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter. Its thickness is the stroke weight. OOZE’s is heavy — look how little room the O leaves for its counter.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
04 Baseline: The invisible line letters sit on.
06 Cap height: How tall a capital letter stands, from the baseline to the top of flat letters like H, E and T.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
14 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. OOZE’s terminals end blunt and drip, like the end of this E’s top arm.

02 Apex: Where two strokes meet at the top of a letter, as in A and the middle of W.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
09 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.

07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
13 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.

05 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.

11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
15 Vertex: Where two strokes meet at the bottom of a letter, as in V, W and M.

08 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H. OOZE’s A is so heavy its crossbar melts into the letter, so look to the H.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

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05 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
13 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter. Its thickness is the stroke weight. Playful Sans keeps its strokes fat and even, so it stays friendly at any size.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
04 Baseline: The invisible line letters sit on.
06 Cap height: How tall a capital letter stands, from the baseline to the top of flat letters like H, E and T.
12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

01 Advance width: The full space a letter takes up in a line, gaps included. Every letter has its own.
02 Apex: Where two strokes meet at the top of a letter, as in A and the middle of W.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
08 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.
11 Sidebearing: The built-in gap on each side of a letter. It sets how close letters sit, so words space evenly on their own.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
15 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. Playful Sans’s are rounded, like the two ends of this S.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
09 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.

07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
14 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.

12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
16 Vertex: Where two strokes meet at the bottom of a letter, as in V, W and M.

10 Overshoot: Where a round letter like O, C or S runs slightly past the cap height or baseline, so it doesn’t look smaller than flat letters like H and E. Pointed tips, like the top of an A, often do it too. Playful Sans’s S does it at both ends — look above the cap height and below the baseline.
15 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. Playful Sans’s are rounded, like the two ends of this S.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

08 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.
12 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

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03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

02 Apex: Where two strokes meet at the top of a letter, as in A and the middle of W.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
08 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.

01 Advance width: The full space a letter takes up in a line, gaps included. Every letter has its own.
05 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R.
07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
10 Sidebearing: The built-in gap on each side of a letter. It sets how close letters sit, so words space evenly on their own.
12 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter. Its thickness is the stroke weight. Lady Mae’s strokes are thick and a little uneven — drawn by hand, not measured.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
04 Baseline: The invisible line letters sit on.
06 Cap height: How tall a capital letter stands, from the baseline to the top of flat letters like H, E and T.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
14 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. Lady Mae’s are soft and rounded, like the tip of this Y.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
09 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.

07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
13 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.

11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
15 Vertex: Where two strokes meet at the bottom of a letter, as in V, W and M.

08 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
11 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

07 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
12 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter. Its thickness is the stroke weight. Lady Mae’s strokes are thick and a little uneven — drawn by hand, not measured.

Tap any partSwipe for 10 letters →

06 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R.
08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
11 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.
14 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

01 Advance width: The full space a letter takes up in a line, gaps included. Every letter has its own.
13 Sidebearing: The built-in gap on each side of a letter. It sets how close letters sit, so words space evenly on their own.
15 Stroke: Any single line that makes up a letter. Its thickness is the stroke weight. Open Road’s strokes swell and narrow along their length — cut by hand, not measured.

05 Baseline: The invisible line letters sit on.
17 Terminal: The end of a stroke. Terminals take many forms — sharp, flared, rounded, concave, cut square. Open Road’s are blunt and a little uneven, like the start of this a.
20 X-height: How tall the lowercase letters stand, measured by the x. It sets how big a typeface looks at any given size.

04 Ascender: The part of a lowercase letter that rises above the x-height, as in b, d, h and k.
06 Bowl: The curved stroke that wraps around a counter, as in B, D, P and R.
08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.

02 Apex: Where two strokes meet at the top of a letter, as in A and the middle of W.
08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
09 Crossbar: A horizontal stroke that joins two others, as in A and H.

03 Arm: A stroke that reaches out or up and ends free, as in E, F, K, L, T, Z and the top of Y.
11 Leg: A stroke that reaches down to the baseline, as in K and R.
14 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.

08 Counter: The enclosed or partly enclosed space inside a letter, as in O, A, D and R. A partly enclosed one, like the inside of C or U, is an open counter.
16 Tail: The stroke that trails off a letter, often dipping below the baseline, as in Q.

14 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
19 Vertex: Where two strokes meet at the bottom of a letter, as in V, W and M.

10 Descender: The part of a letter that drops below the baseline, as in g, j, p and y.
14 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.
18 Tittle: The dot over a lowercase i or j.

04 Ascender: The part of a lowercase letter that rises above the x-height, as in b, d, h and k.
12 Shoulder: The curved stroke that comes off a stem and turns down, as in h, m and n.
14 Stem: The main vertical or diagonal stroke of a letter, as in D, H, L and the diagonals of V.