Circles in typefaces

Each part of a letter has a special name. Some parts have more than one name, depending on which book you read, and which century the book discusses.

Ball: A ball shaped finishing element on lower case letters.

Bowl: A circular or semicircular shape within a letter.

Counter:The enclosed space within a letter.

Loop: The semicircular portion of an e or the italic k.

Teardrop terminal: A teardrop shaped finishing element on the top of the strokes in a and c.

Void: The empty space within a counter.

Written by Geoffrey Fletcher

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