Font

Font is an aspect that only applies to text. A font is all the letters, numerals, and punctuation marks of one typeface size. This means, for example, that Helvetica 12-point and Helvetica 14-point are different fonts. Roman fonts are also distinct from italic fonts. (In the era of digital composition, these differences are often elided.)

Fonts can be categorized multiple ways: serif Links to an external site. or sans-serif Links to an external site., old style Links to an external site. or modern Links to an external site., monospaced Links to an external site. or proportional Links to an external site., text or display Links to an external site., print or screen, etc. Each font also has multiple characteristics, such as its x-height Links to an external site. and cap-height Links to an external site.. Because of these variations, fonts are exceptionally flexible and potent, so font choices should always seek to further a document's rhetorical goals.

Font choices are the basis of a document's typography, and are a primary way of establishing a document's consistency and creating meaningful instances of contrast.