typography

typography — noun

1. the visual style and arrangement of letters, numbers, and symbols in printed or

1.名詞B2
釋義

the visual style and arrangement of letters, numbers, and symbols in printed or on-screen text — including choices about font, size, spacing, and layout to make reading easier and more attractive.

例句

The designer studied typography — pairing fonts and adjusting spacing — before choosing typefaces for the new cookbook.

typography as a field of study

Good typography uses consistent font sizes and enough space between lines to guide a reader's eye smoothly across the page.

同義詞
  • type design

    more specific; focuses on creating the shapes of letters themselves

  • typesetting

    overlaps but stresses the arrangement of type into pages

  • layout

    broader; includes images, colour, and overall page structure

  • lettering

    refers to drawing letters by hand; not a synonym for printed type design

用法筆記

The most common modern sense. Refers to how text looks — font selection, spacing, alignment, and readability — in both print and digital media. Distinguish from sense 2 ('PRINTING PROCESS'), which is about the physical craft of printing with movable type.

常見錯誤

❌Her handwriting has beautiful typography.
✅Her handwriting has beautiful lettering.
💡'typography' describes printed or screen text, not handwriting or calligraphy.
❌I studied typography to improve my drawing skills.
✅I studied typography to learn how to choose fonts for a magazine.
💡typography is about designing text, not about illustration or drawing.

2. the traditional craft of arranging individual metal or wooden letters into lines

2.名詞C1
釋義

the traditional craft of arranging individual metal or wooden letters into lines and pages, then inking the surface and pressing it onto paper to transfer the printed text.

例句

The workshop taught traditional typography using metal letters and a hand-powered press.

traditional typography = physical letterpress printing

Omar worked at a letterpress studio after college, printing wedding invitations and art posters with vintage metal type.

同義詞
  • letterpress

    a specific technique of printing from raised type; often interchangeable in historical contexts

  • presswork

    stresses the actual operation of the printing press

  • type founding

    the craft of making type pieces, rather than arranging and printing them

  • printmaking

    broader; includes etching, woodcut, screen-printing, etc.

用法筆記

The older, more technical sense. Refers to the physical process of setting type by hand or machine and operating a printing press. Historically central to publishing; now mostly practiced by hobbyists, book artists, and fine-art printers. Distinguish from sense 1 ('TEXT APPEARANCE'), which focuses on the visual design choices rather than the mechanical process.

常見錯誤

❌The typography of ancient scrolls shows careful handwriting.
✅The typography of early printed books shows careful presswork.
💡'typography' describes printing with movable type, not handwritten scrolls or manuscripts.
❌She opened a typography shop that sells used novels.
✅She opened a typography studio with printing presses and trays of metal type.
💡a typography workshop is about the craft of printing, not about selling books.