typographic rules for layout design

Rule-of-thumb

An expression signifying the most common approach when setting typography.

Tracking

The uniform amount of space between letters, words, lines of type, paragraphs, and columns of text.

Leading

The amount of space between lines of type.

Kerning

Adjustments of the space between two letterforms in an inward or outward direction.

Column width

The width of each modular unit or column of units in a grid system, defining the width of body copy.

Text type

Type set at 8 to 12 points, suitable for body copy.

Display type

Type set at 14 points and above, meant for visual hierarchy and impact.

Typographic rags

The uneven length of typographic lines that can indicate poor typography.

Typographic rivers

Uneven spaces between words that create the appearance of a river within text.

Em or En

Units of measurement in typesetting, defined by the width of the capital 'M' or half of it.

Two spaces after a period

A typographic practice used in typewriting that can create spacing problems in digital typesetting.

Hanging punctuation

Punctuation set outside the column to attain visual alignment.

Running headers or footers

Type at the top or bottom of a page indicating titles or chapters.

Heads or headlines

Typography used for titles, chapters, or section information.

Subheads

Typographic information displaying section dividers and important notes.

Folio

A page number within a publication.

Typographic bullets

Graphic symbols used in place of numbers or letters in lists.

Photo caption

Information that describes or refers to an image, often set smaller than body copy.

Pullout quotes

Quotes highlighted for emphasis, often set in larger or different typography.

Widow

A single word or two short words at the end of a paragraph that falls on a line by itself.

Orphan

Less than three lines of type at the bottom or top of a column of text.

Hyphenation mark

A mark used to split a word at the end of a line in typesetting.

Spread

Two facing pages in a publication.

Top margin

The area at the top of a page above the live area in grid structures.

Bottom margin

The area at the bottom of the page below the live area in grid structures.

Outside margin

The outer edges on a spread or single page outside of the live area.

Inside margin

The area inside the live area defined by the spread size next to the binding.

Horizontal hang line

Lines used for strong horizontal alignment within a grid system.

Vertical hang line

Lines used for strong vertical alignment within a grid system.

Modular units

Subdivisions of a page or format for organizing information.

Graphic armature

A design device used to induce kinetic energy in a layout.

Gutters

The space between columns in a modern or postmodern grid system.

A short word after a period

A word of three letters or fewer that can disrupt body copy layout.