What do you call everything but the serif?

July 20, 2008 11:22 AM

Is there a (preferably single-word) term that picks out every part of a character except the serif?

In other words, if I wanted you to circle all the parts of a character except the serif, I would say "Circle the x", where x is something other than something like "parts that aren't the serif."

I've looked through some lists of font terms but I can't find one. Thanks.

posted by miniape to grab bag (9 comments total)

I can't think of a term, but this might help.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 12:04 PM on July 20

Thanks. I think what I'm after might simply be "Strokes." I didn't think of that term excluding serifs, but according to that page they seem to.
posted by miniape at 12:36 PM on July 20

You could say "the sans serif portion of the character", since 'sans serif' means literally 'without the serifs'
posted by delmoi at 12:46 PM on July 20

Why not ask "Circle the serifs" and figure the parts they don't circle are the parts that aren't serifed.

Or you could just name every possible name for non-serif parts.. bars, strokes, crossbars, ligatures etc.

I'm curious why you need this word.. I've never heard anyone need to reference a "non serif" part of a character..
posted by 0217174 at 1:27 PM on July 20

Nope. "Everything but the serif".
posted by gauchodaspampas at 1:47 PM on July 20

There is no word for that, so make one up.
posted by w0mbat at 4:27 PM on July 20

I think "Everything but the serif" was an eighties new wave band.

There's no good word for what you want. Delmoi's suggestion is pretty attractive. But most definitely do not use the word "strokes" since that is adding to the confusion. Serifs ARE strokes, after all, or at least the finishing portion of strokes.
posted by rokusan at 7:01 PM on July 20

Also, what is the word for every part of an elephant except the left buttock? i think it may be the same word.
posted by w0mbat at 10:52 PM on July 20

w0mbat, that term is Elephas maximus sans glutei sinistri.

(Apologies to latinists who actually know what the singular declension corresponding to sans is.)
posted by IAmBroom at 12:17 PM on July 21