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Serif

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{{expert}} {{dablink|For the software company Serif, see Serif (company).}} {| style="float: right; margin: 0 1em 1em; border: solid 1px black;" | Image:Serif and sans-serif 01.png | Sans-serif font |- | Image:Serif and sans-serif 02.png | Serif font |- | Image:Serif and sans-serif 03.png | Serif font
(red serifs) |} In typography, '''serifs''' are the structural details on the end of strokes that make up letters and symbols. A ''serif font'' (or ''seriffed font'') has these features. A typeface (font) without serifs is called sans-serif (from French language French ''sans'': "without"). Some typography sources refer to sans-serif typefaces as ''grotesque'' (or in German, ''grotesk'') or ''gothic'', and serif typefaces as ''roman''; however, these terms no longer appear to be in widespread use.

Background
In the Roman alphabet, serifs originated with the carving of words into stone in ancient Italy. Artisans would carve out a bit of extra space at the end of the long strokes of letters to prevent gravel and dust from collecting in the corners of the letters. The etymology of "serif" is obscure, but in any case almost as recent as the face. The oldest citations in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' are 1841 for ''sans serif'', which the ''OED'' gives as ''sanserif'', and 1830 for ''serif''. Indeed, the ''OED'' speculates that ''serif'' was a back-formation from ''sanserif''. On the other hand, ''Webster's Third New International Dictionary'' traces ''serif'' to the Dutch language Dutch ''schreef'', meaning "wrote", and ultimately through Dutch ''schrijven'', German language German ''schreiben'' and Latin ''scribere'', all also meaning "to write". Incidentally, ''schreef'' now also means "serif" in Dutch. The ''OED's'' earliest citation for ''grotesque'' in this sense is 1875, giving "stone-letter" as a synonym. It would seem to mean "out of the ordinary" in this usage, as in art ''grotesque'' usually means "elaborately decorated". Other synonyms include Doric and Gothic, commonly used for Japanese Gothic typefaces. In Japanese language Japanese typography, the equivalent of serifs on kanji and kana characters are called ''uroko'' (fish scales), and the equivalent of serif fonts is called mincho.

Usage
In traditional print, seriffed fonts are used for body text where the serifs create more positive bouma word-pictures which are easier to read. Sans-serif fonts are used for shorter pieces of text and for subject matter requiring a more casual feel than the formal look of seriffed types. Sans serif types have recently begun to supplant seriffed types for headings with a 'cleaner' look. Seriffed fonts are the overwhelming type choice for lengthy text printed in books, newspapers and magazines. The coarse resolution of computer screens has caused a reassessment of the role of serifs in readability, with a large percentage of web pages employing sans-serif type for body text. Fonts with hinting information, anti-aliasing anti-aliased rendering and the ClearType rendering technology has partially mitigated these concerns, yet the basic problem of coarse resolution—typically 100 pixels per inch or less—continues to impose strict limitations on readability and legibility on-screen.

Classification
Serif fonts can be classified into one of four subgroups: ''old-style'', ''transitional'', ''slab serif'', or ''modern''. Image:Garamond.png thumb|right|250px|The Garamond typeface, an example of an ''old-style'' serif

Old-Style
Old-style typefaces date back to the 15th century, and are characterized by a diagonal stressing, subtle differences between thick and thin lines (low line contrast), and excellent readability. Old-style typefaces are reminiscent of the humanist calligraphy from which their forms were derived. The angled calligraphy stressing of old style faces generates diagonal lock, which, when combined with their bracket serifs creates detailed, positive word-pictures (see bouma) for ease of reading. Old style faces are sub-divided into ''Venetian'' and ''Aldine'' or ''Garalde''. Examples of old style typefaces include Jenson, Garamond, Bembo, Goudy Old Style, and Palatino. Image:Times_new_roman.png thumb|right|250px|The Times New Roman typeface, an example of a ''transitional'' serif

Transitional
Transitional (or "baroque") serif typefaces are among the most common and include such widespread fonts as Times Roman and Baskerville. They are a mixture between modern serif and old style serif, thus the name "transitional." Differences between thick and thin lines are more pronounced than they are in old style, but they are still less dramatic than they are in modern serif fonts. Transitional serif fonts are neutral in appearance, partially due to their universal use as a default font. Image:Rockwell_font.png thumb|right|250px|The Rockwell typeface, an example of a ''slab'' serif

Slab Serif
{{main|Slab serif}} Slab serif (a.k.a. "egyptian") typefaces have very little if any contrast between thick and thin lines. Serifs tend to be as thick as the vertical lines themselves and usually have no bracket. Slab serif fonts have a bold, rectangular appearance and sometimes have fixed widths, meaning that all characters occupy the same amount of horizontal space (as in a typewriter). They are sometimes described as sans-serif fonts with serifs because the underlying character shapes are often similar to sans serif typefaces, with less variation between thin and thick shapes on the character. (A subcategory of slab serif is the ''Clarendon'' typefaces, which do have small but significant brackets.) Examples of slab serif typefaces include Clarendon (font) Clarendon, Rockwell (typeface) Rockwell and Courier (typeface) Courier. Image:Bodoni.png thumb|right|250px|The Bodoni typeface, an example of a ''modern'' serif

Modern
Modern serif typefaces are characterized by extreme contrast between thick and thin lines. Modern typefaces have a vertical stress, long and fine serifs, with minimal brackets. Serifs tend to be very thin and vertical lines are very heavy. Most modern fonts are less readable than transitional or old style serif typefaces. Common examples include Bodoni and Century Schoolbook.

See also
*Typography *Typeface *Sans-serif *San Serriffe, an elaborate typographic joke.

References
* Ellen Lupton, ''Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students'', 2004, Princeton Architectural Press, New York
- "The Serif is Dying" discussion at Typographica on the merits and popularity of sans & seriffed type.
- "Serifs—What's the point? discussion at Typophile on the role & function of serifs.
- "Serif vs. Sans Serif", a discussion on Blogdorf about serif versus sans serif type. Category:typography da:Serif de:Serife et:Seriif fr:Serif lt:Serifai nl:Schreef ja:セリフ pt:Serifa sv:Serif zh:白体 (字体)

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