9 and Monotype Grotesque are examples of digital fonts that retain more of the eccentricities of some of the early sans-serif types. Akzidenz Grotesk Old Face, Knockout, Grotesque No. Įxamples of grotesque typefaces include Akzidenz-Grotesk, Venus, News Gothic, Franklin Gothic, IBM Plex and Monotype Grotesque. They often avoid having a true italic in favor of a more restrained oblique or sloped design, although at least some sans-serif true italics were offered. Cap height and ascender height are generally the same to produce a more regular effect in texts such as titles with many capital letters, and descenders are often short for tighter line spacing. Capitals tend to be of relatively uniform width.

The terminals of curves are usually horizontal, and many have a spurred 'G' and an 'R' with a curled leg. Grotesque typefaces have limited variation of stroke width (often none perceptible in capitals). They were sometimes released by width, with a range of widths from extended to normal to condensed, with each style different, meaning to modern eyes they can look quite irregular and eccentric. The early sans-serif typefaces often did not feature a lower case or italics, since they were not needed for such uses. Influenced by Didone serif typefaces of the period and sign painting traditions, these were often quite solid, bold designs suitable for headlines and advertisements. This group features most of the early (19th century to early 20th) sans-serif designs. A popular German grotesque with a single-storey 'g' Grotesque Akzidenz-Grotesk, originally released by H. Sans-serif typefaces are sometimes, especially in older documents, used as a device for emphasis, due to their typically blacker type color.įurther information: Vox-ATypI classification § Linealįor the purposes of type classification, sans-serif designs are usually divided into three or four major groups, the fourth being the result of splitting the grotesque category into grotesque and neo-grotesque. One of these terms for sans-serif was 'grotesque', often used in Europe, and ' gothic', which is still used in East Asian typography and sometimes seen in typeface names like News Gothic, Highway Gothic, Franklin Gothic or Trade Gothic. In printed media, they are more commonly used for display use and less for body text.īefore the term 'sans-serif' became standard in English typography, a number of other terms had been used. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning 'without' and 'serif' of uncertain origin, possibly from the Dutch word schreef meaning 'line' or pen-stroke. On lower-resolution digital displays, fine details like serifs may disappear or appear too large. Sans-serif typefaces have become the most prevalent for display of text on computer screens. For the purposes of type classification, sans-serif designs are usually divided into these major groups: § Grotesque and § Neo-grotesque, § Geometric, § Humanist and § Other or mixed. They are often used to convey simplicity and modernity or minimalism. Sans-serif typefaces tend to have less stroke width variation than serif typefaces.

In typography and lettering, a sans-serif, sans serif, gothic, or simply sans letterform is one that does not have extending features called ' serifs' at the end of strokes. Typeface classification for letterforms without serifsįrom left to right: a Ming serif typeface with serifs in red, a Ming serif typeface and an East Asian gothic sans-serif typeface

Author of gill sans typeface