The Letter

Even in the most mundane of
typefaces, the lowercase t can
be a very distinct letter. It can
vary widely in height, from just
above the x-height to just
slightly below the full height of
the ascenders. The t’s crossbar
is usually aligned with the
mean line of the x-height,
although it can also work just
as well slightly below it.

Blackoak

The top and base of the t can
be handled in a number of dif¬
ferent ways. In many typefaces
the t’s top ends in a point with
bracketing back to the crossbar
on the left side, in others it is
clipped at a pronounced angle,
and in still others it is simply
flat. The base of the t can also
appear flat, as it does in Ameri¬
cana; as a soft curve, as in Gara¬
mond; or as a very tight hook,
as can be seen in Clarendon’s t.

t t t

Americana Adobe Garamond Clarendon

Berthold
City Bold

Monotype

Onyx

Kaufmann

Cosmos

Extra Be

I Futura Light

94

*

Caslon
Open Face

Broadway

Letraset

Burlington

Notre Dame

Senator Ultra

Corvinus Skyline

Letraset La Bamba