The point is the tip formed where two strokes meet at an acute angle. Depending on whether it sits at the top or the bottom of the letter, it is more precisely called an apex or a vertex.
Where to see it
The point is visible on letters such as “A”, “V”, “W”, “M” or “N”, as well as on the lowercase “v”, “w” or “y”. It sits at the top of the “A”, at the base of the “V”, and sometimes in both places on the “M” or “W”.
Why this detail matters
The design of points directly shapes the precision and personality of a typeface:
- A sharp point gives the letter a lively, cutting look, while a flat or rounded point gives a softer, more stable appearance;
- Points are usually drawn to overshoot the cap height or the baseline slightly, so they do not look smaller than flat letters;
- At small sizes, designers often truncate points so they do not fill in when printed or disappear on screen.
Related term
The apex is the point at the top of a letter, where two strokes meet, as at the top of the “A”.
Anatomy glossary
Ascender, Descender, Sidebearing, Joint, Axis, Bar, Beak, Bowl, Loop, Set width, Counter, Serif, Stem, Leg, Minim, Baseline, Eye, Belly, Foot, Point, Tail, Cross stroke, Terminal; X-height, X-height, Cap height, Body; Mean line, Ear, Spur, Ball terminal, Ligature, Apex, Vertex, Arm, Shoulder, Spine, Em dash, Thick stroke, Hairline, Bracket, Bounding box