The spur is the small projection that extends a stroke where a curve meets a vertical stroke. Almost invisible when reading, it brings precision and a touch of character to the design of a letter.
Where to see it
The spur is most often visible at the bottom right of the capital “G”, where the curve joins the vertical stroke. Depending on the typeface, it also appears where the stem meets the bowl on the “b” or the “a”, or at the bottom of the lowercase “t” and “u”.
Why this detail matters
The presence and design of the spur directly shape the finesse and personality of a typeface:
- A pronounced spur reinforces the constructed, assertive look of a letter, particularly on the “G” of serif typefaces;
- Its absence, on the contrary, gives a simpler, more fluid design, common in contemporary sans serifs;
- Like the serif or the ear, the spur is one of those small details that, repeated across the whole alphabet, build the identity of a font.
Related term
The serif is the small stroke that finishes the ends of letters in serif typefaces, and the spur often echoes its logic on a smaller scale.
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