The thick stroke is the heaviest part of a letter’s outline. Inherited from pen writing, where the tool laid down more ink in certain movements, it stands in contrast to the hairline, the finest part.
Where to see it
Thick strokes are visible on the heavier parts of letters, such as the stems of “n”, “m” or “H”, the rounded sides of “o” and “c”, or the thick diagonal of “A” and “V” in high-contrast typefaces.
Why this detail matters
The design of thick strokes directly shapes the weight, contrast and personality of a typeface:
- The thickness of the strokes largely determines a font’s weight, from the lightest version to the boldest;
- The ratio between thick strokes and hairlines defines a typeface’s contrast: very pronounced in Didones, moderate in Garaldes, almost absent in many sans serifs;
- The position of the thick strokes in round letters reveals the typeface’s axis: oblique in faces descended from the pen, vertical in Didones.
Related term
The hairline is the finest part of a letter’s outline; the difference between thick strokes and hairlines defines a typeface’s contrast.
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