In his Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce defines type as "pestilent bits of metal suspected of destroying civilization and enlightenment, despite their obvious agency in this incomparable work." There is something about type that makes people want to invent unique words and phrases to describe it and the process of setting it. Some type phrases, like lock up and dry transfer, make sense only in light of the technology used at the time they were coined. And others, like leading and case have survived, despite having no actual relevance to modern technology. Thanks to the dreadful influence of the techno-babble that so permeates the computer industry, entirely new words are cropping up almost daily to describe type and type-related things. Sometimes, it's hard to keep track.
While by no means exhaustive, here is an updated list of important type terms and type technology in the computer era. Simply click on a specific term or letter to jump to a section of the dictionary. Use your browser's BACK button to return to this index.
And while some of you may find the certain terms obvious, remember that the Macintosh has been around for 12 years-long enough to have inspired a generation with no exposure to traditional typesetting terminology. Any comments or feedback, can be sent to Gene Gable, who is Publisher of Publish magazine.