Proofreading course teaches the importance of using correct terms

People on our online proofreading course are sometimes confused by the difference between typefaces and fonts.

Some believe that the two words describe the same thing.

In fact, they are entirely different. And, if you are using a proofreading course as preparation for a proofreading career, it’s important to know which is which.

A typeface is a set of characters, such as the alphabet, numbers, etc that all have the same design, such as Courier, Arial, or Times.

A font is the characteristics of a particular typeface such as the size, the style and the colour. For example, some text may be written in Courier 12pt bold. Or a heading might be set in 60pt Arial, red, italics.

So, if you are correcting or querying a typeface, you might ask the client if they have used Helvetica or Times.

But if you are discussing a font, you are referring to the colour, size, and style of the typeface.

The confusion has largely been caused by Microsoft’s Word programme, which doesn’t use the term typeface. This is because most often Word is concerned with the fonts of typefaces. So, the public has been educated by Word to understand that typefaces are fonts. They are not.

Proofreaders must use the correct terminology, and make sure the client understands what they mean. Otherwise, you may end up talking at cross-purposes.

If you are proofreading a website, it can be difficult to determine which typeface has been used. Some, like Arial and Helvetica, are very similar. So, it’s best to proofread from the ‘back end’ of the site, in the content management system.

By Cleland Thom

Cleland is a proofreader and trainer who has delivered in-house proofreading courses for clients including the London Fire and Rescue, Kumon, RNIB and London Borough of Tower Hamlets.