Old style, proportional and tabular numbers will be demonstrated and explained. Fractions and superior and inferior figures will be examined. If it has to do with the typographic handling of numbers, it will be in this module.

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  Oldstyle Figures

  Oldstyle figures are a style of numeral which approximate lowercase letterforms by having an x-height and varying ascenders and descenders. They are considerably different from the more common “lining” (or “aligning”) figures which are all-cap height and typically monospaced in text faces so that they line up vertically on charts.

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  Proportional vs. Tabular Figures

  Some numbers add up, and others don’t – no, it’s not your tax return. It’s the difference between proportional and tabular numerals. Know which style you need before you choose a typeface and you’ll reap a big savings in time and effort.