Writing or printing something meaningful and readable on paper is always essential. Hence, we write down texts in any language using some fonts to make the text look attractive and understandable. But, a text and a font are two different things that combinedly work to present the message.
Text vs Font
The main difference between text and font is that text is a written thing with a meaningful message that we can read. On the other hand, font is a combination of the size and style of letters. The two terms are primarily differentiated based on their function while writing things.
Text can be of any form like literature work, street signs, etc. A text can be just 2-3 words or a whole novel, but the sole motive of using a text is to convey the right message to the reader. Hence, texts play a crucial role in the written form of communication.
Fonts are different in terms of their use and contribution in conveying messages. The fonts are displayable characters with specific sizes and styles to make the text readable. A set of similar design fonts form the typeface, and a typeface family consists of different variations in design.
Comparison Table Between Text and Font
What is Text?
The use of the word “text” started in the 14th century. The term ‘text’ has been discovered from a famous Roman educator’s book named “Institutio Oratoria”. The book contains a statement that means ” once you have chosen the words to write, you must weave the words into a fine fabric”. Hence, the word text was taken from the Latin word “textum”, which means ” woven fabric”.
The text can be defined as meaningful words or signs that transmit some informative message to the reader. Generally, texts are in multiple forms, including terms of different languages, signs on board, building arrangements in blocks, clothing styles, etc. The texts can be easily read and interpreted by the reader.
According to literary criticism, the text is the original or the first written content of any piece of writing. Hence, the text of any paper can be described as the original primal symbolic arrangement of letters and signs without any altercation. So, whenever a text is determined based on literary criticism, the addition or subtraction of words is considered.
Currently, the definition and concept of text have changed or modified. The text is regarded as the content instead of its physical form. For example, a text written in a book means the words in the book, not the physical book.
What is Font?
The use of the word font started from the Middle French word “Fonte”, which means melting or casting. The term “Fonte” is referred to as the process of casting metal types at a foundry. The company that designs or distributes the font family is called the type foundry.
A font can be described as the variation in size, style, and weight of a letter or typeface. The fonts can be roman, bold, italic, condensed, or any other designed type to make the text readable. For example, we bold or italic a few words to differentiate that portion from the remaining text.
The fonts are available in a group called font family or typeface in which closely related fonts are present. For example, the typeface “Garamond” consists of several closely associated fonts that can be bold or italic. Currently, several font families are available with slight variations in their style and design.
Previously, the traditional typesetting had fonts made of metal and wood; hence, limited typefaces were available. Now in the computer era, several computer fonts are available that are easy to use. Moreover, the fonts can be used in varied sizes up to 72 points.
Main Differences Between Text and Font
- The meaning of a text and a font has vast differences. A written or printed thing on paper with a message is a text. In contrast, font is an alphabet’s style, size, or weight.
- A text helps convey valuable messages to the readers. On the other hand, the font helps make the text distinguishable and understandable for the reader.
- The term text has been taken from the Latin term ‘textum’. “Font” is a British version of the Middle-French word “Fonte”.
- Different alphabets, words, or sentences are mixed to form a meaningful text. In contrast, the font is denoted to a single alphabet with variable size and style.
- Text size can be changed from tiny (8 points) to huge (72 points). The standard size used for a text is 12 points, but a 72 point text height can reach 2.54 cm. In contrast, the font sizes vary between different typefaces or font families.
Conclusion
Many differences can be seen in the texts used in the past and present. Previously, texts were carved on stones or leaves, but today, texts are handwritten or printed on paper or board.
Similarly, there were a limited number of fonts to use in the past with many restrictions. But, due to the inclusion of computer fonts, it is easy to change or modify the fonts of a text.
Whether it’s past or present, text and font complement each other to form a meaningful message irrespective of their differences.
References
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3315002.3317568
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-57058-3_35