Kursiva

Kursiva is the term used in several languages, including Swedish, for the italic style of the Latin alphabet. Italic text is a slanted version of the letters and is used for emphasis, to indicate foreign words, to mark titles of works, and for other typographic purposes. In modern practice, kursiva also helps distinguish quoted or discussed material from the surrounding text and can indicate technical terms or variables in some contexts.

The development of italic type originated in Renaissance Italy in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, as printers sought a compact, handwritten-feeling style. Notable early italic faces were designed by Venetian printers such as Aldus Manutius. The term italic derives from Italia, the Latin name for Italy, and the approach spread across Europe, where many languages adopted their own terms for the style, including kursiva in Swedish.

In typography, italics are typically more than simply slanted versions of upright letters. True italics are usually a separate font style with distinct letter shapes, while oblique fonts are slanted copies of the regular style without redesigned glyphs. Digital typography implements kursiva via font styles, such as CSS font-style: italic or LaTeX commands like \emph or \textit. Usage guidelines vary by language and style guide, but common rules reserve kursiva for emphasis, titles of long works, foreign words not fully assimilated, and occasionally for technical terms or scientific notation.

Kursiva remains a fundamental tool in typography for guiding reading, signaling nuance, and organizing written text across many languages.