Tipográfiaphrases

Tipográfiaphrases is a term used in typography and design to describe short phrases selected as micro-samples that demonstrate typographic characteristics. A neologism combining tipografía (typography) and phrases, the concept serves as a compact probe for evaluating typefaces, spacing, alignment, color, and layout in context. They are meant to reveal how design decisions affect readability, mood, and visual hierarchy.

In practice, tipográfiaphrases are drawn from real or crafted sentences that emphasize specific features such as kerning, tracking, line length, ascenders and descenders, or ligatures. They appear in font specimens, brand guidelines, and classroom exercises, and are commonly used to compare typefaces or test display versus body text. Examples include pangrams like “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” and concise statements like “Typography shapes thought” to isolate a visual effect.

As a relatively recent coinage, there is no single standard definition or protocol for tipográfiaphrases. Their value depends on clear documentation of settings (font, size, line height, tracking) and on consistent evaluation criteria for legibility and tone. Critics warn that the term can obscure more than it clarifies if not used with explicit context.

See also typography, typographic specimen, font sample, readability, microtypography.