kursiivin

Kursiivin is a Finnish term that translates to "italic" in English. It refers to a style of typeface characterized by a slanted, cursive-like appearance, designed to mimic handwriting. Historically, italics were developed to save space and to distinguish quotations or emphasis within a text.

The invention of italic type is attributed to the Italian printer Aldus Manutius the Elder in Venice, who first used it in the early 16th century. He commissioned the type designer Francesco Griffo to create the font, which was initially used for classical texts. The design was inspired by humanistic minuscule script.

Kursiivin is commonly used in modern typography for several purposes. It is often employed to highlight specific words or phrases for emphasis, drawing the reader's attention. It is also the standard for titles of books, films, and other creative works. Furthermore, kursiivin is frequently used for foreign words or phrases that have been incorporated into a text written in another language, indicating their non-native origin. In academic writing and scientific contexts, it can be used for certain technical terms or classifications. The distinct visual style of kursiivin helps to differentiate these elements from the surrounding regular text, improving readability and conveying specific meanings.