Intergeneric Hybrids
Jane McGary (Wed, 09 Jun 2004 10:19:46 PDT)
At 11:28 PM 6/8/2004 -0400, Jim wrote:
Was Jane McGary pulling our legs when she said that the x used with these
names is the multiplication sign rather than the letter x? Is there a
difference? Are the other mathematical symbols which superficially look
like letters really something else? Inquiring minds want to know!
No, I was not joking. In typography, the mathematical symbols that resemble
letters are formed somewhat differently and take up a different amount of
letterspace. If you're using a typeface that has serifs, the multiplication
symbol lacks serifs, for example. The minus sign is close to the en dash in
most types, but it usually takes up a different amount of space in the line.
A small point, but that's what I get paid for -- even though I also write
e-mails, in which I can use an x for a mult sign, and end sentences with
prepositions.
Best regards,
Jane McGary