What are the structural elements of letterforms?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

All letters are built using strokes combined with counterforms, using a specific angle of stress and level of contrast, and with consistent treatment of terminals and serifs (when applicable).

Name each structural element and explain what it is.
Strokes and counterforms:
Arm: a secondary stroke, extending from a stem stroke and ending freely.
Bowl: a curved stroke that encloses a counter
Cross stroke: a secondary stroke that intersects a stem stroke
Crossbar: a horizontal secondary stroke that connects two main strokes
Hairline Stroke: a secondary stroke of a character, often thinner than the stem
Leg: a secondary stroke that extends downward from a stem to the baseline and ends ferrly
Spine: the curved main stroke of a letter s
Stem stroke: a character's main vertical, diagonal or curved stroke, which is often thicker than the other strokes of the letter
Tail: the small stroke at the base of a capital Q that differentiates it from a capital O
counterforms: the negative space inside and around letterforms
counter: area where space is contained or enclosed by a letterform
crotch: the pointed counter where two strokes of a character meet
eye: the small counter of a lowercase letter e
Angle of Stress: the angle to which the main strokes of a typeface aim, in relation to their baseline
Contrast: the variation in thickness between a character’s thickest and thinnest stroke weights
Terminals: the endpoints of strokes