Kerning vs. Leading — What's the Difference?

In typography, kerning is the process of adjusting the spacing between characters in a proportional font, usually to achieve a visually pleasing result. Kerning adjusts the space between individual letterforms, while tracking (letter-spacing) adjusts spacing uniformly over a range of characters.

In typography, leading ( LED-ing) is the space between adjacent lines of type; the exact definition varies. In hand typesetting, leading is the thin strips of lead (or aluminium) that were inserted between lines of type in the composing stick to increase the vertical distance between them.

The portion of a typeface that projects beyond the body or shank of a character.

Having a position in the lead; foremost

To provide (type) with a kern.

Chief; principal

To adjust space between (characters) in typeset text.

Of or performing a principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production

(typography) The adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.

Formulated so as to elicit a desired response

Present participle of kern

First or foremost

Most important

To show the way to by going in advance

To guide or direct in a course

To serve as a route for; take

To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example).

To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce

To direct the performance or activities of

To inspire the conduct of

To play a principal or guiding role in

To go or be at the head of

To be ahead of

To be foremost in or among

To pass or go through; live

To begin or open with, as in games

To guide (a partner) in dancing.

To aim in front of (a moving target).

(Sports) To pass a ball or puck ahead of (a moving teammate) so that the player can receive the pass without changing direction or losing speed.

To be first; be ahead.

To go first as a guide.

To act as commander, director, or guide.

To afford a passage, course, or route

To tend toward a certain goal or result

To make the initial play, as in a game or contest.

To begin a presentation or account in a given way

To guide a dance partner.

To start a dance step on a specified foot.

(Baseball) To advance or stand a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch. Used of a base runner.

(Sports) To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch

To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead.

(Printing) To provide space between (lines of type) with leads.

To secure (window glass) with leads.

To treat with lead or a lead compound

The first or foremost position

One occupying such a position; a leader.

The initiative

The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority

Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue

An indication of potential opportunity; a tip

Command; leadership

An example; a precedent

The principal role in a film, play, show, or other scripted production.

The person playing such a role.

The introductory portion of a news story, especially the first sentence.

An important, usually prominently displayed news story.

The first play.

The prerogative or turn to make the first play

A card played first in a round.

(Baseball) An amount of space that a base runner moves or stands away from one base in the direction of the next while the pitcher prepares to deliver a pitch.

(Sports) A blow in boxing that begins a series or exchange of punches.

A leash.

A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed.

See lode.

(Electronics) A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another.

(Nautical) The direction in which a line runs.

The distance aimed in front of a moving target.

A channel of open water created by a break in a mass of ice.

A border or rim of lead, as around a windowpane.

(Printing) The spacing between lines, usually measured in points.

Symbol Pb A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, glass, storage batteries, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.2; melting point 327.5°C; boiling point 1,749°C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table.

Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils.

A thin stick of such material.

Bullets from or for firearms; shot

A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings.

(Printing) A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type.

Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window.

Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead.

Present participle of lead

Providing guidance or direction.

Ranking first.

Occurring in advance; preceding.

An act by which one is led or guided.

(archaic) Command of an army or military unit.

(typography) Vertical space added between lines; line spacing.

Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example.

The act of guiding, directing, governing, or enticing; guidance.

Suggestion; hint; example.

Thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

The activity of leading;

Indicating the most important performer or role;

Going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way;

Greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement;

Having the leading position or higher score in a contest;

Purposefully formulated to elicit a desired response;