OBLIQUE TYPE Meaning and
Definition
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Oblique type, in typography, refers to a slanted or tilted style of lettering or characters. It involves leaning the letters to the right or left, creating an inclination without altering their straight or vertical orientation. This angled design is commonly used to introduce variation and visual interest in printed materials.
Oblique type is often confused with italic type, but they differ in their creation and purpose. While italic type is typically a calligraphic or script-like form of lettering, oblique type is simply a slanted version of the regular upright typeface. In other words, italic type originates from an entirely different design and is intended to convey a distinct style, whereas oblique type is created by shearing or skewing the normal typeface.
The oblique type showcases a dynamic appearance that can enrich the overall visual experience in various contexts, including books, magazines, advertisements, and digital media. It is commonly employed to emphasize or highlight particular elements within a text, such as headings, titles, or key phrases. Additionally, oblique type can be beneficial for creating contrast and differentiation between different sections or layers of information in a composition.
Overall, oblique type offers a flexible typographic tool that allows designers to introduce a sense of movement, sophistication, or emphasis into their work, while maintaining the readability and legibility of the text.
Etymology of OBLIQUE TYPE
The term "oblique type" originates from the field of typography and refers to a slanted or italicized style of a typeface. The etymology of the word "oblique" can be traced back to the Latin word "obliquus", meaning "slanting" or "askew". It was later derived into the Old French word "oblie", which signified "oblique". Over time, "oblique" became a commonly used word in English to describe a diagonal or slanting position, leading to its application in typography to denote a particular style of lettering.
