em quad

English

Etymology

Attested in 1841.[1] From 1808 em quadrat,[2] from 1683 m quadrat, from m + quadrat, a metal type, which is as wide as the point size of the font. The origin of the letter m is unclear; perhaps because the type body of the letter M was approximately square during the early days of typesetting, and to contrast it with the n quadrat, the letter n being approximately half as wide.

Noun

em quad (plural em quads)

  1. (typography) A quad which has a fixed width of 1 em.

Usage notes

The em quad and the em space are usually synonymous as they both start as a space with a width of 1 em. However, in electronic publishing a few contrast the two by holding that if the font is condensed or expanded to alter the width of the characters, the em quad remains 1 em in width, while the em space is altered in width to the same proportion as the printing characters.

Synonyms

References
  1. Savage, William (1841) A Dictionary of the Art of Printing‎, page 210
  2. Stower, Caleb (1808) The Compositor's And Pressman's Guide To The Art Of Printing‎, page 63: “Em and en quadrats, or whatever is used the beginning or end of lines, to be reckoned as an em in the width.”
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