descender

Lowercase letter extension

A descender is the part of a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline—the downward stroke in letters like g, p, q, y, and j.

The term contrasts with ascender, the part that rises above the main body of text.

In typography, descenders affect line spacing and how text appears on a page: Watch your descenders when setting tight leading.

letterform

q

Seventeenth English letter

yAlphabet's penultimate letter
tailRear animal appendage
loopCurve closing on itself

bowl · stem · hook · ear · arm · foot · spine · shoulder · spur · axis

typography

baseline

Standard for comparison

glyphVisual form of character
tailRear animal appendage
loopCurve closing on itself

typeface · font · serif · sans-serif · lowercase · x-height · kerning · leading · tracking · typesetting

caving

rappel

Controlled rope descent

ropeThick twisted fibers
abseilControlled rope descent
spelunkerRecreational cave explorer

cavern · underground · stalactite · stalagmite · speleology · limestone · karst · subterranean · grotto · chamber

climbing

rappel

Controlled rope descent

abseilControlled rope descent
ropeThick twisted fibers
harnessStraps controlling an animal

belay · anchor · carabiner · friction · cliff · vertical · rockface · fixed-line · brake · controlled

cycling

derailleur

Bike gear changer

shifterDevice for changing gears
cableHeavy-duty woven line
chainLinked segments forming length

cassette · gear · pulleys · tension · indexed · drivetrain · hanger

Categories

graphic designlogo, font, typography, layout, color
expedition gearbackpack, binoculars, compass, climbing rope, canteen
handwritingcursive, block letters, penmanship, print letters, legible
Stuntsstunt, stuntman, stunt double, daredevil, stunt performer
climbingrock climbing, free climbing, belay, bouldering, carabiner
typographyletters, font, calligraphy, font design, sans serif

Opposites

typographic letter parts

descenderascender

One moving upward

x-height · extender · baseline

direction of movement

descenderascender

One moving upward

climber · riser · mountaineer

Phrases

descend onArrive suddenly, often overwhelmingly
direct descendantAncestor's biological successor
descend uponArrive suddenly, often overwhelmingly
descending orderArrangement from greatest downward
descending colonBowel segment traveling downward

Family

descend, descendant, descending, condescend, descended, descends, condescending, descenders

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G