The Evolution of Typography Terminology: Clarifying 'Justify' and Its Variants
There seems to be considerable confusion around the term 'justify' in the realm of typography, particularly as it is often misused or misunderstood. This article aims to clarify the original meanings and the evolution of terms like 'justify,' 'flush left,' and 'flush right' in the broader context of pre-press and desktop publishing. We'll also explore how the misuse of these terms can lead to a distorted understanding of typography practices.
Understanding 'Justify' in Typography
Christopher Simmons is correct in his insights. As I recall, the term 'justify' originally referred to the practice of adjusting the word spacing within a line of text to make it fit a specific width, typically the full column width, but not necessarily so. The goal was to create a clean, consistent appearance by aligning both the right and left edges of the text. This process involved adjusting the space between words and letters to ensure symmetry and a professional look, something that became particularly important in the era of traditional typesetting and pre-press production.
Early Desktop Publishing and 'Force Justify'
During the early days of desktop publishing, particularly before the advent of tools like Quark and PageMaker, the term 'force justify' was used. This referred to the practice of making text exactly fill a specified column width, often with the inclusion of extra spaces between words to achieve this balance. The addition of the word 'force' or 'full' in the term 'full-justify' or 'force justify' may have contributed to the evolution of understanding about justifying text. Some people interpreted this to mean that there were other methods to justify text, such as 'center left' and 'center right,' which are not technically 'justified' but can be misleading for those unfamiliar with the term's true meaning.
The Misuse of Typography Terminology
The issue with terminology is that it can often be misused, leading to a divergence from its original meaning. This is not unique to 'justify.' Words like 'momentarily' and 'decimated' have similarly evolved in their usage, shifting from their original technical definitions to more fluid and less precise connotations. 'Momentarily,' which originally meant for a brief moment, now often refers to something happening in an instant, as if in a moment. Similarly, 'decimated' originally had a specific meaning related to the killing of soldiers in battle, reducing a population by 10%. It has since been extended to mean any severe reduction or destruction, which may not be accurate in all contexts.
In the context of typography, the misuse of terms like 'justify' can create confusion for both professionals and enthusiasts. A misnomer like 'center justify' or 'centered justify' can be particularly misleading, as these terms do not align with the principles of justification in traditional typesetting. They typically refer to centering text on a page or section, which is a different technique altogether, involving only the alignment of the first and last characters of each line while leaving the word spacing unchanged.
Conclusion
The evolution of typography terminology is a fascinating aspect of the craft, reflecting changes in technology and usage over time. While it's important for professionals to adhere to the original meanings of terms like 'justify,' 'flush left,' and 'flush right,' it's equally important for all users to understand the history and context of these terms. This understanding can help in maintaining clarity and precision in communication, ensuring that the rich tradition and art of typography is preserved and accurately conveyed.