What it means
The distinctive forms of a, g, R or Q often reveal differences that are easy to miss in a full paragraph. Those details influence the personality and recognition of a typeface. Looking closely at individual characters complements, rather than replaces, testing the texture of real words and sentences.
Use it in practice
Compare a small set of revealing characters when narrowing a font shortlist. Include names, numerals and punctuation from your actual content.
Watch out for
An unusual g can be memorable but does not by itself make a family suitable for all the reading on your page.
