Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

Oldstyle Figures

Regular numerals (figures), such as 45,872, appear too large when set within body text. Numerals used to be designed like lowercase letters, with ascenders and descenders, like so: 45,872. Many OpenType fonts and expert sets include these oldstyle figures, which blend smoothly with the body copy. Oldstyle figures are also particularly beautiful when set in extra-large sizes. Once you start using them it’s hard to go back to the other characters. See Chapter 10.