Which typography term refers to the adjustment of space between a pair of characters?

• A. Tracking adjusts space between a pair of characters.
• B. Leading adjusts vertical space between lines.
• C. Kerning adjusts the space between a pair of characters.
• D. Baseline shift alters the baseline alignment of text.

Answer: (C)

Kerning is the adjustment of space between two characters to achieve visually even spacing. It’s used to fix awkward gaps that occur because of the shapes of certain letters—like pairing an A with a V—so the word reads more smoothly. Tracking, by contrast, changes spacing across a whole range of characters uniformly, not just a single pair. Leading refers to the vertical space between lines of text, affecting line height rather than horizontal gaps. Baseline shift moves the baseline of characters up or down, changing vertical alignment rather than the spaces between characters. So the term that specifically addresses the space between a pair of characters is kerning.