<P> A letterform, letter - form or letter form, is a term used especially in typography, paleography, calligraphy and epigraphy to mean a letter's shape . A letterform is a type of glyph, which is a specific, concrete way of writing an abstract character or grapheme . </P> <P> For example, medieval scholars may discuss the particular handwritten letterforms that distinguish one script from another . </P> <P> The history of letterforms is discussed in fields of study relating to materials used in writing . Epigraphy includes the study of letterforms carved in stone or other permanent materials . Paleography is the study of writing in ancient and medieval manuscripts . Calligraphy treats the letterforms of decorative writing, usually in ink . Typography includes the arrangement of letterforms designed for metal print or computer . More broadly letterforms may be discussed wherever letters appear stylistically--in graffiti for example . </P>

What is this area of a letterform called