Definitions
Readability and Legibility
Two terms that are frequently used in discussions of what fonts to use are readability and legibility. Readability is the "optimal arrangement of individual letters or words" while legibility refers to the "ability to recognize individual letters or words" (Poole, 2005). Readability is usually measured through reading comprehension and reading speed tests. In contrast, legibility is usually tested by having words or single letters presented in flashes or with distortion (Mills, Welton 1987).
Typeface and Font
A typeface may contain several weight variations and weights of the same design such as bold or italic. Each representation, when made digital, is called a font (Shamir, 1997).
Anti-aliased and Dot Matrix
Dot matrix text has a jagged, staircase look on its edges while anti-aliased text adds color contrast, usually gray, between the font and background.