Diacritics
التشكيل
Vocalization marks above and below letters
Diacritics in Arabic (التشكيل) are small marks placed above or below letters to clarify pronunciation, grammar, or meaning. They can indicate vowels, emphasis, and other linguistic information that is not always written in everyday text, but becomes essential in contexts like the Qur'an, education, poetry, and formal writing.
Typographic Considerations
Typographically, diacritics are not decoration, they are part of the system. They introduce extra layers of spacing, stacking, and collision risks, especially in tight lines or small sizes. How diacritics are positioned and balanced affects legibility, rhythm, and overall texture, making them one of the most sensitive parts of Arabic typesetting.