Diacritics

I keep noticing small marks sitting above and below Arabic letters. I learned they're called تشكيل — they spell out the vowels and tell me how to pronounce a word. They aren't decoration; they're a whole second layer of typography I have to make room for.

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.

Diacritical Marks