http://simonwillison.net/2026-02-15T21:40:46+00:00Simon Willison2026-02-15T21:40:46+00:002026-02-15T21:40:46+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/15/em-dashes/#atom-tag

<p>I'm occasionally accused of using LLMs to write the content on my blog. I don't do that, and I don't think my writing has much of an LLM smell to it... with one notable exception:</p> <pre> <span class="pl-c"># Finally, do em dashes</span> <span class="pl-s1">s</span> <span class="pl-c1">=</span> <span class="pl-s1">s</span>.<span class="pl-c1">replace</span>(<span class="pl-s">' - '</span>, <span class="pl-s">u'<span class="pl-cce">\u2014</span>'</span>)</pre> <p>That code to add em dashes to my posts dates back to <a href="https://github.com/simonw/simonwillisonblog/blob/e6d0327b37debdf820b5cfef4fb7d09a9624cea9/blog/templatetags/entry_tags.py#L145-L146">at least 2015</a> when I ported my blog from an older version of Django (in a long-lost Mercurial repository) and started afresh on GitHub.</p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/blogging">blogging</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/python">python</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/ai">ai</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/generative-ai">generative-ai</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/llms">llms</a></p>

2020-11-17T15:24:49+00:002020-11-17T15:24:49+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2020/Nov/17/amstelvar/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="https://v-fonts.com/fonts/amstelvar">Amstelvar</a></strong></p> A real showcase of what variable fonts can do: this open source font by David Berlow has 17 different variables controlling many different aspects of the font. <p><small></small>Via <a href="https://twitter.com/markboulton/status/1328655273741922304">@markboulton</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fonts">fonts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2020-11-15T22:41:16+00:002020-11-15T22:41:16+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2020/Nov/15/coronafaceimpact/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="https://v-fonts.com/fonts/coronafaceimpact">CoronaFaceImpact</a></strong></p> Variable fonts are fonts that can be customized by passing in additional parameters, which is done in CSS using the font-variation-settings property. Here’s a ​variable font that shows multiple effects of Covid-19 lockdown on a bearded face, created by Friedrich Althausen. <p><small></small>Via <a href="https://chat.indieweb.org/2020-11-15/1605479988328700">Kevin Marks</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/css">css</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fonts">fonts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/covid19">covid19</a></p>

2020-02-23T14:13:01+00:002020-02-23T14:13:01+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2020/Feb/23/google-fonts/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22370494">Why Google invested in providing Google Fonts for free</a></strong></p> Fascinating comment from former Google Fonts team member Raph Levien. In short: text rendered as PNGs hurt Google Search, fonts were a delay in the transition from Flash, Google Docs needed them to better compete with Office and anything that helps create better ads is easy to find funding for. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/google">google</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2010-08-18T13:49:00+00:002010-08-18T13:49:00+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2010/Aug/18/mathml/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://webkit.org/blog/1366/announcing%E2%80%A6mathml/">Surfin&#x27; Safari: Announcing... MathML!</a></strong></p> MathML is now supported by the WebKit nightlies. Worth checking out for the typographical discussion that’s broken out in the comments. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/mathml">mathml</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/safari">safari</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/webkit">webkit</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/recovered">recovered</a></p>

2009-12-31T09:24:14+00:002009-12-31T09:24:14+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2009/Dec/31/newzald/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://ilovetypography.com/2008/03/12/newzald-moleskine-to-market/">Newzald: From Moleskine to Market</a></strong></p> A typeface designer describes the process involved in designing a new font and taking it to market. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/design">design</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/newzald">newzald</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2009-04-06T22:29:47+00:002009-04-06T22:29:47+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2009/Apr/6/cufon/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://wiki.github.com/sorccu/cufon/about">cufon</a></strong></p> A promising alternative to sIFR, cufon uses VML on IE and canvas on other browsers to render custom fonts in the browser. You have to convert your font to JavaScript first, either using their free hosted tool or by installing the FontForge based server-side script yourself. The JavaScript encoded font file uses VML primitives to improve IE performance; the JavaScript library converts that to canvas calls for other, faster browsers. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/browsers">browsers</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/canvas">canvas</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/cufon">cufon</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fontforge">fontforge</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fonts">fonts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/internet-explorer">internet-explorer</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/javascript">javascript</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/sifr">sifr</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/vml">vml</a></p>

2009-02-09T21:16:29+00:002009-02-09T21:16:29+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2009/Feb/9/facing/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://webtypography.net/talks/skillswap09/">Facing up to Fonts</a></strong></p> Slides and notes from Richard Rutter’s excellent typography presentation at a recent SkillSwap Brighton. Includes some new thinking about the font stack (comma separated list of fonts provided to the font-family property) you should use to get the best possible implementation of a given font on various different platforms. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/design">design</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fonts">fonts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fontstacks">fontstacks</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/richard-rutter">richard-rutter</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/skillswap">skillswap</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/skillswapbrighton">skillswapbrighton</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2008-10-27T23:45:30+00:002008-10-27T23:45:30+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2008/Oct/27/typefacejs/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://typeface.neocracy.org/">typeface.js</a></strong></p> Outstanding hack—renders custom fonts using VML in IE and canvas in everything else, using fonts that are defined as a set of vector paths stored using JSON. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/canvas">canvas</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/fonts">fonts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/javascript">javascript</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/json">json</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typefacejs">typefacejs</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/vml">vml</a></p>

2008-06-21T00:27:08+00:002008-06-21T00:27:08+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2008/Jun/21/comic/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://comicsansfilm.com/">Comic Sans, the Film</a></strong></p> “A documentary film coming soon” <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/comicsans">comicsans</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/film">film</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/funny">funny</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2008-03-22T13:41:30+00:002008-03-22T13:41:30+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2008/Mar/22/ironic/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/2008/02/idea_a_new_typography_term.html">Idea: A new typography term</a></strong></p> keming. noun. The result of improper kerning. <p><small></small>Via <a href="http://nedbatchelder.com/blog/200803/keming.html">Ned Batchelder</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/funny">funny</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/keming">keming</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2008-02-08T11:17:45+00:002008-02-08T11:17:45+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2008/Feb/8/ljworldcom/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://www2.ljworld.com/elections/2008/feb/05/races/democratic_presidential_nomination/">LJWorld.com: Kansas Democratic Presidential Caucuses</a></strong></p> The most beautiful election results page I’ve ever seen. Love the typography and the Google Charts integration. <p><small></small>Via <a href="http://www.postneo.com/2008/02/05/covering-kansas-democratic-caucus-results">Matt Croydon</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/design">design</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/elections">elections</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/google-charts">google-charts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/kansas">kansas</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/ljworld">ljworld</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/matt-croydon">matt-croydon</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2007-11-18T11:18:57+00:002007-11-18T11:18:57+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2007/Nov/18/harry/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/journal/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-typography">Harry Potter and the Order of Typography</a></strong></p> Jon Hicks highlights some of the beautiful typography displayed by the latest Harry Potter film. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/design">design</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/film">film</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/harrypotter">harrypotter</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/jon-hicks">jon-hicks</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2007-05-29T19:38:14+00:002007-05-29T19:38:14+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2007/May/29/typogrify/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://code.google.com/p/typogrify/">typogrify</a></strong></p> “Typogrify is a collection of Django template filters that to help prettify your web typography by preventing ugly quotes and widows and providing CSS hooks to style some special cases.” <p><small></small>Via <a href="http://www2.jeffcroft.com/sidenotes/2007/may/29/typogrify-easily-produce-web-typography-doesnt-suc/">Jeff Croft</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/christian-metts">christian-metts</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/django">django</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/jeff-croft">jeff-croft</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/templatefilters">templatefilters</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2007-04-11T00:08:20+00:002007-04-11T00:08:20+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2007/Apr/11/baseline/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://www.alistapart.com/articles/settingtypeontheweb">Setting Type on the Web to a Baseline Grid</a></strong></p> Wilson Miner introduces a smart, methodical approach to well proportioned Web typography. <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/a-list-apart">a-list-apart</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/css">css</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/wilson-miner">wilson-miner</a></p>

2007-03-30T15:04:54+00:002007-03-30T15:04:54+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2007/Mar/30/lilypond/#atom-tag

<p><strong><a href="http://lilypond.org/web/about/automated-engraving/big-page">&quot;Obsessed with putting ink on paper&quot;</a></strong></p> Fascinating essay from the authors of Lilypond describing the challenges involved in writing software to typeset music. <p><small></small>Via <a href="http://infovore.org/">Tom Armitage</a></small></p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/lilypond">lilypond</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/music">music</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>

2007-03-28T19:21:16+00:002007-03-28T19:21:16+00:00https://simonwillison.net/2007/Mar/28/oxford/#atom-tag

<p>If you missed the <a href="http://oxford.geeknights.net/2007/february-7th/">last Oxford Geek Night</a>, you really owe it to yourself to make it to the next one. If you <em>were</em> there then you shouldn't need any convincing.</p> <p><a href="http://oxford.geeknights.net/2007/april-11th/">Oxford Geek Night 2</a> will be on the <strong>11th of April</strong>, starting at 7.30pm (talks start at 8.30) upstairs at the <a href="http://oxford.openguides.org/wiki/?Jericho_Tavern">Jericho Tavern</a>. Nat has just announced the two keynotes: <a href="http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/">Jon Hicks</a> will be talking about typography on the Web and his thoughts on typographic trends for 2007, and James Webster from Amazon UK will be presenting Amazon's web service suite.</p> <p>In addition to the two 15 minute keynotes there will also be eight 5 minute microslots. Nat is currently <a href="http://natbat.wufoo.com/forms/oxford-geek-night-microslot-proposal/">taking proposals</a> for these; this is a good chance to give a lightning demo of something you've worked on and a great opportunity for first time speakers to gain valuable experience in front of a friendly audience.</p> <p>The event is sponsored by <a href="http://www.torchbox.com/">Torchbox</a>. Entry is free to all, but you should <a href="http://upcoming.org/event/164380/">sign up on Upcoming</a> to give us an idea of numbers.</p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/amazon">amazon</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/james-webster">james-webster</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/jon-hicks">jon-hicks</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/natalie-downe">natalie-downe</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/oxford">oxford</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/oxford-geek-nights">oxford-geek-nights</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/torchbox">torchbox</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/typography">typography</a></p>