/typography-audit

Use Metrics Kerning, Adjust Tracking First

Use the font's built-in kern tables (metrics kerning), not optical kerning: quality fonts ship crafted kern pairs. Adjust overall tracking (letter-spacing) before individual pairs. Reserve manual kerning for large display type and logos.

Incorrect (optical kerning or excessive manual adjustment):

body {
  font-kerning: auto; /* may not use metrics */
}

/* Over-kerning body text */
body {
  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
}

Correct (metrics kerning, tracking adjustments before kerning):

body {
  font-kerning: normal; /* use font's built-in kern tables */
}

/* If large heading spacing feels off, adjust tracking first */
h1 {
  letter-spacing: -0.02em; /* tracking adjustment */
}

/* Manual kerning only for logos/display (use spans) */
.logo .letter-A { margin-right: -0.05em; }

Use hair ( ) or thin ( ) spaces where spacing feels off but a full adjustment is too much. Accept minor kerning irregularities in body text; they are inherent to the Latin alphabet.