Lowercase "m" Is Just Two "n"s Stitched Together — Sort Of

Quick trivia: the term "em dash" is named directly after lowercase "m." Typographers have used the width of a capital M as a fundamental unit of measurement for centuries, and that unit still shapes spacing, indents, and dash widths in modern typography today.

Structurally, "m" is essentially two "n" shapes stitched together — a stem, a shoulder, a stem, a shoulder, a stem, in a row. That repetition is exactly what makes it tricky to design well. Since the eye naturally compares the two humps side by side within a single letter, any inconsistency in width or curve becomes obvious almost instantly, in a way most other letters can quietly hide.

The letter's roots go back to a Phoenician symbol for water, drawn as a wavy zigzag line — a nice coincidence, since the modern rounded-arch shape of "m" does bear a faint resemblance to a wave, even though that connection developed independently through medieval handwriting rather than intention.

This glyph series breaks down every letter like this. ✍️ #TypeDesign #Typography #FontDesign

Read more: https://letterhanna.com/lowercase-letter-m-design-and-history/