this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
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me_irl
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The typical use for the "lower case" numbers is in body copy, because that style of number fits in better with the old style and transitional fonts that are typically used there. So, you are most likely to see them when you are reading a book or an article, but not in the headlines or chapter titles.
Source: just sat through a lecture on this last week in Intro Typography.
That's traditional but today I think most people remember them from signage and logos, shops and boutique firms love having 4s in their names because it looks so nice old style next to another number. Like Table 42 or maybe 10th Street Bar where the 0 is old style, with the dot or bar under it. A lot of websites also use it in headers because it looks more sophisticated and old-money. I am not sure how many people read books and body copy anymore, but I like the idea that it still happens!