Serif typefaces have small lines or strokes added to the ends of letters and symbols. They are mainly used in books, newspapers, and magazines. Sans-serif typefaces do not have these small lines and are generally used more for headings. Decorative typefaces have exaggerated features like extravagant serifs or swashes and are often larger than normal body text, finding use in posters and advertisements.

1. Typefaces and Letterfonts

2. Typefaces and Letter Forms
Serif – Serif is a small line that is added onto the end of a stroke in a letter or symbol.
A typeface with serifs is called a serif typeface.
Serif is mainly used in books, e-books, newspaper columns and magazines.
Serifs originated in the Latin alphabet, words were carved into stone in roman
antiquity. The Roman letters were originally painted onto stone and the stone carvers
would follow the marks.
Types of serif –
Book example:

3. Sans-Serif
Sans-serif typeface does not have small lines called ‘serifs’ at the end of strokes.
The term comes from the French word sans meaning ‘without’.
Sans-serif fonts are mainly used for headings rather than the main body text.
The first sans-serif types were developed in the 18th century. They became popular in
printed media around the 19th century under the terms ‘Egyptian’ then later
‘grotesque’.
Types of sans-serif - Helvetica, News Gothic, Impact , Gill Sans MT.
Book Example –

4. Decorative
Decorative fonts have extreme features such as exaggerated serifs, extreme features
like swashes and any font larger than body copy size can be described as decorative
type.
Decorative type fonts became popular in the 19th century and were mainly used on
posters and advertisements.
Types of decorative typefaces –
Book Example -