Bob Bailey, Age 16, of Haggerstown, Md., for his question:

HOW WERE SERIFS FIRST USED ON WORDS?

Serifs are the fancy little finishing strokes that are often added to the tops and bottoms of many letters and words. Serifs were invented by the stonecutters of ancient Rome.

Stonecutters carved letters in ancient Roman days often by rounding, squaring or simplifying them. And they also developed the beautiful thick and thin strokes that we see in many printed words today.

The practical reason for serifs was that the carvers found it difficult many times to end wide strokes without ugly, blunt lines. And if a chisel slipped while squaring off an end, the cutter could erase his mistake with an additional flourish.

Later serifs were added to Roman letters to give them a touch of strength and grace. They are still often used today.