Inter-character spacing adjustment. The process of adjusting the spacing between characters, often manually, to create an even overall appearance, as opposed to 'tracking' which is a digital process that automatically opens or closes the spacing equally throughout the text, regardless of the specific needs of a specific character combination (ie a V and an A) which often gives an awkward appearance to the word.

In other words, when characters are spaced 'evenly', they look 'uneven'.

Above is an example. On a trip to Los Angeles, an old friend of mine, David Westwood (a great designer) was much amused as I criticised the dreadful kerning on this iconic sign up on the hills. I suggested we sneaked up there at night, dig it up and re-kerned it.

Knowing the local police better than I, he didn't think it was a very good idea - so I did it myself.