Question on formalism

I am writing a dissertation on realism/anti-realism. I need to clarify
a mathematical point which is of relevance in an assertion of the
realist position.

Mathematical Formalism employs
1) Rules
2) Sequences of typographic characters.

My question is this:
Are the movements of the typographic characters, as they are generally
visually depicted (e.g. character movements such as substitution,
presence and absence, etc) precisely defined by the rules? Or, are
there some manouevures of the typographical characters that are not
catered for, or found in the rules?

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