# `GSLayer previousKerningExceptionForLayer:direction:`

*Instance Method*

Whether the pair between a previous layer and this layer has a kerning exception.

## Declaration

```swift
func previousKerningIsException(to previousLayer: GSLayer, direction: GSWritingDirection) -> Bool
```

```objc
- (BOOL) previousKerningExceptionForLayer:(GSLayer *) previousLayer direction:(GSWritingDirection) direction;
```

```python
previousKerningExceptionForLayer_direction_(previousLayer: GSLayer, direction: GSWritingDirection) -> bool
```

## Parameters

- `previousLayer` — The layer before this layer.

## Discussion

A kerning exception stores a glyph-specific value instead of using the right-side kerning group of this layer’s glyph.

## See Also

### Kerning Exceptions

- [`GSLayer setPreviousKerningException:forLayer:direction:`](/Core/GlyphsCore/GSLayer/setPreviousKerningException:forLayer:direction:) — Sets whether the pair between a previous layer and this layer has a kerning exception.
- [`GSLayer nextKerningExceptionForLayer:direction:`](/Core/GlyphsCore/GSLayer/nextKerningExceptionForLayer:direction:) — Whether the pair between this layer and a next layer has a kerning exception.
- [`GSLayer setNextKerningException:forLayer:direction:`](/Core/GlyphsCore/GSLayer/setNextKerningException:forLayer:direction:) — Sets whether the pair between this layer and a next layer has a kerning exception.