Distressing letters in Illustrator is a technique used to give text a worn and aged appearance, as if it had been exposed to the elements over time. This can be a useful effect for creating vintage or retro-style designs, or for adding a touch of realism to your artwork.
There are a number of different ways to distress letters in Illustrator, but the most common method is to use the Pathfinder panel to create compound shapes. This allows you to combine multiple shapes to create a more complex and realistic effect.