Calligraphy Glossary

Ascender line: The guideline showing the height of an ascending letter.

Base line: The writing line that the body of a letter sits upon.

Branching stroke: The stroke which connects an arch to the downstroke of a letter.

Cap line: The guideline showing the height of a capital letter. 

Counter: The (white) space inside a letter.

Cross bar: Horizontal stroke forming part of a letter (such as the "t" or "H").

Descender: The portion of a letter that falls below the base line.

Downstroke: A stroke directed downwards towards the base line or descender line. 

Ductus: The number, direction and sequence of the strokes which make up a letter.

Flourish: A non-structural embellishment added to a letter.

Hairline: A very thin line.

Majuscule: A capital, or upper case letter.

Minuscule: A lower case letter.

Pen angle: The angle at which the nib meets the paper, relative to the base line (see illustration above).

Serif: A small stroke which begins or ends a letter or a part of a letter.Slant: The slope of a letter,
measured from the vertical.

Slant: The slope of a letter, measured from the vertical.
Slant Line: The guideline showing the correct slant.

Spacing:
Counter space: The space inside a letter.
Interletter space: The space between letters.
Interword space: The space between words.

Interlinear space: The space between lines of writing.

Thick: A heavy or blunt stroke.

Thin: A fine stroke, sometimes called a hairline.

Waist line: The guideline showing the correct position for the upper boundary of the x-height.

x-height: The height of a letter or the portion of a letter that sits between the base line and the waist line (the height of the lower case "x").

Calligraphy Pens

Pen Nibs & Holders