Glossary of Calligraphy Terms

Here are some definitions and descriptions for often-used terms relating to the Art of Calligraphy, lettering, and penmanship.

1. Calligraphy – (noun) The art of beautiful writing. Writing produced for artistic sake.
2. Lettering – (verb) The drawing of letters. (noun) Letters drawn by hand.
3. Penmanship — (noun) The discipline of skillfully wielding the pen in the formation of writing.
4. Writing — (verb) The act of communicating though by the representation of sounds via glyphs termed letters. (noun) Written letters representing sounds/thought.
5. Letters – (noun) Glyphs representing sounds.
6. Pen — (noun) A writing instrument. (noun) A steel penpoint/nib.
7. Penholder — (noun) A staff into which a pen/nib is inserted.
8. Ink — (verb) To commit ink to paper, typically with a pen. (noun) A pigment or dye suspended in fluid used for writing.