| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | alignment | how elements line up |
| 2. | alphabet | set of letters |
| 3. | angle | orientation of pen or letters |
| 4. | arm | horizontal or upward stroke |
| 5. | ascender | upward part of a letter |
| 6. | axis | imaginary directional line |
| 7. | balance | stable visual distribution |
| 8. | baseline | line letters sit on |
| 9. | bleed | ink spreading through paper |
| 10. | blot | unwanted ink mark |
| 11. | brush pen | brush-tipped writing pen |
| 12. | burnisher | tool for polishing gold |
| 13. | cap height | height of capital letters |
| 14. | centerline | middle guide through forms |
| 15. | compound curve | joined opposing curves |
| 16. | consistency | uniformity across letters |
| 17. | contrast | difference between thick and thin |
| 18. | copybook | practice book for handwriting |
| 19. | descender | downward part of a letter |
| 20. | dip pen | pen dipped into ink |
| 21. | downstroke | stroke moving downward |
| 22. | drop cap | large initial letter |
| 23. | ductus | order and direction of strokes |
| 24. | ear | small decorative letter projection |
| 25. | entry stroke | beginning stroke of a letter |
| 26. | envelope | outer contour of a letter |
| 27. | exemplar | model alphabet for copying |
| 28. | exit stroke | ending stroke of a letter |
| 29. | feathering | ink spreading into fibers |
| 30. | finial | decorative stroke ending |
| 31. | flange | metal support on holder |
| 32. | flex | nib’s ability to spread |
| 33. | flourish | decorative extended stroke |
| 34. | foundational | broad-edge teaching script |
| 35. | gilding | applying gold decoration |
| 36. | glyph | specific written character form |
| 37. | gold leaf | thin gold for decoration |
| 38. | gothic | blackletter-style script family |
| 39. | gouache | opaque water-based paint |
| 40. | guideline | line used to guide writing |
| 41. | hairline | very thin stroke |
| 42. | hand | distinct writing style |
| 43. | heel | base area of a nib |
| 44. | illumination | decorative embellishment with color |
| 45. | ink | liquid used for writing |
| 46. | italic | slanted cursive script style |
| 47. | join | connection between strokes |
| 48. | kerning | adjusting space between letters |
| 49. | leading | space between text lines |
| 50. | leg | descending diagonal stroke |
| 51. | letterform | shape design of a letter |
| 52. | ligature | joined letters in one form |
| 53. | lightbox | lit surface for tracing |
| 54. | loop | closed curved stroke |
| 55. | majuscule | uppercase letter style |
| 56. | margin | blank border around content |
| 57. | minuscule | lowercase letter style |
| 58. | modulation | variation in stroke width |
| 59. | monogram | combined initials design |
| 60. | monoline | uniform stroke thickness |
| 61. | nib | the pen’s writing tip |
| 62. | numerals | written number symbols |
| 63. | oblique holder | angled holder for pointed nibs |
| 64. | oval | basic rounded practice shape |
| 65. | overshoot | curve extending past alignment |
| 66. | paper | common writing surface |
| 67. | parchment | animal skin writing surface |
| 68. | penholder | handle that holds a nib |
| 69. | pressure | force applied to pen |
| 70. | proportion | relative size of parts |
| 71. | punctuation | marks used in writing |
| 72. | quill | feather pen for writing |
| 73. | reed pen | pen cut from reed |
| 74. | rhythm | visual flow of repeated forms |
| 75. | roundhand | formal flowing script style |
| 76. | ruler | straightedge for measuring lines |
| 77. | script | a style of handwriting |
| 78. | shade | thickened downstroke area |
| 79. | shoulder | curved top connecting stroke |
| 80. | slant | angle of letter lean |
| 81. | spacing | distance between letters or words |
| 82. | spine | main curved central stroke |
| 83. | spur | small projecting stroke |
| 84. | stroke | a single pen movement |
| 85. | swash | ornamental sweeping stroke |
| 86. | T-square | tool for drawing right angles |
| 87. | terminal | end of a stroke |
| 88. | texture | overall visual density |
| 89. | tooth | surface texture of paper |
| 90. | tracing | copying through transparency |
| 91. | triangle | angled ruler for guides |
| 92. | uncial | rounded medieval script style |
| 93. | upstroke | stroke moving upward |
| 94. | vellum | fine prepared writing skin |
| 95. | vent | hole in a nib |
| 96. | versals | decorative capital letters |
| 97. | wash | thin diluted color layer |
| 98. | watercolor | transparent water-based paint |
| 99. | weight | overall stroke thickness |
| 100. | x-height | height of lowercase body |