Spencerian Script

Spencerian script is an American pointed-pen handwriting style developed by Platt Rogers Spencer in the 1840s. It is lighter and more delicate than copperplate, with a small x-height, tall loops and shading on only some strokes, and it was the standard business and school script in the United States until the early 20th century.

Spencerian guidelines and proportions

Spencerian lowercase letters are small compared with their loops. The x-height is a narrow band, and the ascending loops of b, h, k and l rise about three times its height. The slant is steep, a little steeper than copperplate.

Spencer's copybooks describe the slant as about 52° from the horizontal. Some later Spencerian copybooks use slightly different angles, so treat the guidelines as a starting point.

Because the letters are small and light, Spencerian is usually written smaller than copperplate. A small x-height also makes it practical as everyday handwriting, which is what it was designed for.

Tools: a fine, flexible nib

• Nib: a fine, sharp, very flexible pointed nib. Spencerian hairlines are thinner than copperplate's, so the nib needs a fine point. See the calligraphy nibs guide.
• Holder: an oblique holder for right-handed writers, as with copperplate. See dip pens.
• Ink: a thin, smooth ink that flows into fine hairlines without blobbing.
• Paper: smooth paper with no tooth. Any texture shows up in the hairlines.

How Spencerian letters are built

Spencer taught his script as a set of seven principles: the basic shapes that every letter is built from.

1. Straight line
2. Right curve
3. Left curve
4. Extended loop
5. Direct oval
6. Reversed oval
7. Capital stem

The first three build the lowercase letters. The loop forms the ascenders and descenders. The two ovals and the capital stem build the capitals.

Shading is selective. Most lowercase strokes are light, almost monoline, and only certain downstrokes get a shade. In capitals, the shade usually sits on one part of the capital stem or oval, and the rest of the letter stays fine. That restraint is what gives Spencerian its airy look.

The oval is the foundation. Spencerian capitals in particular are large, slanted ovals with a single swelling shade, often finished with fine flourishes. Oval drills, written with a relaxed arm movement rather than the fingers, are the standard way to practice.

The three hardest letters

These are the letters Spencerian students most often find difficult.

• s: the lowercase s is narrow and pointed at the top, and its shade is short, so small errors in slant are very visible.
• r: the small shoulder at the top has to be sharp and exact, or the letter reads as an i.
• w: the letter repeats the same narrow turn three times and ends at the x-height, so spacing and the join out are hard to keep even.

Spencerian vs copperplate

The two scripts share the pointed nib, the oblique holder and the steep slant, but they look quite different side by side.

• Shading: copperplate shades almost every downstroke. Spencerian shades only some.
• Proportions: copperplate's 3:2:3 gives a larger x-height. Spencerian has a small x-height and taller loops.
• Letter shapes: Spencerian lowercase letters are narrower and more pointed at the turns. Copperplate turns are rounder.
• Purpose: copperplate was a formal engraver's hand. Spencerian was designed for everyday business and school writing, with an ornamental version for display.

Common Spencerian mistakes

• Shading everything. Spencerian is not copperplate. Most strokes should stay light.
• Writing with the fingers. Spencer taught a relaxed arm movement. Finger movement makes ovals and capitals look cramped and shaky.
• Letters too wide. Spencerian lowercase letters are narrow. Wide letters make the small x-height look squat.
• Short loops. The tall ascenders and descenders are part of the style. Shortened loops make it look like ordinary cursive.
• Drifting slant. Small letters magnify slant errors. Check your downstrokes against the slant lines often.

How to practice Spencerian

1. Warm up with large oval drills, written with the whole arm.
2. Practice the first three principles (straight line, right curve, left curve) until they are consistent.
3. Build the short lowercase letters (i, u, n, m), then the looped letters.
4. Write short words before moving to capitals, which use the ovals and capital stem.
5. Keep sessions short and frequent, because Spencerian depends on a light, relaxed hand.

Free Spencerian practice sheet

Lowercase Spencerian letters on guidelines set to the script's slant and proportions. Print on US Letter or A4, no sign-up.

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  Spencerian alphabet: lowercase

  Spencerian · alphabet

  US Letter PDF A4 PDF

What is Spencerian script used for today?

Mostly for formal correspondence, invitations, certificates and decorative pieces. Its influence is still visible in brand logos: the Coca-Cola and Ford wordmarks are often cited as Spencerian-style scripts.

What replaced Spencerian script?

The Palmer Method, introduced by Austin Palmer in the 1890s, gradually replaced Spencerian in American schools in the early 20th century. Palmer was simpler, unshaded and faster to write, which suited typewriter-era offices and mass schooling.

Is Spencerian harder than copperplate?

Many calligraphers find it harder, because the hairlines are finer and the selective shading leaves little room for error. It is usually easier to learn after some experience with copperplate or another pointed-pen script.

Who invented Spencerian script?

Platt Rogers Spencer, an American penmanship teacher, developed the script in the 1840s. He based its ovals and curves on shapes he observed in nature. After his death in 1864, his sons and students continued to publish Spencerian copybooks and run business colleges that taught the style across the United States.