Lettering style guide
Script lettering on headstones: identifying it and matching new lines
Script lettering imitates handwriting: letters are slanted and joined, capitals carry loops and swashes, and the stroke swells and thins as a pen would. On headstones it softens a stone that is otherwise all capitals, and it is often used for words that feel personal.
Scripts range from formal copperplate, with fine hairlines and elaborate capitals, to casual scripts with even strokes and open loops. Identifying which kind is on the stone matters more than with Roman styles, because two scripts can share a slant and still look like different handwriting.
Also called: cursive, copperplate script, formal script.
What to look for
- Slant angle
- Measure or estimate the slant of the downstrokes. Formal scripts are often steeply slanted; casual scripts are more upright. A new line at a different slant stands out immediately.
- How letters join
- In some scripts every letter connects; in others connections break after certain letters. Look at the joins after o, r, v and w, which vary between designs.
- Contrast
- Formal scripts have very thin upstrokes and heavy downstrokes. Casual and brush scripts are more even. On sandblasted stones the hairlines may have been thickened, so judge the overall pattern rather than the thinnest line.
- Capitals
- Script capitals are where designs differ most: loops, curls, entry strokes and flourishes. Compare the capitals on the stone with your candidate first.
Telling characters
Dates are a good place to look. The digits 1, 4, 7 and 9 differ more between styles than 0 or 8, and month names supply telling letters: J in JAN., JUNE and JULY; G in AUG.; R in MARCH, APRIL and every month ending in -BER.
| Character | In Script, look for |
|---|---|
| R | Capital R is usually looped at the top or start; its leg may sweep into the next letter. Look for whether the loop is open or closed. |
| G | Script capital G varies widely: some have a large top loop, others a simple curve with a descending tail. |
| J | Usually a long descender with a loop below the line, which takes space under the line. |
| 1 | Often a single slanted stroke, sometimes with a small entry flick; little or no base. |
| 4, 7, 9 | Script digits follow the slant. Check whether the 4 is open, whether the 7 is plain, and whether the 9 drops below the baseline. |
Where Script is used
Script is used for epitaphs and verses, for relationship words such as “Beloved Wife” or “Mother”, for first names and signatures, and sometimes for a whole inscription on a modern design. It pairs naturally with Roman or Modified Roman names and dates.
Dates in script are less common than script words, because script digits are less legible from a distance. When a stone does have script dates, matching the slant and the shape of each digit is the priority.
Adding a matching date
Script is usually shape carved or cut deeper than plain lettering so the joins read clearly. Note the depth and finish of the existing script as well as the shape.
Match slant and size first, then the capitals, then the joins. Keep the new line on the same baseline angle as the existing one and give long descenders, such as J or y, room so they do not collide with the line below.
- Photograph the stone square to its face and measure the polished face’s width and height.
- Measure the existing digits’ height, the spacing between them and where they sit on the stone.
- Write the new date in the same format as the existing one: abbreviations, punctuation and dash.
- Set it in the closest style, at the same height and spacing, on the same baseline.
- Check the new date beside the old one, on a photo or a 1:1 print held against the stone, before cutting.
Closest styles in Monumize
Monumize ships three open-licensed scripts: Formal Script (copperplate style with fine hairlines), Flowing Script (relaxed, open loops) and Engraved Script. None is any commercial monument script; compare all three on your own photo.
Not sure which style your stone uses?
Monument shops can upload a photo of the stone: Monumize reads the dates already cut, ranks the closest styles in its catalog, and shows the new date outlined on the photo. The first job is free.
Frequently asked questions
- Are script fonts hard to sandblast?
- Fine hairlines and tight joins are delicate in a stencil. Shops often cut script a little larger and slightly heavier, and may shape carve it so the joins read well.
- Can dates be in script?
- Yes, but script digits are harder to read at a distance, so many stones use Roman dates under script words. Match whatever the existing dates use.
- How do I match a hand-lettered script?
- Hand-lettered script will not match any font letter for letter. Choose the closest slant, weight and capital style, and check the new line on a photo next to the old one.