Beginner's Guide To The Spencerian Script [Tutorial]
The Spencerian script isn't the most mainstream penmanship style, but this system of writing is more commonplace than you probably realize! Anyone who's ever seen the Coca-Cola or Ford logos has already been exposed to it. The original script designs for both company logos were inspired by Spencerian (over time, the logos have become thicker and more rounded).
Copperplate or English Roundhand styles may have more name recognition, but there's an ease, elegance and convenience in the Spencerian script that has helped it stand the test of time.
Developed originally by Platt Rogers Spencer for its speed and style, Spencerian penmanship has evolved from being used in business correspondence to being taught in schools and now to being practiced by calligraphers to this day on paper and digitally.
Today let's walk through the basics of 19th-century Spencerian penmanship. We'll look at...
Who Platt Rogers Spencer was and why he created Spencerian
Unique aspects of this penmanship style
The supplies you need
How you can try it yourself (on paper or your iPad)
Pin it for later ↓
Table of Contents
What Is Spencerian Handwriting?
Spencerian penmanship is a handwriting style that was used for business correspondence and taught in schools in the 19th century. It's elegant and flowing, and was designed to be quicker and easier to write than other scripts of the time such as English roundhand.
Invented by Platt Rogers Spencer in the 19th century, the Spencerian system was a method of cursive handwriting that allowed people to write quickly yet stylishly. This system of handwriting became popular thanks to Platt Rogers Spencer and his 5 sons, who went on to teach the script and help it become well-known in America. Spencer’s sons went on to publish books and were known as the Spencerian Authors.
As a script, Spencerian became incredibly popular in the United States. It was used widely for business correspondence as well as personal letters and is often seen as the quintessential style of American handwriting.
The alphabet written in Spencerian
Spencerian Vs Copperplate
The Spencerian script is a form of handwriting that is often put in the same category as other examples of pointed pen calligraphy, such as the Copperplate script. And for a good reason!
Both scripts are traditionally written with a pointed pen and are characterized by elegant letters paired with swirling decorative flourishes.
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Here you can watch the Spencerian script written next to the Copperplate script:
However, when we compare an example of Copperplate to a contemporary one in Spencerian script, the differences become apparent immediately:
In Copperplate, letters are more rounded. Letters are based on the oval shape whereas Spencerian letters are more angular.
The smaller amount of shading on the letters makes Spencerian significantly less heavy than Copperplate. There's less emphasis on contrast in Spencerian.
Letters in the Spencerian script are written at an angle that's slightly more slanted than other scripts (52 degrees, versus Copperplate's 55 degrees)
Spencerian is unique in that letters have a second slant. Called the connective slant, it's mainly found in strokes connecting certain letters and is a 30-degree angle.
Copperplate versus Spencerian
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Is Spencerian Pointed Pen Calligraphy?
Strictly speaking: no. In fact, the steel nib was not even available when Platt R. Spencer created and taught his Spencerian system of writing. From that perspective, Spencerian was not originally a form of pointed calligraphy.
However, most practitioners of the Spencerian script today do use a flexible pointed pen nib.
Platt R. Spencer invented his Spencerian method primarily in order to help people write quickly, while other forms of calligraphy like Engrossers Script are all about the beauty. Speed doesn't matter as much to calligraphers that try to come close to perfection in their forms.
Jordan dipping a pointed pen into ink
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Is Spencerian Cursive handwriting?
When you saw the images with Spencerian, did they remind you of modern writing? If so, you were right on the money!
Spencerian is an early precursor to modern cursive writing (sometimes called American cursive) that was used for practical penmanship. I like to think of Spencerian as the “bridge” between calligraphy and cursive.
Spencerian was taught in schools until it was eventually replaced by the Palmer method. Developed by Austin Palmer, the Palmer Method was a writing style that allowed for even faster writing. Schools still teach cursive writing widely to this day.
The Spencerian alphabet
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Modern Spencerian Penmanship
Although Spencerian is an older script, that doesn't mean it's strictly a practice of the past.
Through the efforts of calligraphers such as Master Penman Michael Sull, the script was taken out of obscurity, dusted off and successfully given a new life.
Get some inspiration from Michael Sull on Instagram:
Nowadays, the Spencerian script is very much alive and kicking. Just take a quick look at the hashtag #spencerian on Instagram!
The graceful forms found in both uppercase and lowercase letters make Spencerian a popular ornamental script that looks great when done on paper or digitally.
Example of the Spencerian script on an iPad
You see more examples of ornamental calligraphy in The Universal Penman by George Bickham. Look inside this classic text in our calligraphy books guide.
How To Learn Spencerian Script
Let's look at ways in which you can make the beautiful Spencerian script your own. Before we start with the letters themselves, we'll go over the things you need.
Watch in our video tutorial:
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Supplies
The Spencerian script is not only approachable and easy to try, you also need just a handful of supplies to do so. And no quill pen is needed here!
In fact, you only need 2 things to get started today:
Any writing utensil. Spencerian penmanship was originally done with a quill pen and ink but you can use any writing tool you have, even a pencil! In the video tutorial, I used a monoline pen.
A guidesheet. Guidesheets are available in our iPad Spencerian course.
Learn iPad Spencerian!
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The Basic Strokes
Like most forms of calligraphy, instead of writing each letter one at a time, you create the letters of the Spencerian script with a set of basic strokes.
However where traditional scripts such as Copperplate have eight basic strokes, Spencerian only uses four to form the lowercase letters.
The 4 Spencerian script basic strokes
The Spencerian script basic strokes are:
Straight line
Left curve
Right curve
Loop
The loop can be written upwards as a vertical ascender, or flipped downwards as a descender.
These strokes form the heart of the lowercase letters and mastering them lets you create any letter of the alphabet.
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How To Practice Spencerian Penmanship
Once you understand the basic strokes, it's time to move on to writing actual letters and words! Let's look at the word name to see how each letter is built using the basic strokes.
Screenshot from our video tutorial
As you're writing, focus on these characteristics…
Shade
The first thing you might notice is that the letters in the Spencerian script are not shaded as heavily as letters in the Copperplate style.
When writing with a pressure-sensitive utensil (for example, a brush pen), calligraphers achieve shade by pressing harder. When using a utensil that's not pressure sensitive, you simply go back to add a little shade.
Common places to add shading in the Spencerian script are:
the left side of an oval such as a
the downstrokes in letters n or m
capitals normally have one shaded part
Shading is far less common and you decide how much to add. In fact, you can even get away with adding no shade at all! You're free to make personal decisions around style and execution in the Spencerian script.
Spencerian vs Copperplate calligraphy letter shade difference
Some scripts come with strict rules around stylistic choices, but there's room for personal expression in even the most beginner forms of Spencerian penmanship. Shading is an element that can be decided by each individual writer.
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Angle
Spencerian is written at a consistent angle of 52 degrees, which is most important when you're writing straight lines.
Turn the paper or pivot your iPad page so that you move your pen straight towards you when you make your downstrokes. This makes it a lot easier to get used to this way of writing.
Spencerian vs Copperplate calligraphy slant
Can You Spot The Basic Strokes?
The basic strokes are all we used to create each of the letters in our practice word name. Can you spot them all?
Spencerian basic calligraphy strokes
As first-time practice, why not write your own name in the Spencerian script? Use nothing but the four basic strokes to form your letters and try to keep the slant and size consistent.
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Spencerian Script On The iPad
While this penmanship script may have been originally developed in the 19th century, it's still evolving into new forms today.
If you're interested in using this style of classic American handwriting for digital art, then the iPad is the place to start!
First, create a brush that lets you add subtle shade. We've developed a specific Spencerian brush that you can access in our iPad Spencerian course.
Take your time and practice slowly. Although the Spencerian system is about writing fast, doing so on the iPad will cause problems because the streamline can overly correct your movement.
The iPad is perfect for practicing as you can zoom in. This way you can really focus on the details and fix any minor mistakes that you would otherwise have missed!
Need ideas of what to write? Spencerian handwriting works really for quotes against a dreamy background, especially when you add decorative flourishes to some of the letters.
Try it out yourself: Download this Spencerian quote to trace on your iPad
Get started with Spencerian by downloading a free traceable quote
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iPad Spencerian Course
Even if you're brand new to Spencerian penmanship and iPad lettering, we can teach you how to execute this script beautifully in our iPad Spencerian course.
Our course covers...
The right brush settings to achieve the Spencerian style
A system for learning your basic strokes
Detailed breakdowns of the letters
Projects to create beautiful backgrounds
and more!
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to create works of art like the night sky above.
We've taught different styles and scripts to students from all over the world, with an emphasis on developing strong fundamentals to reduce confusion and frustration.
This course was developed while looking back at the history of Spencerian penmanship and referencing the teachings of Platt Rogers Spencer and combining his work with modern tools.
Next Steps
Will you ever look at the Coca-Cola logo the same way again?? We hope this article helped you understand the history behind this penmanship style, and served as inspiration for you to try it yourself!
This script may have originated in the 19th century with Platt Rogers Spencer, but it's still being developed today. What was once the penmanship style of America is now widely practiced and enjoyed by calligraphers all over the world, and it will keep picking up new students as its popularity continues to grow.
The Spencerian script's business handwriting roots are long gone, and it's impossible to say where this script is going. But as language and penmanship continue to evolve, the Spencerian script will continue to be used and loved by calligraphers globally.
We’re honored to be part of this tradition!
To learn more calligraphy styles, browse our calligraphy workbooks:
