Writing angles.

[ParramattaPaul]

2 hours ago, Darryl Foster said:

I think I've started quite a debate, here! 

Debate, maybe. Confusion worse than finding your way in a London 'pea-souper' definitely.

[Darryl Foster]

I think this topic has transformed from one on handwriting into one in calligraphy. Nothing wrong with that, but I believe there is a difference between the two. Calligraphy being more formal than handwriting and thus subject to various rules governing writing angles. 

[A Smug Dill]

16 minutes ago, Darryl Foster said:

I think this topic has transformed from one on handwriting into one in calligraphy. Nothing wrong with that, but I believe there is a difference between the two. Calligraphy being more formal than handwriting and thus subject to various rules governing writing angles. 

 

Even so, the core question you asked was whether it is standard to orient the nib at 45° to (or from) the edges of the sheet of paper when writing with a fountain pen. It isn't, irrespective of whether you were/are talking about calligraphy (in general, and not limited to a specific script or hand, out of dozens known to practitioners of calligraphy in Latin-based languages) or just handwriting.

 

[Darryl Foster]

Point taken. Good debate, though.

[ParramattaPaul]

5 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

Even so, the core question you asked was whether it is standard to orient the nib at 45° to (or from) the edges of the sheet of paper when writing with a fountain pen. It isn't, irrespective of whether you were/are talking about calligraphy (in general, and not limited to a specific script or hand, out of dozens known to practitioners of calligraphy in Latin-based languages) or just handwriting.

 

Put more succinctly, the cross-over from calligraphy to handwriting is tremendous, and therefore, worth consideration.

[Darryl Foster]

I do try to aspire to this, but I know I must strike a balance between the two.

[ParramattaPaul]

27 minutes ago, Darryl Foster said:

I do try to aspire to this, but I know I must strike a balance between the two.

Mate I gave up on any attempts at calligraphy many decades ago.  I just try to learn what I can from calligraphy and calligraphers those things that will help me write more legibly.

[Darryl Foster]

That's just what I try to do. 

 

[channelsixtynine069]

I'm left handed. For prose, I turn the page 45 degrees to the right and write with a back slant, underwriting down the page. It minimises, though not eliminates, smudging, I'm able to write faster and loosen my grip on the pen.

[Darryl Foster]

Being right-handed, I do the opposite. I've adopted a medium speed of writing for all nib widths as I get frustrated when writing slowly.