This is another entry in an ongoing series that presents some of the most common types of calligraphy alphabets. These alphabets are among the more popular, common and are used as a good starting point for beginner calligraphers. Other alphabets covered in this series include: Foundational hand, Roman Capitals, Gothic hand, Italic hand, Copperplate hand, Rustic hand, Carolingian hand, Batarde hand and Neuland hand.

Origins of Uncial Hand 

Uncial hand was developed around the 4th century AD or even earlier. It is composed of majuscules which have no corresponding miniscules to accompany them. The few letters that extend above the body of the letter - 'D', 'H' and 'Q' - are the first signs of ascenders and descenders that were to later come in miniscule script.

Uncial Form 

Uncial letters are very rounded and may not come naturally to anyone who normally writes compressed forms. All arches follow the round arches of the 'O'. Ensure that you have your calligraphy pen at a flat angle to ensure that the marks are sufficiently thick and wide.

Letters that have slight ascenders or descenders should only be minimal in height, extending only between one or two nib widths. The letters are upright letters and should not be written with any slope. If you find that the letters begin to have a forward lean to them, you're probably writing too quickly and need to slow down.

When composing this script you must be thinking 'fat and flat'. When people run into problems with Uncials it is usually because the roundness of the characters is not being maintained. Uncial script is quite suitable for left-handers who should find writing uncial script very comfortable.