_The Lines_ in _massed writing_ (see p. 262) are kept as close together as is compatible with legibility. The usual distance apart of the _writing-lines_ is _about_ three times the height of the letter «o» (see also p. 327).
The _descending strokes_ of the upper line must "clear" the _ascending strokes_ of the lower line. _Interlocking_ of these strokes may be avoided by the experimental placing of «p» over «d» (fig. 55).
These _modernised Uncials_ (see fig. 56, & p. 300) are intended to go with Script I., and their analysis and mode of construction are almost identical with those of Script I. (see pp. 72, 73). [p082]
_Grouping_: Uncials have no _coupling-strokes_; when several are used together, they are not joined, but evenly grouped, allowing as before for curves and straight strokes (see p. 77).
_Spacing_: (a) _When used with Script I._, Uncials are written on the same lines, and have to follow the same spacing (in spite of their longer stems).
(b) _When Uncials are used by themselves_, their spacing may be wider (p. 297).
NOTE.--The height of _Uncial_ «o» is about equal to the height of the _Half-Uncial_ «d».
NUMERALS & PUNCTUATION MARKS (See fig. 57.)
These are best made with a "slanted" pen (fig. 9).
When writing "Arabic numerals," «1» and «0» may be made _on the line_, «2468» _ascending_, and «3579» _descending_.
When copying a MS. it is best to choose a complete page--or part of a page--to be copied in facsimile.
Two or three lines are copied to begin with; then the composition of the individual letters and words is studied by means of a large pen; and finally the whole page is copied in facsimile. (Of _practising_, see pp. 85, 86).
Make a general examination and analysis as suggested at p. 71. Accurate measurements will be found helpful.
Take the heights of the «o» and the «d», and the distance apart of the writing-lines with dividers [p083] The width of the thick stroke is best found by making experimental thick strokes--the _full width_ of the pen nib--on a scrap of paper: cut the paper in half across the thick strokes, and place the cut edge on the _thickest_ strokes in the original MS., you will then find whether the pen nib should be cut wider or narrower.
The direction of the _thickest_ strokes is approximately at right angles to the direction of the thin strokes; which commonly approaches the horizontal in early round hands, and is oblique in other hands (see figs. 9 and 10). The positions both of these strokes in the model, and of your pen, determine the angle of the nib. Therefore, _cut the nib across at such an angle to the shaft of the pen that, when you hold the pen naturally, the direction of the thin strokes which it makes on the writing paper will coincide with the direction of the thin strokes in the model_; but