The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives

discrimination is desirable: “IVBILATE” may
pass, but “IVIVBE” is not really readable.

3. The tail of the J may be slight, provided it
be distinct, and the second stem of the U may

match the first (fig. 158); the ugly J and |J

in common use need not be copied.

4. See also Tails, pp. 253-5.

К I. The stem is sometimes drawn out
above (F, 3).

2. Both arms are occasionally length¬
ened, and the width of the letter increased,
by joining the thin arm to the stem lower
down; the thick arm, or tail, then springs from

the side of the thin arm (compare R.). This

tends away from the essential, and is therefore a
less safe form.

3. The tail may be curved or drawn out occa¬
sionally (see Tails, pp. 253-5).

4. Serifs on arms. See A, 2.

Li. See B, 3.

2. See C, 3 and 4.

3. See E, 3.

4. See F, 3 (compare LL Appendix p. xxii).

Mi. The stems are commonly slightly
spread out to give greater clearance for
the inner angles. An occasional form
is widely spread ЛѴ- The v part being
shortened M, or widened 3SÆ, has a like effect.

2. Note.—There are inscriptional forms of M
248

and N without the top serif (Plate II). But the
pen forms and others have top serifs, and these
commonly extend outward—tending to beaks (see
A, I and 2)—rather than in. (V, W, X, Y (and
N) show a similar tendency—see p. 253.)

3. The thin stem of M is occasionally drawn
out (F, 3).

N1. See C, 3 and 4.

2. See H, 3.

3. See M, 2, and A, 1 and 2.

4. The first stem is drawn out below
the line for an occasional form (most suit¬
able for an Initial Letter): the right-hand stem is
very occasionally raised (when a final letter) (F, 3).

5. Note.—The stems of N (the only vertical
thins—not counting M’s—in the Roman Capitals)
tend sometimes to be thicker: see Plate II.

01. О is the key letter of the curved
forms and, in a sense, of the whole
alphabet (p. 234). The upright form—

^ — may be regarded as the ideal

simple letter.

2. Very commonly, however, О is tilted— О
—(see fig. 163), and when this is the case, all the
curved letters—В, C, D, G, P, Q, R, S, U—are
correspondingly tilted (see Plate II). The tilted form
is more easily made, but both are good forms.

Pi. See В, i and 2.

2. See O, 2.

3. (P with stem below line (see Plate
IV) must not be allowed to confuse with
D) (see F, 3 and 4).

249

The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives