Acquiring
a Formal
Hand:
(4) Practice

Frequently it is desirable first to determine the
sizes of the margins. These depend on various
considerations of the position and office of the MS.,
but more particularly on the size of the sheet and the
character of its future environment1 (see p. 315).

The top and side margins may be of equal width
—or the top may be a little less (see a, fig. 70). Ample
space should be allowed for the foot margin, which
is generally about twice the width of the top, but
may vary in different cases, according as the text
falls short of or encroaches upon it (see pp. 316, 306).
For a plain foolscap sheet: sides (each) 2| inches,
top (approx.) 2 inches, and foot (approx.) 4 inches,
may be taken as suitable margins (fig. 65).

The width of the sheet (13I inches) less the two
side margins (2| inches each) gives the length of the
writing lines ( 13i — 5 = Ц inches). One or two
such lines are written experimentally in a suitable
script (say, inch), and the average number of words
per line (four) is found.

The number of words in the complete text
(fifty) will determine the number of lines : an extra

line or so may be allowed for safety = 1 г\, say,

thirteen). The spacing of these is calculated

-h, in. writing requires about | in. (close) spacing (p. 45) :
Thirteen lines at $ in. gives nf in. = depth of text :
iif in. from 17 in. leaves 5f in.2 for head and foot margins

—and if the space is not sufficient, the writing is

1 For example, a framed sheet does not require such wide
margins as a similar sheet ««framed.

2 Really about 6 inches, because the top line of writing will
not occupy its full I inch, the unused part of which adds to
the top margin (see fig. 65).

60

made a little smaller. If, on the other hand, the
marginal depth left over were excessive, the writing
might be made a little larger in order to fill up the
space.

PROBLEM II (a SHEET OF POETRY)

To write out “He that is down, needs fear no fall"
in a formal round-hand on a sheet of foolscap (i.e.

17 inches high X i ЗІ inches wide).

Here there are three verses of four lines each:
these with two space lines, left between the verses,
give a total of fourteen lines (fig. 67).

A poem has a given number of lines of various
lengths, and only very strong reason or necessity
can justify our altering its proper form {e.g. by
breaking up the lines) in order to make a mass of
equal lines. Such theoretical margins as are pos¬
sible in the treatment of prose can therefore seldom
be observed in writing out a poem, and, unless the
height or the width of the sheet can be altered, there
is apt to be an excess of margin in one or the other
direction. When such excess margin is obviously
unavoidable, no objection can be made to its appear¬
ance. Poetry may conveniently be treated as “fine
writing ” (see p. 227).

If the size of the writing be considered of the
first importance, several of the longer lines {e.g. the
first and the eleventh in the poem given) are written
on a piece of paper in the size of writing preferred
(say, i inch). By laying this paper on the given
sheet, it is seen whether such lines would allow of
sufficient side margins. (If they would not, the
writing may be made smaller.)

The height of the writing (i inch) must allow of
the full number of lines (fourteen) being properly

61

Acquiring
a Forma]
Hand:
(4) Practice