Copperplate Alphabet Letter By Letter [+ Free Worksheet]
The intricate twists and turns of the Copperplate alphabet can look intimidating when you’re a beginner. It was daunting even for us when we first tried our hand at Copperplate calligraphy!
Let’s demystify this gorgeous script by walking through the entire lowercase Copperplate alphabet letter by letter.
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In this guide, we'll break down every single letter of the Copperplate miniscule (lowercase) alphabet by individual stroke so you can see behind the curtain and understand exactly how to build every letter yourself.
Don’t be starstruck by how intricate it looks: anyone can learn the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet with the right guidance.
The Copperplate alphabet. It takes guidance to be able to replicate it! We’ll tell you everything you need to know.
In this tutorial, we’ll go over:
How the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet is different from the alphabet you already know
Important characteristics of the Copperplate script
Common calligraphy mistakes that beginners make and how to avoid them
Multi-page free worksheets for perfect practice
Letter-by-letter tutorials
Perfect to watch instead? You can watch along as we build the entire Copperplate calligraphy alphabet letter-by-letter in our 7-part video tutorial:
Let’s start with some helpful Copperplate script tips. Grab your pointed pen and let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Don’t have a pointed pen yet? Grab our favorite here.
The Copperplate Script
When we talk about Copperplate calligraphy, we’re referring to a specific script that was popular in 18th and 19th century Europe.
Named after the engraved copper plates used in old printing presses, this calligraphy script has also been called English round hand or anglaise over the decades and centuries.
To this day, the Copperplate calligraphy script continues to be a popular choice for calligraphy students, even for beginners.
Here’s the Copperplate script in action, being written with a pointed pen
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Here we have an excellent example of Copperplate script. You can see the beautiful contrast between thick and thin lines (called strokes) that’s characteristic of this style of calligraphy.
Each letter consists of both thick and thin strokes. It’s this natural contrast combined with a distinct lack of sharp angles that gives Copperplate its elegance and flow.
Another example of Copperplate calligraphy
In even older calligraphy scripts, this contrast is created by changing the direction of your pen. The most popular modern example is the Blackletter style of calligraphy, which is done with a broad edge pen.
What makes Copperplate calligraphy special is that this contrast is created by applying different levels of pressure on the pen. A light touch creates thin lines, also called hairlines, whereas pressing harder creates thicker strokes.
The wider the tines are open, the greater the ink flower and therefore the darker the lines
The use of pressure presents one of the first learning curves that beginners face when learning Copperplate calligraphy: pressure control.
Let’s take a closer look at the supplies needed for Copperplate calligraphy.
View tons more Copperplate examples in our student work round-up.
Pointed Pens And All
You need traditional tools to do traditional calligraphy, and Copperplate is no exception. In this case, we need a pointed pen with something called an oblique pen holder.
Pointed pen holders come in two popular styles: oblique and straight.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
The Moblique 2-IN-1 Penholder can switch between straight dip and oblique
Using an oblique pen holder allows you to write at an angle without the need to adjust the paper you’re writing on.
If you’re left-handed, don’t worry: you can still use a straight dip pen to write Copperplate calligraphy. You’ll simply have to adjust the paper that you’re writing on to create that angle on your own.
An oblique pen holder is the most common type of pointed pen, but there are actually more types of pointed pens that are used for other calligraphy scripts.
A pointed pen consists of two main parts: the pen holder (the thing you hold in your hand) and the nib (the metal bit at the end). Applying pressure on the nib causes the tines to spread, resulting in thicker lines.
Featuring the Moblique 2-IN-1 Penholder and an assortment of nibs
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The muscle memory and control required to get clean contrast between thick and thin strokes is precisely what makes Copperplate calligraphy such a fun challenge for beginners.
Besides a specialized pen, you also need specific ink to get started with Copperplate calligraphy.
A pointed pen is a dip pen which means it needs to be dipped in ink before you can use it.
Ink can feel intimidating for beginners, so here’s a nutshell tutorial:
Use the right ink type. We recommend Yasutomo ink for practicing.
Always dip past the hole. Every nib has a hole that acts like a reservoir for ink and it’s important to cover it completely when you dip.
Shake off excess ink before you use the nib. The last thing you want for your work to be covered in ink splatters.
Use the right calligraphy paper or your ink will bleed across the page. For pointed pen, we recommend HP Premium 32lb Paper.
How far to dip your pointed pen into the ink well
There’s no denying that working with a pointed pen and ink can be trying at times. To help with those beginner frustrations, we’ve written this ink troubleshooting tutorial for all things nibs and ink.
Copperplate supplies summary:
Pro tip: you can get ink, paper, nibs, a pen holder and more in our pre-made calligraphy kit (convenient and saves money)
Our pre-made calligraphy kit saves you the step of placing multiple orders, plus it’s cheaper
It takes some time to get used to using an oblique pen, but the good news is that time and guided practice are all it takes.
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Copperplate Practice - The Basic Strokes
Learning the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet is more than just copying down stylized cursive letters.
Unlike cursive writing, you actually don’t write the letters at all in Copperplate calligraphy.
You write the basic calligraphy strokes that assemble to create each letter.
If you’re not familiar with the basic calligraphy strokes, we recommend you start with our video tutorial to familiarize yourself:
Most traditional calligraphy and lettering scripts are founded on the foundation of the basic strokes.
The letter-by-letter Copperplate calligraphy alphabet tutorial that we’ll get to in a minute will use these exact methods.
Let’s look at these fundamental strokes in a little more detail first, and especially at how to practice them using our free worksheet.
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The Basic Strokes
In normal handwriting or even cursive writing, the goal is to write as quickly as you can without compromising legibility. Since the goal is efficiency, you lift the pen as little as possible, often only between words.
Calligraphy and handwriting couldn’t be more different!
Cursive writing is about speed. Even though it may look similar to calligraphy, these writing forms are very different.
While calligraphy is a form of handwriting, it’s an art form above all else. Rather than focusing on speed, the ultimate goal is beauty, consistency and perfection.
What this means for you: in order to actually learn the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet, you cannot brush over the fundamental strokes.
That’s why in calligraphy, you write your letters using a combination of individual strokes and you lift your pen after each of them.
The golden rule when writing the basic strokes is contrast: upstrokes are thin and downstrokes are thick.
Downstrokes occur anytime your pen moves down the page, and upstrokes occur anytime your pen moves up the page
There are 8 different basic strokes of calligraphy and they are used in both traditional and modern calligraphy.
For this post, we’ll focus on the 7 basic strokes that make up the letters in the lowercase Copperplate calligraphy alphabet.
The 7 basic strokes are:
Entrance stroke: a thin upwards line that starts at the baseline and stops at the header line
Underturn: starts with a thick shaded line down towards the baseline. The line becomes thinner as it curves back up to the header line
Overturn: the exact mirror of the underturn. It goes from a thin upstroke to the header line to a shaded downstroke
Oval: starts at the top of the header line and creates a loop. Keep in mind that the downstrokes are shaded
Compound curve: a single, continuous stroke where you apply pressure when the pen moves towards you
Ascending stem loop: starts at the header line as a hair line. After reaching the 2nd ascender, it comes down as a thick line until it touches on the baseline.
Descending stem loop: the opposite of the ascending stem loop
The basic strokes written with a pointed pen in the Copperplate style
Pro tip: If you enjoy learning about the technical aspects of the Copperplate script, consider getting a few calligraphy books to really expand your knowledge base.
The list includes books that provide great depth into the script, like The Universal Penman by George Bickham and Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy by Eleanor Winters, to name a few.
To catch a glimpse of the elusive and mysterious 8th basic stroke, check out our in-depth guide to the basic strokes.
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How To Practice The Basic Strokes
Anyone can learn Copperplate calligraphy and lettering as long as you have guided practice.
Don’t expect to learn it overnight, though.
Learn to love your Copperplate supplies and the practicing process! It’s the only way to improve
Building muscle memory isn’t something that you can brush over quickly. \
Repeatedly practicing specific calligraphy elements, called drills, helps beginners focus on perfecting the smallest individual elements.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the drills inside of our Calligraphy on Point course:
Calligraphy on Point is our most detailed Copperplate resource
Here are a few tools to help you get the most out of your practice:
Use A Slanted Calligraphy Guideline
When you look at the Copperplate alphabet in detail, you quickly see that all letters are equally slanted. To help facilitate this, all calligraphers (beginners and seasoned pros alike!) use a slanted guide sheet.
A Copperplate calligraphy worksheet may seem like any old sheet of lined paper, but there’s more here than meets the eye.
The horizontal lines on a calligraphy worksheet all have specific names, and learning them can help you follow tutorials with more accuracy.
You’ll hear us refer to these lines in our Copperplate letter tutorials. It’s good to get aquainted with them now
Click for instant access to a free Copperplate worksheet
Beyond the horizontal lines, you’ll also notice slanted vertical lines across the page. This 55-degree slant is characteristic of Copperplate calligraphy, and helps you maintain consistency in spacing and shading.
As a rule of thumb:
Any shaded part of a letter should run parallel to the slanted guideline.
While it’s easy to see in the ascending and descending loops, it’s less obvious in letters like o or e.
This is why practicing every basic stroke with the slanted guideline is so important. Make sure your ovals, underturns and overturns all have their shaded parts at the right angle.
Pro Tip: To get even more consistency in your letters, make sure you keep the length of the nib parallel to the slanted line. This ensures that your angle is the same for every letter.
The guidelines are there to help you with consistency and will be a huge resource for you if you use them correctly.
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Equal Space Between Letters And Strokes
The aim of doing Copperplate calligraphy drills is to build muscle memory so your letters become more and more consistent. This is obviously true for your letters but it even applies to the space between the individual strokes.
Our 7-part video series has hundreds of thousands of views. Come check out what all of the hype is about!
When practicing, try to make sure all of your ovals, curves, and loops are equal in width. This means that an oval is just as wide as an underturn and an ascending stem loop is just as wide as an overturn.
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Square Your Tops
Do your descending stem loops look sloppy at the top? Here’s how to fix it and take your Copperplate calligraphy to the next level!
Every time you start or end a thick line, it’s important to make it look neat. You can do this by squaring the top.
For this example, let’s take the humble underturn.
Here’s an example of an underturn alone and in a word
In order to make an underturn, you place your pen at the header line and go down towards the baseline. From there it goes back up until it returns to the header line.
Start by placing your pen a little to the right of the line as the pressure causes your left tine to move to the left. Gently apply pressure until your left tine touches the slanted guideline and go down from there.
It’s important to keep the pressure consistent in your downstrokes. Not only does it create more uniform strokes, it also helps with squaring your tops as you apply pressure before you go down.
Similarly, take a moment to bring the tines back together before lifting the pen. This will result in nice flat tops and is guaranteed to make your letters look neat and tidy.
There’s so much to the art of Copperplate calligraphy than meets the eye
Using Our Free Copperplate Practice Sheet
Before we move on to the Copperplate alphabet (we’re almost there!), let’s take a moment to examine the calligraphy worksheet itself.
👇 Sign up and we’ll send the worksheet to your email if you haven’t yet!
Mastering the Copperplate script comes with time but using a practice sheet is half the battle.
When you’re practicing your basic strokes the biggest challenge is creating even letters. Without the horizontal lines, creating consistency in size is very difficult.
Using a guide sheet is the best way to practice the Copperplate alphabet
Fun fact: even the Copperplate pros use guidelines! We’re all striving for that precious consistency.
You can practice along using our free practice sheets, or get an entire Copperplate calligraphy alphabet printable book from our Etsy shop.
These Copperplate practice sheets include both the lowercase and uppercase letters.
If you’re not ready for our full online course, our Etsy workbook is a great option to get started.
Get instant access to our Copperplate calligraphy alphabet book on Etsy
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The Miniscule (Lowercase) Letters Of The Copperplate Calligraphy Alphabet
Creating the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet relies on using the basic strokes and connecting them to create each individual letter.
Let’s walk through each letter of the miniscule (lowercase) alphabet stroke by stroke.
Prefer to watch? Watch use work through the Copperplate alphabet in real-time and get additional pointers.
Fun fact: these are the letters of the minuscule alphabet, AKA the lowercase alphabet. The majuscule letters refer to the capital letters, AKA the uppercase alphabet.
A
a = entrance + oval + underturn
Notice that the entrance stroke goes to the header line, except when going into an oval.
When going into an oval, the entrance stops about halfway up.
B
b = entrance + ascending stem loop + underturn + comma dot
The stem loop gradually goes into an underturn rather then being completely separate strokes. Remember that the entrance stroke goes all the way up to the header line.
It’s a tough shape to master, so don’t hesitate to repeat the shape over and over until it starts to smooth out.
C
c = entrance + half of an oval + little comma
Notice that once again entrance stroke stops two-thirds in, and that the oval isn’t a complete oval.
Also note the dotted oval shape in the image - it shows you how when writing a c, the stroke must diverge from the standard stroke.
D
d = entrance + oval + underturn that starts at first ascender
Always make an imaginary line up from your oval so you know where to start with your descending underturn.
It may be tempting to rush, but don’t brush this step off or the spacing between the oval and the underturn will easily become skewed.
E
e = entrance + underturn + hairline to finish
Very similar to the c, the e requires a variation of the oval.
You can add the hairline finish separately at the end, or if you’re feeling confident, you can even do it in one stroke with the underturn.
F
f = entrance + ascending stem loop that goes down to the first descender + entrance stroke to exit
This is a long stroke and requires a lot of pressure control.
Remember to start applying pleasure when you get about a third of the way down through the stem loop.
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G
g = entrance + oval + descending stem loop + exit stroke
After the entrance and the oval, connect the hairline of the descending stem loop to the shaded part a little below the baseline.
Then, make sure to lift your pen as the ink is still wet and crossing the shade will result in smearing (the horror!).
H
h = entrance stroke + ascending stem loop + compound curve
When going into the compound curve, be sure not to drag the nib over the shade or the ink may smear. Make sure the ink is dry or start next to the shade instead of on top of it.
If you’re having trouble with getting thin hairlines, remember to keep your hand pressure very light and look to see if there are any paper fibers caught in the nib.
I
i = entrance + underturn + dot halfway between header and 1st ascender
The i is a very simple stroke, so take the time to think about your spacing and pressure control.
Remember to place the dot halfway between the header and the first ascender. Spacing is everything when it comes to a perfect-looking Copperplate alphabet.
J
j = entrance stroke + descending stem loop + dot
Remember to lift your pen as you cross the shaded line, otherwise you risk smearing your ink.
Focus on making the top of your descending stem loop squared off with the guide.
K
k = entrance + ascending stem loop + first half of an overturn, except with a little dot + half of a compound curve
The k is a great example of a letter of the Copperplate alphabet that has room for stylistic variations.
Start by practicing the k using this combination of strokes, and then once you have the pressure control down, feel free to play around with adding loops.
L
l = entrance + ascending loop that merges into the exit stroke
Just like the b, the bottom of this step loop isn’t squared with the guide - it’s going to come to a tapered point.
Go slowly and remember that you can always come back to add more shade to downstrokes if it’s too light.
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M
m = overturn + overturn + compound curve
Take the time to get the right spacing between the tops of the individual curves (14:11 of the video tutorial).
Mind the wet ink on your page, and don't let your pen drag it into the next stroke.
N
n = overturn + compound curve
Very similar to the m, mind the ink on your page while practicing the n.
These are letters that require good spacial awareness in order to keep the strokes clean and crisp.
O
o = entrance + oval + comma dot
The o is a simple letter with a slight flare.
Similar to the b, the o has a comma dot at the end. Make sure that it ends at the header line to keep your proportions correct.
P
p = entrance + full pressure stroke from 1st ascender to 1st descender + compound curve
Determining your starting point for the p can be tricky.
Always create an imaginary line that’s parallel to the guideline.
Don’t forget to square the ends of the shaded stroke.
Q
q = entrance + oval + descending loop but with the loop on the other side + exit stroke
We’ve gone through more than half of the Copperplate alphabet, so let’s do a quick paper check:
Is the ink bleeding through the paper?
Feathering across the page?
Are paper fibers collecting in your nib?
If you notice your pen dragging too much on the paper, you may end up getting pieces of paper fiber caught in the nib.
This can be the result of using the wrong type of paper. We recommend that you use HP Premium 32lb.
R
You have two options for the letter r:
1. Entrance that goes up above the header line and loops back down + underturn.
The whole thing should fit in the shape of a compound curve. Or:
2. Overturn + straight hairline + comma dot
Whichever variation you choose, remember not to square the top part of the r.
It should be short and angled like the image above.
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S
s = entrance + half of an oval (crescent) with shading on the right side + exit stroke
Notice that the s is the first letter in the Copperplate alphabet that has the shade on the right-hand side of the oval.
The crescent shape is shaded on right, and the left side connects to the entrance stroke. It may take some extra repetition to get it down!
T
t = entrance stroke + long underturn that starts at first ascender (similar to d) + cross line
The t is very similar to the other letters with a long underturn, and the same reminders apply.
Taper the underturn to a point rather than squaring it off with the guide, or it won’t connect to the entrance stroke correctly.
Also, remember to create two separate lines when crossing the t or else the ink will smear.
U
u = entrance + underturn + underturn.
The u is a very simple shape, making it the perfect moment to check your fundamentals.
Is your spacing consistent? Are the strokes all hitting the guide at the same height?
Even simple letters fall apart without good form.
V
v = compound curve + comma dot (little underturn loop, like the b and o)
Again we see the comma dot!
Since it starts between guides, pay attention to how far it dips down and how wide you make it. As you move beyond the alphabet to whole words, consistency (even in these tiny details) will make a big difference in how your work looks.
W
w = entrance + underturn + underturn + comma dot
Just like the letter m, mind the space between the bottom curves of the w.
The space should be consistent and triangle-shaped (see 4:26 in the tutorial).
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X
x = overturn that curls around rather than ends with square bottom + c without any shading + little dot
Most letters so far have started with the entrance stroke, but the letter x starts with an overturn.
Note that the bottom isn’t squared but instead should taper. This is one of the most difficult letters in the Copperplate alphabet. If you struggle at first, you’re not alone!
Y
y = compound curve + descending stem loop + exit stroke
Almost through the whole alphabet! After the difficult letter x, y is a simple combination of strokes.
Avoid dragging your nib through the shade to minimize any ink smearing on your page.
Z
z = similar overturn to x + descending stem loop + exit stroke
The first stroke of the z is unique: it’s an overturn that ends at a point and curls in.
End your Copperplate alphabet strong with crisp, clean lines and perfect even spacing.
How To Practice The Copperplate Alphabet
So you’ve mastered the basic strokes and you’ve tried your hand at writing Copperplate calligraphy alphabet… What’s next?
Practice, practice, practice.
Over the years, we’ve seen countless calligraphy students successfully master Copperplate calligraphy by isolating different elements and perfecting them one at a time.
After mastering the lowercase Copperplate alphabet, you can move onto the uppercase
This is what we recommend for your Copperplate alphabet practice as well.
By grouping letters based on certain strokes that they have in common, you can practice your Copperplate alphabet while ironing out any lingering imperfections.
Consider these groupings for your practice sessions.
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Ovals
The oval category includes:
a, c, e, o and d
Each of these letters starts with an entrance stroke that goes into an oval.
The exit stroke becomes the entrance stroke of the next letter. Make sure your entrance strokes stop halfway through in order to avoid a clunky transition!
Ascending stem loops
The ascending stem loop category includes:
b, f, h, k and l
Here we have the letters with an ascending stem loop. You’ll find that practicing consecutive loops is quite challenging as getting them all equally wide and long takes practice.
Repeat your ascending stem loops over and over in drills to commit it to muscle memory.
Descending stem loops
g, j, q, y and z
This group also comes with the challenge of consistency as it contains consecutive loops. You’ll find that connecting these letters is easy as the exit stroke becomes the entrance stroke of the next letter.
The y poses the biggest challenge as heading into it requires a somewhat tricky compound curve.
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Overturns
The overturns category includes:
m, n, v and x (and sometimes y!)
While these letters are not more difficult to write than the others, connecting them is a little harder since none of them have an entrance stroke.
Instead, connecting n to m requires a compound curve that can be a bit of a challenge to get right.
Underturn
The underturns category includes:
u, w, i and t
It’s the underturn at the start of each of these letters makes them easy to connect.
The exit stroke at the end of each of these letters can be the entrance stroke for the next. Easy as that!
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Odd strokes
Odd strokes include:
p, r and s
Finally, we have the deviants that contain slightly odd and unique strokes not found in any of the other letters.
Both the letters r and s start with an entrance stroke that goes past the header line.
Likewise, the letter p features the only full-pressure stroke in the lowercase Copperplate alphabet.
Excited to keep learning more?
Our Copperplate Calligraphy Course
Are you enjoying the Copperplate script as much as us?? The Copperplate calligraphy miniscule alphabet is just the beginning, and there’s so much more to learn (including the majuscule alphabet, AKA uppercase alphabet).
The fastest way to learn the Copperplate script is to take our course: Copperplate on Point.
In this course, you get instant access to:
6+ hours of video tutorials
Printable PDF books full of lettering worksheets
Pointed pen control drills
Full Copperplate calligraphy alphabet tutorial (including uppercase letters)
This is the #1 way to learn Copperplate calligraphy for beginners
Not ready for an in-depth course? Our free practice sheets and Copperplate calligraphy book on Etsy are the perfect next steps.
Next Steps
Whether you’re learning the Copperplate calligraphy alphabet to challenge yourself as a calligrapher or you have a practical task in mind, like writing wedding invitations, this script is a wonderful hobby that you’ll see improve right in front of your eyes.
A word to the wise: don’t brush off practicing. If you really want to learn calligraphy, mark down specific times in your planner when you’ll practice.
And a few friends couldn’t hurt either! Come join our Facebook group and meet your new calligraphy friends:
We’re excited to be your calligraphy teachers, no matter which script you’re most interested in learning!
From traditional scripts to hand lettering to digital calligraphy to brush pen lettering and beyond - our site includes everything you need to finally learn calligraphy this year.
