Hand Lettering vs Calligraphy: Why They’re Not The Same Thing

Calligraphy vs. hand lettering: what’s the difference between the two?

The difference between calligraphy and hand lettering is the method used to create the letters. In calligraphy, we write letters by breaking them down into basic strokes, usually using a flexible pen for thick and thin lines. Hand lettering is the art of creatively drawing letters by hand with ANY tool.

Even though the script styles in the picture above look basically the same, the way the letters were created is very different.

The word “calligraphy” was written stroke by stroke using a brush pen, while the words “hand lettering” were drawn and filled in using a regular pen.

What is hand lettering?

Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters, and it usually involves sketching, erasing, and revising before arriving at a final piece of artwork.

It’s a creative, expressive, and freeform type of lettering.

Hand lettering comes in so many forms!

It can be as simple as drawing basic block letters, or it can be complex, like drawing letters in 3D.

(You can learn how to start hand lettering in this beginner’s guide!)

ANY tool can be used to create hand lettering, whether that’s a pencil, pen, brush pen, or another writing tool.

Hand lettering can also include illustrating, adding embellishments to letters, or incorporating other elements into the design.

There are so many ways to draw letterforms, and there are no real rules.

The sky is really the limit with this art form!

What is calligraphy?

Calligraphy is the art of writing letters using a pressure-sensitive tool, like a brush pen or pointed pen.

It is also referred to as the art of beautiful writing, which originates from the Greek word “kalligraphia.”

In calligraphy, letters are broken up into a series of strokes called basic strokes.

Each letter is written stroke by stroke, with the pen being lifted from the paper between strokes.

Typically, the downstrokes are thick and upstrokes are thin, according to the pressure applied to the pen.

Calligraphy is done in many different styles, including traditional, which follows structured rules, and modern, which is more freeform and less structured.

Sometimes we also describe it by the tool we used to write it with, such as “pointed pen calligraphy” or “brush calligraphy.”

For an overview of the history of calligraphy, check out this article by Loveleigh Loops.

What is lettering?

Lettering is a general term that includes both hand lettering, calligraphy, and any kind of letterforms no matter how they were created.

The dictionary definition of lettering is “written or printed words.”

So, in short, “lettering” just means ANY kind of words or writing.

I use it to cover all the types of lettering and calligraphy that are out there.

Calligraphy vs. hand lettering

To sum this up, hand lettering and calligraphy are just two art forms that use different methods to create letters.

While hand lettering artists creatively draw and illustrate letters with any tool, calligraphers write letters stroke by stroke using flexible pens like brush pens or pointed pens.

Both art forms include script styles, serif styles, and sans serif styles, to name a few.

(I hope all this isn’t terribly confusing 😅)

You might also like: Handwriting vs Calligraphy: What’s the Difference?

Should I learn calligraphy or hand lettering?

Now you might be wondering… which one should you learn? Calligraphy or hand lettering?

Here’s my recommendation:

If you want to try doing lettering in a low-pressure, freeform way, hand lettering is perfect for you.

If you want to be able to write really beautifully (like you see in pictures of calligraphy), learning a calligraphy script is the way to go.

You can, of course, learn both (even better)!

There’s no reason why you can’t try one or the other and see how you like it.

With all the resources available online, it’s easy to get started with either calligraphy or hand lettering (yay)!

➡️ Want to start hand lettering today? Read this simple beginner’s guide to get started.

➡️ Want to learn beautiful brush calligraphy? Head over to this beginner’s guide!