Meaning & use
calligraphic
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to calligraphy, the art of decorative handwriting, or having flowing, elegant lines like skillfully drawn letters.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a calligraphic style, not 'the style is calligraphic' (though that is possible).
Patterns
- a calligraphic style
- calligraphic lettering
The wedding invitations were printed in a calligraphic script.
She admired the calligraphic strokes on the old scroll.
The logo uses a calligraphic design that looks hand-painted.
Common combinations
- calligraphic script
- The menu was written in a delicate calligraphic script.
- calligraphic lettering
- He painted the shop sign with bold calligraphic lettering.
- calligraphic style
- Her calligraphic style is influenced by Arabic writing.
- calligraphic pen
- A calligraphic pen has a flat tip that produces thick and thin lines.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ornamental
- Ornamental describes anything decorative, while calligraphic points specifically to beautiful handwriting.
- flowing
- Flowing describes smooth movement of lines in general, whereas calligraphic ties that smoothness to lettering.
- elegant
- Elegant is a general term of praise for style, but calligraphic names a particular graceful, written look.
Word family
- calligraphy noun
- the art of beautiful handwriting
- calligrapher noun
- a person skilled in calligraphy
- calligraphically adverb
- in a calligraphic manner
- calligraph verb
- to write in calligraphy (rare)
Commonly confused: calligraphic or typographic?
calligraphic vs typographic
Typographic relates to printed type and its arrangement, while calligraphic relates to hand-drawn letters.
Practice
The certificate was written in a ______ hand, with long, curving strokes and decorative flourishes.
Choose one answer.
Calligraphic describes elegant, decorative handwriting. Cursory means quick and careless, which contradicts the flourishes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “calligraphic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.