Editing 2912: Cursive Letters

Jump to: navigation, search

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision Your text
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
โˆ’
This graph ranks {{w|cursive}} Latin script letters. The type of cursive used is closest to {{w|D%27Nealian|D'Nealian}} though a few of the letters appear to be in the {{w|Zaner-Bloser_(teaching_script)|Zaner-Bloser}} style of cursive (specifically the P, Q, and p). The graph uses two criteria: legibility and coolness.
+
{{incomplete|Created by a ''๐“‘๐“ž๐“ฃ ๐“ฆ๐“˜๐“ฃ๐“— ๐““๐“”๐“’๐“”๐“๐“ฃ ๐“—๐“๐“๐““๐“ฆ๐“ก๐“˜๐“ฃ๐“˜๐“๐“–'' - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
  
โˆ’
According to the graph in the comic: 'L' is in the top-right quadrant indicating it is both cool and easy to read; 'C' is in the top-left, meaning it is easy to read, yet not cool; 'Z' and 'z' are in the bottom-right which means cool looking, yet not easy to read; and 'r' which is bottom-left indicating it is neither particularly cool nor very easy to read (perhaps being confusable as a form of 'n', or even 'M', at least until actual cursive versions of those are comparable against).   
+
This graph ranks {{w|cursive}} Latin script letters (as taught in the United States) based on two criteria: legibility and coolness.
 +
According to the graph in the comic: 'L' is in the top-right quadrant indicating it is both cool and easy to read; 'C' is in the top-left, meaning it is easy to read, yet not cool; 'Z' and 'z' are in the bottom-right which means cool looking, yet not easy to read; and 'r' which is bottom-left indicating it is neither particularly cool nor very easy to read (perhaps being confusable as a form of 'n', at least until an actual cursive 'n' is comparable against).   
  
โˆ’
The purpose of cursive is to allow efficient handwriting and make characters look nice and more "connected" at the same time. This is a particular issue when writing with a quill or fountain pen which tends to make noticeable marks when lifting the pen, so joined letters are generally neater than separated ones. The possible downside of this is the legibility of the individual letters. This may be due to the similarity of cursive letter shapes (e.g. 'U' and 'V' or 'e' and 'l' in the graph), especially when joined to other letters, or due their dissimilarity from more familiar "block letter" counterparts (e.g. 'Z' and 'z' in the lower right corner).
+
The purpose of cursive is to allow faster handwriting and make characters look nice and more "connected" at the same time. The possible downside of this is the legibility of the individual letters. This may be due to the similarity of cursive letter shapes (e.g. 'U' and 'V' in the graph), especially when joined to other letters, or due their dissimilarity from more familiar "block letter" counterparts (e.g. 'Z' and 'z' in the lower right corner).
  
โˆ’
In the title text, [[Randall]] states 'L' and 'q' are letters that he enjoys writing in cursive, which could possibly add a third axis (most fun to least fun) to the graph. Notably, some RSS apps have challenges displaying the font and result in settings of '???'s.  
+
In the title text, [[Randall]] states 'L' and 'q' are letters that he enjoys writing in cursive, which could possibly add a third axis (most fun to least fun) to the graph.
  
 
The title text is written in cursive-looking font using upper unicode characters (encoded as UTF-8).  
 
The title text is written in cursive-looking font using upper unicode characters (encoded as UTF-8).  
โˆ’
Example: the cursive 'I' character ๐“˜ (Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+1D4D8 120024 U+1D4D8]) is F0 9D 93 98 in UTF-8.  
+
Example: the cursive I character ๐“˜ (Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+1D4D8 120024 U+1D4D8]) is F0 9D 93 98 in UTF-8.  
โˆ’
The title text includes 22 of 26 characters in the {{w|English alphabet|English lowercase alphabet}} and is thus 4 characters short of a {{w|pangram}} (missing letters: j, v, x and z). Pangrams are often used to show all the characters in a typeface in print or on a computer screen. It is unclear if the comic deliberately chose the words in the title text to show almost all the characters in cursive or if it is simply a coincidence.
+
The title text includes 22 of 26 characters in the {{w|English alphabet|English lowercase alphabet}} and is thus 4 characters short of a {{w|pangram}} (missing letters: j, v, x and z). Pangrams are often used to show the characters in a typeface in print or on a computer screen. It is unclear if the comic deliberately chose the words in the title text to show almost all the characters in cursive or if it is simply a coincidence.
  
โˆ’
To benefit those with lacking Unicode support, the title text reads: "''I think capital L is probably the most fun to write, though lowercase q is also a strong contender.''"
+
In a non-cursive character set, the title text reads: "I think capital L is probably the most fun to write, though lowercase q is also a strong contender."
โˆ’
 
 
โˆ’
==Table==
 
โˆ’
<!-- Extended notes for the benefit of future editors who wish to tweak/correct anything and might need to know the assumptions being made here.
 
โˆ’
... All the following percentages (roughly equal to those stated in prior edits) are taken directly from pixel positions on the _2x image.
 
โˆ’
... The upper/lower and left/right extremes of each character were identified, and the respective midpoints used.
 
โˆ’
... Considered establishing the 'guidelines' of a given font, e.g. 'baseline', normal full riser height,
 
โˆ’
...  mid-height (typical top of small characters and descender-depth (bottom of characters that go beneath)
 
โˆ’
...  but that would take more judgement and still give the problem of where to site 'mid-height'.
 
โˆ’
... Also considered "mid-height" for capitals/'full-riser lowercase' but "top edge" for squat(+descender) lowercase,
 
โˆ’
...  though did not add the decision-forking necessary to
 
โˆ’
... Widthwise, characters with long leading and trailing 'cursivity' have several potential horizontal midpoints
 
โˆ’
... Also considered taking the 'centre of gravity' of the pixels in the strokes, but even more effort needed there.
 
โˆ’
... Those positions are then related to axes values (looks like 80px per 10% was used, plus or minus drawning-errors).
 
โˆ’
... Percentages rounded to 2%. Identical values at that 'resolution' are provably aligned vert/horiz,
 
โˆ’
...  finer makes no sense, coarser clumps more things together than it need be.
 
โˆ’
... All original positional info is included, 'hidden', in case anyone wants to verify it or do 'better' (e.g. upper/lower bias)
 
โˆ’
... (( Basic forumale in this case: Coolness==(xc-225)/8; Readability==100-((yc-74)/8); With added scaling and rounding as necessary. ))
 
โˆ’
... Therefore full confidence in every position from this edit, but do of course feel free to tweak.
 
โˆ’
... *NOT* completely confident that every letter is correctly identified (e.g. "T" looked like a serifed "I", to me!)
 
โˆ’
...  but it should be easy enough to redo the Letter column (and reorder its natural position?) if I've erred in that.
 
โˆ’
... Table made fully sortable (not so useful on Notes, of course).
 
โˆ’
... Ok, I leave the rest to any future editors.
 
โˆ’
...  ~~signed~~ an IP editor who just had a bit more time on their hands than may have been good for them. -->
 
โˆ’
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
! Letter                        !! Readability<br/>%age                  !! Coolness<br/>%age                      !! Notes
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="A1" | upper-A || 72% <!-- y=271..329 yc=300  yh=58 --> || 12% <!-- x=296.. 342 xc=319  xw=46 --> || In this style, more closely resembles the lowercase than in many fonts.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="A2" | lower-a || 78% <!-- y=238..266 yc=252  yh=28 --> || 30% <!-- x=450.. 480 xc=465  xw=30 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="B1" | upper-B || 96% <!-- y= 72..130 yc=101  yh=58 --> || 22% <!-- x=369.. 429 xc=399  xw=60 --> || This is one of only 3 'completely' readable cursive letters.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="B2" | lower-b || 72% <!-- y=265..324 yc=294.5 yh=59 --> || 38% <!-- x=497.. 545 xc=521  xw=48 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="C1" | upper-C || 98% <!-- y= 70..125 yc= 97.5 yh=55 --> || 14% <!-- x=315.. 354 xc=334.5 xw=39 --> || This is one of only 3 'completely' readable cursive letters.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="C2" | lower-c || 88% <!-- y=150..181 yc=165.5 yh=31 --> || 24% <!-- x=399.. 436 xc=417.5 xw=37 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="D1" | upper-D || 78% <!-- y=227..280 yc=253.5 yh=53 --> || 10% <!-- x=268.. 327 xc=297.5 xw=59 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="D2" | lower-d || 96% <!-- y= 73..138 yc=105.5 yh=65 --> || 42% <!-- x=536.. 579 xc=557.5 xw=43 --> || Most readable lowercase cursive letter.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="E1" | upper-E || 46% <!-- y=479..537 yc=508  yh=58 --> || 24% <!-- x=389.. 433 xc=411  xw=44 --> || Some readers could confuse this with a 'loose' version of '&', being naturally so close to the traditional "Et"-ligature.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="E2" | lower-e || 32% <!-- y=607..640 yc=623.5 yh=33 --> || 54% <!-- x=644.. 681 xc=662.5 xw=37 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="F1" | upper-F || 18% <!-- y=694..752 yc=723  yh=58 --> || 46% <!-- x=564.. 628 xc=596  xw=64 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="F2" | lower-f || 38% <!-- y=525..611 yc=568  yh=86 --> || 80% <!-- x=849.. 889 xc=869  xw=40 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="G1" | upper-G || 38% <!-- y=525..614 yc=569.5 yh=89 --> || 90% <!-- x=920.. 978 xc=949  xw=58 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="G2" | lower-g || 52% <!-- y=428..485 yc=456.5 yh=57 --> || 66% <!-- x=729.. 775 xc=752  xw=46 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="H1" | upper-H || 76% <!-- y=241..306 yc=273.5 yh=65 --> || 22% <!-- x=370.. 430 xc=400  xw=60 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="H2" | lower-h || 66% <!-- y=310..368 yc=339  yh=58 --> || 58% <!-- x=669.. 712 xc=690.5 xw=43 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="I1" | upper-I || 44% <!-- y=492..551 yc=521.5 yh=59 --> || 52% <!-- x=615.. 671 xc=643  xw=56 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="I2" | lower-I || 78% <!-- y=230..266 yc=248  yh=36 --> || 64% <!-- x=713.. 751 xc=732  xw=38 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="J1" | upper-J || 16% <!-- y=718..782 yc=750  yh=64 --> || 66% <!-- x=723.. 796 xc=759.5 xw=73 --> ||  Most unreadable uppercase, compared to its lowercase.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="J2" | lower-j || 70% <!-- y=285..350 yc=317.5 yh=65 --> || 82% <!-- x=854.. 905 xc=879.5 xw=51 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="K1" | upper-K || 94% <!-- y= 89..149 yc=119  yh=60 --> || 34% <!-- x=472.. 528 xc=500  xw=56 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="K2" | lower-k || 54% <!-- y=406..464 yc=435  yh=58 --> || 50% <!-- x=597.. 648 xc=622.5 xw=51 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="L1" | upper-L || 92% <!-- y=115..175 yc=145  yh=60 --> || 96% <!-- x=965..1030 xc=997.5 xw=65 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="L2" | lower-l || 42% <!-- y=508..565 yc=536.5 yh=57 --> || 60% <!-- x=680.. 732 xc=706  xw=52 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="M1" | upper-M || 88% <!-- y=143..201 yc=172  yh=58 --> ||  8% <!-- x=261.. 332 xc=296.5 xw=71 --> ||  Least cool uppercase cursive letter.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="M2" | lower-m || 52% <!-- y=446..474 yc=460  yh=28 --> || 12% <!-- x=282.. 363 xc=322.5 xw=81 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="N1" | upper-N || 88% <!-- y=138..195 yc=166.5 yh=57 --> || 18% <!-- x=345.. 388 xc=366.5 xw=43 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="N2" | lower-n || 26% <!-- y=650..677 yc=663.5 yh=27 --> ||  8% <!-- x=260.. 313 xc=286.5 xw=53 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="O1" | upper-O || 86% <!-- y=165..222 yc=193.5 yh=57 --> || 34% <!-- x=479.. 530 xc=504.5 xw=51 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="O2" | lower-o || 78% <!-- y=226..262 yc=244  yh=36 --> || 54% <!-- x=629.. 678 xc=653.5 xw=49 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="P1" | upper-P || 96% <!-- y= 87..141 yc=114  yh=54 --> || 28% <!-- x=427.. 472 xc=449.5 xw=45 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="P2" | lower-p || 66% <!-- y=327..375 yc=351  yh=48 --> || 22% <!-- x=375.. 420 xc=397.5 xw=45 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Q1" | upper-Q || 62% <!-- y=357..411 yc=384  yh=54 --> || 90% <!-- x=919.. 971 xc=945  xw=52 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Q2" | lower-q || 42% <!-- y=503..558 yc=530.5 yh=55 --> || 68% <!-- x=756.. 796 xc=776  xw=40 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="R1" | upper-R || 98% <!-- y= 70..124 yc= 97  yh=54 --> || 64% <!-- x=708.. 755 xc=731.5 xw=47 --> || Most cool 'completely' readable cursive letter.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="R2" | lower-r || 10% <!-- y=781..815 yc=798  yh=34 --> || 26% <!-- x=411.. 451 xc=431  xw=40 --> || Most uncool lowercase, compared to its uppercase<br/>Most unreadable lowercase, compared to its uppercase.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="S1" | upper-S || 12% <!-- y=757..815 yc=786  yh=58 --> || 52% <!-- x=620.. 664 xc=642  xw=44 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="S2" | lower-s || 10% <!-- y=783..818 yc=800.5 yh=35 --> || 60% <!-- x=681.. 723 xc=702  xw=42 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="T1" | upper-T || 36% <!-- y=563..620 yc=591.5 yh=57 --> || 46% <!-- x=571.. 629 xc=600  xw=58 --> || Might be confused with a serifed 'I'. <!-- I thought it was, originally! -->
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="T2" | lower-t || 86% <!-- y=168..209 yc=188.5 yh=41 --> || 58% <!-- x=676.. 715 xc=695.5 xw=39 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="U1" | upper-U || 32% <!-- y=591..642 yc=616.5 yh=51 --> || 20% <!-- x=372.. 410 xc=391  xw=38 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="U2" | lower-u || 52% <!-- y=445..478 yc=461.5 yh=33 --> || 28% <!-- x=429.. 479 xc=454  xw=50 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="V1" | upper-V || 32% <!-- y=588..638 yc=613  yh=50 --> || 28% <!-- x=422.. 476 xc=449  xw=54 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="V2" | lower-v || 20% <!-- y=706..736 yc=721  yh=30 --> || 14% <!-- x=303.. 371 xc=337  xw=68 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="W1" | upper-W || 80% <!-- y=212..267 yc=239.5 yh=55 --> || 16% <!-- x=329.. 376 xc=352.5 xw=47 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="W2" | lower-w || 62% <!-- y=371..401 yc=386  yh=30 --> || 38% <!-- x=485.. 559 xc=522  xw=74 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="X1" | upper-X || 96% <!-- y= 81..136 yc=108.5 yh=55 --> || 52% <!-- x=624.. 666 xc=645  xw=42 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="X2" | lower-x || 86% <!-- y=179..207 yc=193  yh=28 --> || 52% <!-- x=605.. 670 xc=637.5 xw=65 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Y1" | upper-Y || 78% <!-- y=222..289 yc=255.5 yh=67 --> || 44% <!-- x=559.. 607 xc=583  xw=48 --> || Most uncool uppercase, compared to its lowercase.<br/>In this style, more closely resembles the lowercase than in many fonts.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Y2" | lower-y || 88% <!-- y=152..198 yc=175  yh=46 --> || 84% <!-- x=857.. 921 xc=889  xw=64 --> ||
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Z1" | upper-Z || 10% <!-- y=765..839 yc=802  yh=74 --> || 94% <!-- x=947..1007 xc=977  xw=60 --> || Very unlike a 'print Z', but also very cool.
 
โˆ’
|-
 
โˆ’
| data-sort-value="Z2" | lower-z ||  8% <!-- y=783..841 yc=812  yh=58 --> || 86% <!-- x=891.. 937 xc=914  xw=46 --> || Very unlike a 'print z', but also very cool.
 
โˆ’
|}
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
โˆ’
:[A graph with 10 ticks on both the X and Y axes that are labeled with text to the left and below the axis. Arrows points up and right from the labels.]
+
{{incomplete transcript|Do '''NOT''' delete this tag too soon.}}
โˆ’
:Y axis: Easy to tell what letter it's supposed to be
 
โˆ’
:X axis: Looks cool
 
  
โˆ’
:[The graph contains cursive uppercase and lowercase Latin letters. From top to bottom, left to right, the letters are:]
+
:[A graph with 10 ticks on both the X and Y axes. The graph contains cursive uppercase and lowercase Latin letters. X axis is labeled "Looks cool" with an arrow pointing right and Y axis is labeled "Easy to tell what letter it's supposed to be" with an arrow pointing upward. From top to bottom, left to right, the letters are: C, B, P, K, d, X, R; M, N, c, O, x, t, y, L; D, W, a, Y, o, i; H; A, b, j; p, h; w, Q; m, u, k, g; E, I, l, q; f, J; U, V, T, e; n; v, F; G; r, S, s, z, Z.]
โˆ’
:C, B, P, K, d, X, R
 
โˆ’
:M, N, c, O, x, t, y, L
 
โˆ’
:D, W, a, Y, o, i
 
โˆ’
:H
 
โˆ’
:A, b, j
 
โˆ’
:p, h
 
โˆ’
:w, Q
 
โˆ’
:m, u, k, g
 
โˆ’
:E, I, l, q
 
โˆ’
:f, J
 
โˆ’
:U, V, T, e
 
โˆ’
:n
 
โˆ’
:v, F
 
โˆ’
:G
 
โˆ’
:r, S, s, z, Z
 
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
  
โˆ’
[[Category:Scatter plots]]
+
[[Category:Charts]]
โˆ’
[[Category:Rankings]]
 
 
[[Category:Language]]
 
[[Category:Language]]
โˆ’
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]
 

Please note that all contributions to explain xkcd may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see explain xkcd:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To protect the wiki against automated edit spam, we kindly ask you to solve the following CAPTCHA:

Cancel | Editing help (opens in new window)