ligature

calligraphy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A ligature, in the context of calligraphy, is a character formed by joining two or more letters or characters together. This practice was common in various styles of handwriting and typography, particularly in Europe from the late 12th century onwards.1

In calligraphy, black letter styles often featured ligatures where convex forms of letters would fuse when they appeared together, such as in "bo" or "pa". This technique contributed to the distinctive appearance of these scripts. The term "ligature" itself originates from the Latin word "ligare," meaning to bind or tie, reflecting the act of joining characters.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

calligraphy
Origins to the 8th century ce
…in a continuous stroke (a ligature); from the running action of the pen, this writing is often termed cursive. Scribes also made frequent use of abbreviations. When the scribe was skillful in reconciling clarity and speed, such writing may have much character, even beauty; but it often degenerates into a…
Read More
…in a continuous stroke (a ligature); from the running action of the pen, this writing is often termed cursive. Scribes also made frequent use of abbreviations. When the scribe was skillful in reconciling clarity and speed, such writing may have much character, even beauty; but it often degenerates into a…
Read More