Editing 2912: Cursive Letters

{{comic
| number    = 2912
| date      = March 27, 2024
| title     = Cursive Letters
| image     = cursive_letters_2x.png
| imagesize = 549x484px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓬𝓪𝓹𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓛 𝓲𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓾𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓺 𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓪 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻.
}}

==Explanation==
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. 

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).  

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).

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). 
Example: the cursive 'I' character 𝓘 (Unicode [https://www.compart.com/en/unicode/U+1D4D8 120024 U+1D4D8]) is F0 9D 93 98 in UTF-8. 
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.

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.''"

==Table==
<!-- Extended notes for the benefit of future editors who wish to tweak/correct anything and might need to know the assumptions being made here.
 ... All the following percentages (roughly equal to those stated in prior edits) are taken directly from pixel positions on the _2x image.
 ... The upper/lower and left/right extremes of each character were identified, and the respective midpoints used.
 ... Considered establishing the 'guidelines' of a given font, e.g. 'baseline', normal full riser height,
 ...  mid-height (typical top of small characters and descender-depth (bottom of characters that go beneath)
 ...  but that would take more judgement and still give the problem of where to site 'mid-height'.
 ... Also considered "mid-height" for capitals/'full-riser lowercase' but "top edge" for squat(+descender) lowercase,
 ...  though did not add the decision-forking necessary to 
 ... Widthwise, characters with long leading and trailing 'cursivity' have several potential horizontal midpoints
 ... Also considered taking the 'centre of gravity' of the pixels in the strokes, but even more effort needed there.
 ... Those positions are then related to axes values (looks like 80px per 10% was used, plus or minus drawning-errors).
 ... Percentages rounded to 2%. Identical values at that 'resolution' are provably aligned vert/horiz,
 ...  finer makes no sense, coarser clumps more things together than it need be.
 ... All original positional info is included, 'hidden', in case anyone wants to verify it or do 'better' (e.g. upper/lower bias)
 ... (( Basic forumale in this case: Coolness==(xc-225)/8; Readability==100-((yc-74)/8); With added scaling and rounding as necessary. ))
 ... Therefore full confidence in every position from this edit, but do of course feel free to tweak.
 ... *NOT* completely confident that every letter is correctly identified (e.g. "T" looked like a serifed "I", to me!)
 ...  but it should be easy enough to redo the Letter column (and reorder its natural position?) if I've erred in that.
 ... Table made fully sortable (not so useful on Notes, of course).
 ... Ok, I leave the rest to any future editors.
 ...  ~~signed~~ an IP editor who just had a bit more time on their hands than may have been good for them. -->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Letter                         !! Readability<br/>%age                   !! Coolness<br/>%age                       !! Notes
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="A2" | lower-a || 78% <!-- y=238..266 yc=252   yh=28 --> || 30% <!-- x=450.. 480 xc=465   xw=30 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="B2" | lower-b || 72% <!-- y=265..324 yc=294.5 yh=59 --> || 38% <!-- x=497.. 545 xc=521   xw=48 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="C2" | lower-c || 88% <!-- y=150..181 yc=165.5 yh=31 --> || 24% <!-- x=399.. 436 xc=417.5 xw=37 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="D1" | upper-D || 78% <!-- y=227..280 yc=253.5 yh=53 --> || 10% <!-- x=268.. 327 xc=297.5 xw=59 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="E2" | lower-e || 32% <!-- y=607..640 yc=623.5 yh=33 --> || 54% <!-- x=644.. 681 xc=662.5 xw=37 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="F1" | upper-F || 18% <!-- y=694..752 yc=723   yh=58 --> || 46% <!-- x=564.. 628 xc=596   xw=64 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="F2" | lower-f || 38% <!-- y=525..611 yc=568   yh=86 --> || 80% <!-- x=849.. 889 xc=869   xw=40 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="G1" | upper-G || 38% <!-- y=525..614 yc=569.5 yh=89 --> || 90% <!-- x=920.. 978 xc=949   xw=58 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="G2" | lower-g || 52% <!-- y=428..485 yc=456.5 yh=57 --> || 66% <!-- x=729.. 775 xc=752   xw=46 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="H1" | upper-H || 76% <!-- y=241..306 yc=273.5 yh=65 --> || 22% <!-- x=370.. 430 xc=400   xw=60 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="H2" | lower-h || 66% <!-- y=310..368 yc=339   yh=58 --> || 58% <!-- x=669.. 712 xc=690.5 xw=43 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="I1" | upper-I || 44% <!-- y=492..551 yc=521.5 yh=59 --> || 52% <!-- x=615.. 671 xc=643   xw=56 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="I2" | lower-I || 78% <!-- y=230..266 yc=248   yh=36 --> || 64% <!-- x=713.. 751 xc=732   xw=38 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="J2" | lower-j || 70% <!-- y=285..350 yc=317.5 yh=65 --> || 82% <!-- x=854.. 905 xc=879.5 xw=51 --> || 
|-
| data-sort-value="K1" | upper-K || 94% <!-- y= 89..149 yc=119   yh=60 --> || 34% <!-- x=472.. 528 xc=500   xw=56 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="K2" | lower-k || 54% <!-- y=406..464 yc=435   yh=58 --> || 50% <!-- x=597.. 648 xc=622.5 xw=51 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="L1" | upper-L || 92% <!-- y=115..175 yc=145   yh=60 --> || 96% <!-- x=965..1030 xc=997.5 xw=65 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="L2" | lower-l || 42% <!-- y=508..565 yc=536.5 yh=57 --> || 60% <!-- x=680.. 732 xc=706   xw=52 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="M2" | lower-m || 52% <!-- y=446..474 yc=460   yh=28 --> || 12% <!-- x=282.. 363 xc=322.5 xw=81 --> || 
|-
| data-sort-value="N1" | upper-N || 88% <!-- y=138..195 yc=166.5 yh=57 --> || 18% <!-- x=345.. 388 xc=366.5 xw=43 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="N2" | lower-n || 26% <!-- y=650..677 yc=663.5 yh=27 --> ||  8% <!-- x=260.. 313 xc=286.5 xw=53 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="O1" | upper-O || 86% <!-- y=165..222 yc=193.5 yh=57 --> || 34% <!-- x=479.. 530 xc=504.5 xw=51 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="O2" | lower-o || 78% <!-- y=226..262 yc=244   yh=36 --> || 54% <!-- x=629.. 678 xc=653.5 xw=49 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="P1" | upper-P || 96% <!-- y= 87..141 yc=114   yh=54 --> || 28% <!-- x=427.. 472 xc=449.5 xw=45 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="P2" | lower-p || 66% <!-- y=327..375 yc=351   yh=48 --> || 22% <!-- x=375.. 420 xc=397.5 xw=45 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="Q1" | upper-Q || 62% <!-- y=357..411 yc=384   yh=54 --> || 90% <!-- x=919.. 971 xc=945   xw=52 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="Q2" | lower-q || 42% <!-- y=503..558 yc=530.5 yh=55 --> || 68% <!-- x=756.. 796 xc=776   xw=40 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="S1" | upper-S || 12% <!-- y=757..815 yc=786   yh=58 --> || 52% <!-- x=620.. 664 xc=642   xw=44 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="S2" | lower-s || 10% <!-- y=783..818 yc=800.5 yh=35 --> || 60% <!-- x=681.. 723 xc=702   xw=42 --> ||
|-
| 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! -->
|-
| data-sort-value="T2" | lower-t || 86% <!-- y=168..209 yc=188.5 yh=41 --> || 58% <!-- x=676.. 715 xc=695.5 xw=39 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="U1" | upper-U || 32% <!-- y=591..642 yc=616.5 yh=51 --> || 20% <!-- x=372.. 410 xc=391   xw=38 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="U2" | lower-u || 52% <!-- y=445..478 yc=461.5 yh=33 --> || 28% <!-- x=429.. 479 xc=454   xw=50 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="V1" | upper-V || 32% <!-- y=588..638 yc=613   yh=50 --> || 28% <!-- x=422.. 476 xc=449   xw=54 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="V2" | lower-v || 20% <!-- y=706..736 yc=721   yh=30 --> || 14% <!-- x=303.. 371 xc=337   xw=68 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="W1" | upper-W || 80% <!-- y=212..267 yc=239.5 yh=55 --> || 16% <!-- x=329.. 376 xc=352.5 xw=47 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="W2" | lower-w || 62% <!-- y=371..401 yc=386   yh=30 --> || 38% <!-- x=485.. 559 xc=522   xw=74 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="X1" | upper-X || 96% <!-- y= 81..136 yc=108.5 yh=55 --> || 52% <!-- x=624.. 666 xc=645   xw=42 --> ||
|-
| data-sort-value="X2" | lower-x || 86% <!-- y=179..207 yc=193   yh=28 --> || 52% <!-- x=605.. 670 xc=637.5 xw=65 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| data-sort-value="Y2" | lower-y || 88% <!-- y=152..198 yc=175   yh=46 --> || 84% <!-- x=857.. 921 xc=889   xw=64 --> ||
|-
| 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.
|-
| 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.
|}

==Transcript==
:[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.] 
:Y axis: Easy to tell what letter it's supposed to be
:X axis: Looks cool

:[The graph contains cursive uppercase and lowercase Latin letters. 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

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Scatter plots]]
[[Category:Rankings]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]