HANDWRITING REFERENCE
Handwriting loops: upper, lower, open and closed
Handwriting loops are spaces enclosed by returning strokes. Compare their height, width and opening in letters such as l, h, g and y.
READING DESK
Reference, comparison & reading
Compare the visible forms
A return encloses space above the body band.
An enclosed tail sits below the writing line.
The return remains separated from its starting stroke.
What to inspect
Find loops above the body band in l or h and below it in g or y. Follow the return stroke to see whether it closes, stays open or overlaps an unrelated mark.
Make the comparison
A tall loop can be narrow, while a short loop can be broad. Measure each dimension relative to the nearby body. Thick ink or blur can fill a narrow interior, so inspect the image before treating that space as absent.
Practice with a sample
Choose three l forms and three y forms. Sketch their outlines and mark height, width and closure. Keep a large signature flourish in a separate comparison from ordinary body letters.