Nell'ambito della scrittura corsiva si sono a poco a poco delineate le lettere minuscole con ascendenti e discendenti (sec. IV).

Nel caso della scrittura di Descartes si intende che la scrittura è INCLINATAMENTE SINUOSA/CURVA (tipo quella riproposta nel link), l'esatto opposto di tondeggiante o arrotondato.


Cursiva[edit]

Cursiva refers to a very large variety of forms of black letter; as with modern cursive writing, there is no real standard form. It developed in the 14th century as a simplified form of textualis, with influence from the form of textualis as used for writing charters. Cursiva developed partly because of the introduction of paper, which was smoother than parchment. It was therefore, easier to write quickly on paper in a cursive script.

In cursiva, descenders are more frequent, especially in the letters f and s, and **ascenders are curved and looped** rather than vertical (seen especially in the letter d). The letters a, g, and s (at the end of a word) are very similar to their Carolingian forms. However, not all of these features are found in every example of cursiva, which makes it difficult to determine whether or not a script may be called cursiva at all.

Lieftinck also divided cursiva into three styles: littera cursiva formata was the most legible and calligraphic style. Littera cursiva textualis (or libraria) was the usual form, used for writing standard books, and it generally was written with a larger pen, leading to larger letters. Littera cursiva currens was used for textbooks and other unimportant books and it had very little standardization in forms.