How to Write Like An Architect (+ Worksheet)

Well, I'm reading book for architecture and Im 16 years old

thank you

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I bought the book mentioned in the comments. I expected I would be paying $60 for a book with a page or 2 of useful information. I was very disappointed, I did not get that. The book referenced is not the book shown in the video. It is a later edition and has less information than the book in the video. It does not address the width of letters in relationship to the height. It shows you the uppercase letters and the numbers. It does not tell you how to draw them. This is not the essential reference book.

I'm a little confused here. I took a Residential Architectural 101 class back in the '90s, when everything was still manual. Long story short, I didn't finish that, but am planning to do so in the near future. My impression has been that everything is AutoCAD now. Is that not true?

Thanks so much for this!

I hear when this lettering is mastered the dollar signs flow out bolder too.

Beautifully, clearly, and wisely presented; not a wasted moment. For years I just bungled my way along but now, retired, I want to write like you! And yes, it is autobiographical.

I spent hours teaching myself to do hand written notes in this style now I have it as a font lol.

I so wish I had followed this dream. But my imagination would let me down so often.

Well done! Thank you for sharing this mysterious writing style that has intrigued me my entire life. I have unexpectedly found my newest obsession and it feels like Christmas morning in my life! ❤

Thanks !

Pdf for lettering sheet

Your website for the free pdf?

Learned this as being “block printing”

Any variation for lefties?

This is great 👍🏻

My Dad writes like this because it's the way they had to in the Navy.

In the beginning I used a small triangle along my parallel bar to get the crisp vertical lines. I really loved lettering,,, still do

Brings back lots of memories. I remember having to do pages of lettering for my beginning architecture classes back in the late 70s. I still use the same style. I don't think I ever learned cursive but my lettering has always been understood. Thanks for the memories

I searched online for the Ching book, I found some out of print, then I looked on my father's shelf and found 1975 edition, but in a folder, no binding, but now I don't have to buy one; I may need help determining what books are good to save.

My father wrote like this for as long as I can remember; he went to Pratt and his teacher was Phillip Johnson. Thanks.

I just wanted to know what is the origin of this style.

please write normally. everyone that has to read your attempt at writing like this, hates you.

Amazing. Thanks.

Anyone know where to find the worksheet that he mentioned at the beginning?

Any additional tips for left handers?

How about the upper form?

My dad has this type of handwriting, I guess just naturally, and I’ve been obsessed with it my entire life, thanks for this video!! I can finally practice it!!

When we were 100% on paper, it was common for a few people to work on one sheet. The idea was the sheet would look uniform regardless of the number of folks drafting.
The old saying was that it needs to be legible when it’s 25 degrees and blowing 25 mph.
Frank Ching’s book is a great book to learn lettering.
The comics in the paper were a good source to look at different styles (before computers)
Can’t tell you how many times people ask me if I’m an Architect just by my lettering

Beautiful tutorial, thank you. I'm adopting this writing style as a graphic design student and aspiring comic book artist. Hello from ATX

I had no idea this was architectural writing… this was my writing style in high school

I had no idea there was a reason my grandfather writes the way he does but now it makes perfect sense. Thank you for teaching me something!

Great stuff ! Thanks for this !

This is amazing

I could never hold the pen the way you do I was taught to hold the pen with my forefinger.. you keep less hand off the paper that way. That being said, nice tutorial.

I'm a former architecture student that switched to graphic design early on (still doing that today thankfully), however, my biggest problem with handwriting in general is I'm a lefty and not only do we smear everything we write, but I have an issue with the "circle back letters" (as I call them) like the G's, the C's, etc as they go against my momentum. I'll have to take some time and give Arch. Lettering a chance.

Architects in UK train for three years initially for their degree, and I used the notes taken during lectures to gradually change my calligraphy one letter at a time until it became natural. By the end of the second year I had completed the alphabet in upper and lower script.

I had no idea that this style is actually taught to architects ... Wow I've seen it so many times ... As an engineer I really appreciate it, I will try practicing !! Thanks

I had been a machinist for nearly 15 years when I went into teaching. After two years of teaching machine shop, I taught drafting. Until that time, all of my drafting lettering experience was mechanical. It was totally liberating trying architectural lettering for the first time. And now, some 25 years later, it's all I use.

They teach this in old drafting textbooks.

I had to write “the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” line after line for pages, to get my hand writing correct, using a Rotring drafting pen.

I have a drafting degree from one of the best drafting programs in the country, and I would have failed every project if I lettered this way. I'm not saying it's wrong here, but training as actual working professionals, we weren't allowed any type of "flair" to our lettering. Everything had to be completely straight and uniform. We would be docked for even the slightest tilt or overlap. The rule that was driven into us was you don't "write" your letters, you draw them.

My husband is an architect, I always admired his handwriting, I had no idea all architects use this style.

Maybe doctors should be taught this style.

Tougher for left-handed folks.

OH WOW! This had been my style of writing ever since, as this is how my parent writes and how they taught me to write. Now it makes all sense because they are both Architects!!! (I'm not joking!!)

I took drafting in highschool in the 70's. I think we spent the first three weeks learning to letter - and nothing else. Went on to get my design degree taking several architecture classes and had a much easier time with lettering than my classmates. Still print anytime I feel a handwritten note warrants the clarity.