Single-storey a or double-storey a

The handwritten a with one counter, the printed a with two, and why the choice is a model rather than a trait.

• Single-storey a: one counter and a side stroke, the usual handwritten form.
• Double-storey a: two counters, the form used in most printed type.

Where this comes from

Almost every Latin school script teaches the single-storey a for handwriting. It is one circle and a short side stroke. Children can write it without lifting into a second counter.

The double-storey a is the printed letter. Some people keep it in their handwriting because they copied type, because a lettering style asked for it, or because they print more than they join.

What this does not show

A double-storey a does not mean someone is formal, and a single-storey a does not mean they are casual. The first is a print form. The second is a script form.

This page is about the Latin letter a. It has no equivalent stroke in Chinese handwriting. A Chinese sample needs its own questions.

Try this shape in the test

Questions

What is a single-storey a?

A handwritten a with one enclosed counter, like a small circle with a stem on the right. It is sometimes called the script a.

What is a double-storey a?

The printed a, with a small closed counter on top and a larger one below. Typed text uses this form.

Which a do most adults write?

Most handwritten Latin a's are single-storey. The double-storey form is less common in running notes and more common when someone is printing.

Can you judge personality from the letter a?

No. You can see which model the stroke follows. You cannot see temperament, honesty, or ability.