This is an index of the all the writing systems on this site arranged by the direction in which they are written. Some writing systems can be written in a number of different directions, others were originally written in various directions but eventually settled on one direction.

Why some writing systems are written in one direction, and others in other directions is a bit of a mystery. It might have something to do with the writing surfaces and implements originally used, fashion, the handedness of the creators of the writing systems, or other factors.

If you have any information or theories about this, please contact me.

Directions

Left to right, horizontal

The following writing systems are written from left to right in horizontal lines:

Right to left, horizontal

The following writing systems are written from right to left in horizontal lines:

*In Arabic numerals are written from left to right.

** In vertical Chinese texts the headings are sometimes written horizontally from right to left across the tops of the columns (see below ). This direction is also occasionally used on shop signs.

Left to right, vertical, top to bottom

The following writing systems are written from left to right in vertical lines running from top to bottom:

Right to left, vertical, top to bottom

The following writing systems are written from right to left in vertical lines running from top to bottom:

Notes

Until the 1980s Korean was usually written from right to left in vertical columns. Since then writing from left to right in horizontal lines has become popular, and today the majority of texts are written horizontally.

Chinese is often written vertically in Taiwan, while in China and Singapore it is usually written horizontally.

Vertical and horizontal texts are both used in Japan

Left to right, vertical, bottom to top

The following writing systems are written from right to left in vertical lines running from bottom to top:

Note

Tagbanwa is traditionally written in vertical columns running from bottom to top and from left to right, however it is read from left to right in horizontal lines.

Right to left, vertical, bottom to top

The Ancient Berber developed from the Phoenician script and like Phoenician, was originally written from right to left in horizontal lines, but became more commonly written from bottom to top in vertical columns running from right to left.

Boustrophedon

The following writing systems are written in horizontal lines running alternatively from right to left then left to right. This is called Boustrophedon, which comes from the Greek βους (bous) “ox” + στρεφειν (strefein) “to turn”, because it resembles the path an ox makes when plowing field, turning at the end of each row to return in the opposite direction.

Variable

The Ancient Egytian Hieroglyphic script was written in any direction the was convenient: horizontally from right to left or left to right or vertically from top to bottom. The arrangement of the glyphs was partly determined by aesthetic considerations. When written horizontally, you can tell the direction of a piece of writing by looking at the way the animals and people are facing: they look towards the beginning of the line.

Chinese can be written from right to left in vertical columns, left to right in horizontal lines, or occasionally right to left in horizontal lines. In Taiwan it is often written vertically, while in China and Singapore it is usually written horizontally. In newspapers and magazines with vertical text, some of the headlines and titles are written horizontally right to left across the top of the main text.

Etruscan was sometimes written in boustrophedon fashion and sometimes from right to left in horizontal lines.

Japanese can be written from right to left in vertical columns or left to right in horizontal lines. Horizontal writing was first used during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) in Western language dictionaries of Japanese. Today both orientations are used.

Until the 1980s Korean was usually written from right to left in vertical columns. Since then writing from left to right in horizontal lines has become popular, and today the majority of texts are written horizontally.

When inscribed on stones, Ogham was written around the edge starting at the bottom left and running upwards then back down the other side. In manuscripts it was written horizontally running from left to right.

Orkhon was written mainly from right to left in horizontal lines, though some inscriptions are written vertically with the letters rotated by 90º. When written vertically, it read from bottom to top and right to left.

In inscriptions, Mayan was written in paired columns zigzagging downwards from left to right. Any faces on the glyphs generally look towards the beginning of the line, as with Egyptian Hieroglyphs. Elsewhere it was usually written horizontally from left to right

The image on the left shows a Mayan inscription from the museum at Tonina in Chiapas, Mexico.

Other writing systems