The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Edwardian Script vs Gravura
Two ITC formal scripts from the mid-1990s, both modelled on pointed-pen copperplate writing. Edwardian Script is Ed Benguiat's 1994 steel-pen script that Microsoft later bundled with Office, which made it the default wedding-invitation face for a generation. Gravura is Phill Grimshaw's 1995 copperplate with more ornate capitals and lowercase letters drawn to link like true handwriting.
Edwardian Script is a commercial font, so it is shown here in Mrs Saint Delafield, its closest free alternative. All free alternatives to Edwardian Script → Gravura is a commercial font, so it is shown here in Pinyon Script, its closest free alternative. All free alternatives to Gravura →
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
- Edwardian Script's thick and thin strokes come from varying pressure on a flexible steel-point pen rather than the angle of a flat nib, giving it a lighter, more hairline feel.
- Gravura pairs intricate, flourished initial capitals with a plainer connected lowercase, so the contrast between capital and text is stronger than in Edwardian Script.
- Edwardian Script ships inside Microsoft Office applications, so many readers already have it installed, while Gravura must be licensed separately as a single style from MyFonts.
- Both are commercial fonts: MyFonts sells Edwardian Script as a two-style family and Gravura as one style, so licensing cost is a factor for web and print use either way.
- Neither font carries an italic or extra weights, since both are already cursive single-slant designs built for display sizes, not running text.
Edwardian Script
Reach for Edwardian Script when you want the familiar, lighter steel-pen look and may already have it through Office for invitations, certificates, and formal stationery.
Gravura
Reach for Gravura when you want more theatrical, ornate capitals and a handwriting-like connected lowercase for monograms, menus, and luxury packaging, and the single-style license fits the budget.