Letter e
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![Secretary Hand e's look a bit like the Greek letter theta. Once the brain of a palaeographer begins to recognize the secretary hand e, without having to stop and think, or refer to a key, his or her reading speed increases markedly, if only because, the letter e is the most commonly used letter in Scots documents (that's enough es, ed).](/sites/default/files/styles/maximum_size/public/2024-02/theta_text.gif?itok=1EXxsyxV)
Here are some examples of the Secretary Hand e.
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![Secretary Hand es](/sites/default/files/styles/maximum_size/public/2024-02/secretaryhandes.gif?itok=bjjSaZQS)
When ink fades from paper or parchment, very often what is left of a secretary hand e on the page are the remains of the two heavier strokes which formed the letter (the lower of the two curves and the stroke through the middle. A Secretary Hand e which has faded in this way can stump the unwary reader, but a way to coach yourself to spot one when you come across it, is to picture in your mind the two curves as smiles. So, remember: 'two little smiles make an e'.