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In mathematics, I sometimes encounter Gothic letters, I mean the letters $\mathfrak A, \mathfrak B, \mathfrak C, \mathfrak D, \dots, \mathfrak a, \mathfrak b, \mathfrak c, \mathfrak d, \dots$. To get them in $\LaTeX$ one would use $\mathfrak{A}$ etc.

For example, in the book Model theory by Chang and Keisler, structures are denoted $\mathfrak A = (A, \dots)$, $\mathfrak B = (B, \dots)$ and so on.

I would like to know how to write this by hand.

quid
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ww4
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    Possibly related: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/236303 – Watson Aug 21 '16 at 20:19
  • @Rob Arthan I don't see how how to write symbols, use a pen, code LaTex, or spell words, could possibly be considered on topic. And I don't have the slightest idea what the question actually is as the OP clearly does know how to write the symbols. – fleablood Aug 21 '16 at 21:00
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    Andrew Stacey's article: Old Pappus' Book of Mathematical Calligraphy may also be of interest. – J W Aug 21 '16 at 21:21
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    @fleablood: the OP knows how to typeset the symbols using LaTeX, but doesn't know how to write them with a pen. The question is definitely on topic. – Rob Arthan Aug 21 '16 at 21:26
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    Should this question be deemed off-topic for MSE, please note that Mathematics Educators Stack Exchange does have a handful of questions under the (board-use) tag. – J W Aug 21 '16 at 21:32
  • How on earth can asking how to write symbols with a pen be on topic? That seems to me to be a perfect example of an unquestionably off-topic topic. – fleablood Aug 21 '16 at 22:20
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    @fleablood: so in your view, mathematicians spring into this world fully equipped with all they need to know to use the symbols of mathematics. I don't share your opinion. – Rob Arthan Aug 21 '16 at 23:45
  • I just think it's a very odd question, and, yes, I have never heard of anyone asking or teaching how to write symbols or letters. And even if I had, what's there to say? You put the pen in your hand and you copy the letters. An art or caligraphy class may help, but I can't conceive of a mathematician being of any use whatsoever. Did you learn how to write symbols in any math class? – fleablood Aug 22 '16 at 00:17
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    If this is off-topic, then so is http://math.stackexchange.com/q/1335475/321264. Isn't it? – StubbornAtom Aug 22 '16 at 07:49
  • @StubbornAtom: perhaps something to ask on Meta, as http://math.stackexchange.com/q/236303/118539, on the other hand, was closed for being off topic. – J W Aug 22 '16 at 08:01
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    @fleablood: did I learn how to write symbols in any maths class? Yes, I did, by watching the teacher writing. – Rob Arthan Aug 22 '16 at 21:20

2 Answers2

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The corresponding handwritten script is Sütterlinschrift (Sütterlin script). This chart (which I’ve now reproduced here) clearly shows you the letter forms.

enter image description here

Added 20 October 2022: Uppercase Sütterlin letters that I have seen used to write mathematics at the blackboard, in some cases by Jerry Keisler, include at least $A,B,G,M,N$, and $U$.

Brian M. Scott
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    With all due respect, this is barely intelligible! The "C" looks like a calligraphic "L", the "E" looks like an "f", the "X" looks like a calligraphic "H", etc. – Detached Laconian Sep 14 '18 at 20:37
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    @DetachedLaconian: That is largely because you’re so familiar with a very different script based on a very different kind of book hand. (And the upper-case X looks very much like a standard lower-case x in much British handwriting.) – Brian M. Scott Aug 25 '20 at 18:29
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I would probably switch to caligraphic variant for uppercase letters. For lowercase, I personally write it as filled blackboard bold (mostly for $\mathfrak{c}$ as continuum), i.e. you apply the way you write $ℝ, ℂ$ to lowercase letters and fill the space between the doubled stroke. Alternatively, you can also turn the oval-based shape into a hexagonal one.

user87690
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