What’s the difference between cursive and calligraphy? There are actually a few details that make these styles different. You can write calligraphy in cursive, but the two terms are not one in the same. For calligraphy, you need a specific type of marker or pen to allow you to change the pressure to create thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes. But that doesn’t mean you need anything fancy or expensive! ✨✍🏼TIP: if you’re just learning calligraphy or brush lettering, grab a box of 98 cent Crayola