Calligraphy differs from handwriting because its purpose is both aesthetic and functional. Writing’s primary purpose is to communicate—its beauty is irrelevant or secondary. Calligraphy, on the other hand, is practiced for its beauty and its content.
Another key difference between calligraphy and handwriting is the instrument used for writing. Traditionally, Arabic script calligraphy is written with a specially carved reed pen. Everyday writing can be produced with any number of instruments.
The specific rules of calligraphy are stricter than the rules of handwriting. Calligraphy’s rules also change, depending on the script being written. For example, one script may require the use of vowels, while another script may be written without any vowels.
Because of these distinctions, calligraphy has developed cultural, religious and artistic significance beyond that of everyday writing.