<p>If you don't keep it in one column, the columns must run vertically from right to left, rather than from left to right.  In vertical script, you start reading at the upper right corner, go down the column of characters, and then go to the next column on the left.  It would like like this:</p>
<p>果西草</p>
<p>泥瓜莓</p>
<p>By the way, this would be true even if the column were only one character long (such as on a sign or banner), making it appear as if the line is written horizontally right to left in violation of the rules for horizontal writing.  That would simply be the outcome of writing according to the rules for vertical writing.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-26T19:02:17.680Z
2021-11-27T22:14:51.443Z
2021-11-27T22:14:51.443Z
Vegawatcher
<p>If your text editor has the option of using the vertical layout, you can do it.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LzMEr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LzMEr.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Format/ Make Layout Vertical</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/z0sgp.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/z0sgp.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-25T21:06:58.397Z
2021-11-25T21:13:01.233Z
2021-11-25T21:13:01.233Z
Tang Ho
<p>I would say it’s acceptable, depending on the context of usage.</p>
<p>Traditional Chinese way of writing would be top-to-bottom right-to-left like Vegawatcher suggests.</p>
<p>But in reality I see way more occurrences of top-to-bottom left-to-right layout.</p>
<p>I can imagine if I see a 2x3 rectangle of 6 characters showing up on a poster or a menu, I probably would try to read it:</p>
<ol>
<li>left-to-right, top-to-bottom</li>
<li>top-to-bottom, left-to-right</li>
<li>top-to-bottom, right-to-left</li>
</ol>
<p>In that orders. Even if this violates traditional writing rules, our modern mind is so accommodated to left-to-right writings that it’s actually harder to read right-to-left.</p>
<p>So I would say it really depends on the context. If other layout materials flow left-to-right, then you better go top-to-bottom then left-to-right for consistency. If you want to present visual element that relates to ancient China, you should go top-to-bottom then right-to-left.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-02T08:47:36.927Z
2021-12-02T08:47:36.927Z
hackape
<p>I know 草莓西瓜果泥 reads STRAWBERRY WATERMELON PUREE</p>
<p>Would this be acceptable too?</p>
<p>草 西 果<br />
莓 瓜 泥</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-25T22:59:11.407Z
Thank you, that is very helpful. Am I okay to split it into multiple rows as I have? (3 rows rather than 1 row).
user29720
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-25T23:39:38.447Z
If it is a name of a single item, you should keep it together in one column if possible. On a full-page text,  a single item's name or even a complete sentence can be broken up at the bottom of a column and continued at the top of the next column
Tang Ho
<writing>
Is writing characters top-to-bottom and then left-to-right acceptable?
# Is writing characters top-to-bottom and then left-to-right acceptable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-11-25)

I know 草莓西瓜果泥 reads STRAWBERRY WATERMELON PUREE

Would this be acceptable too?

草 西 果  
莓 瓜 泥

**Tags:** writing

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you, that is very helpful. Am I okay to split it into multiple rows as I have? (3 rows rather than 1 row).  
> **username_1**: If it is a name of a single item, you should keep it together in one column if possible. On a full-page text,  a single item's name or even a complete sentence can be broken up at the bottom of a column and continued at the top of the next column  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-11-26. Score: 4

If you don't keep it in one column, the columns must run vertically from right to left, rather than from left to right. In vertical script, you start reading at the upper right corner, go down the column of characters, and then go to the next column on the left. It would like like this:

果西草

泥瓜莓

By the way, this would be true even if the column were only one character long (such as on a sign or banner), making it appear as if the line is written horizontally right to left in violation of the rules for horizontal writing. That would simply be the outcome of writing according to the rules for vertical writing.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-11-25. Score: 1

If your text editor has the option of using the vertical layout, you can do it.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LzMEr.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LzMEr.png)

**Format/ Make Layout Vertical**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/z0sgp.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/z0sgp.png)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-12-02. Score: 0

I would say it’s acceptable, depending on the context of usage.

Traditional Chinese way of writing would be top-to-bottom right-to-left like username_2 suggests.

But in reality I see way more occurrences of top-to-bottom left-to-right layout.

I can imagine if I see a 2x3 rectangle of 6 characters showing up on a poster or a menu, I probably would try to read it:

1. left-to-right, top-to-bottom
2. top-to-bottom, left-to-right
3. top-to-bottom, right-to-left

In that orders. Even if this violates traditional writing rules, our modern mind is so accommodated to left-to-right writings that it’s actually harder to read right-to-left.

So I would say it really depends on the context. If other layout materials flow left-to-right, then you better go top-to-bottom then left-to-right for consistency. If you want to present visual element that relates to ancient China, you should go top-to-bottom then right-to-left.


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