* Clarity and Legibility: Carolingian minuscule was designed to be exceptionally clear and easy to read. This was a deliberate shift from the earlier, more elaborate scripts like Uncial and Merovingian minuscule, which could be challenging to decipher.
* Rounded Forms: Letters in Carolingian minuscule have rounded and slightly angled forms. This contrasts with the more angular and pointed letters found in earlier scripts. The roundness makes the letters appear softer and more flowing.
* Uniformity: Carolingian minuscule sought to standardize the shapes of letters, ensuring consistent appearance across different scribes and regions. This contrasts with earlier scripts that exhibited more regional variations and individual stylistic flourishes.
* Spacing and Lineation: Carolingian minuscule employed a more regular spacing between words and letters, as well as consistent line height, enhancing readability.
* Use of Pen: The Carolingian script was written with a broad-nibbed pen, resulting in thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes, giving the letters a distinctive and elegant appearance.
* Influence of Roman Capitals: Carolingian minuscule was inspired by ancient Roman capitals, particularly in its use of a lowercase 'a' with a rounded top and a lowercase 'g' with a closed loop.
These factors combined to make Carolingian minuscule a highly successful and influential script that became the standard for writing throughout Europe for centuries. It laid the foundation for the development of modern lowercase letters and influenced later scripts like the Blackletter and the Humanist minuscule.