A cuneiform alphabet, consisting of some thirty-six or thirty-seven forms, expressive of twenty-three distinct sounds, sufficed for the wants of the people, whose language was simple and devoid of phonetic luxuriance.
Writing was from left to right, as with the Arian nations generally.
Words were separated from one another by an oblique wedge; and were divided at any point at which the writer happened to reach the end of a line.

Enclitics were joined without any break to the words which they accompanied.
The Persian writing which has come down to us is almost entirely upon stone.

It comprises various rock tablets, a number of inscriptions upon buildings, and a few short legends upon vases and cylinders.

It is in every case incised or cut into the material.

The letters are of various sizes, some (as those at Elwend) reaching a length of about two inches, others (those, for instance, on the vases) not exceeding the sixth of an inch.