Editing Cursive (section)

== Marathi ==
{{Main|Modi script}}
[[File:Dnyaneshwari_Verse_In_Modi_Script.png|thumb|right|A verse from the ''[[Dnyaneshwari]]'' in the Modi script]]

Modi is a cursive script used to write [[Marathi Language|Marathi]] that is thought to be derived from the [[Devanagari]] script.<ref name="modi">{{cite web |url=https://www.unicode.org/L2/L2011/11212r2-n4034-modi.pdf |title=N4034: Proposal to Encode the Modi Script in ISO/IEC 10646 |first=Anshuman |last=Pandey |publisher=ISO/IEC JTC1/SC2/WG2 |date=5 November 2011}}</ref> It was used alongside Devanagari until the 20th century as a shorthand script for quick writing in business and administration. Due to the promotion of the [[Balbodh]] variant of Devanagari as the standard writing system for Marathi, Modi largely fell out of use by the mid-20th century. Since then there have been attempts to revive this script.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Band-of-researchers-enthusiasts-strive-to-keep-Modi-script-alive/articleshow/30761335.cms |title=Band of researchers, enthusiasts strive to keep Modi script alive |date=21 February 2014 |website=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141210021102/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Band-of-researchers-enthusiasts-strive-to-keep-Modi-script-alive/articleshow/30761335.cms |archive-date=10 December 2014}}</ref>

A distinctive feature of this script is that the head stroke is written before the letters, in order to produce a "ruled page" for writing in lines. It has several characteristics that facilitate writing so that moving from one character to the next minimises lifting the pen from the paper for dipping in ink. Some characters are "broken" versions of their Devanagari counterparts. Many characters are more circular in shape. The long 'ī' (ई) and short 'u' (उ) are used in place of the short 'i' (इ) and long 'ū' (ऊ) respectively.<ref name="modi" />