MS 48 is written in Humanistic Book Script, the most formal of the three scripts. Because one of the goals of the humanistic system was to restore clarity and legibility to scripts, there was also a strong desire to reduce the need for abbreviation. Nonetheless, certain abbreviations remained, as is the case with MS 48. These include abbreviations for terminal letters as well as the common abbreviations for m, que, qui and quod. MS 48 was written in brown ink by one scribe.
Joined letters are frequent throughout.
Fusion of letters is rare. Common features of the script include the application of serifs to the descenders of p , q and tall s . Ligatures of s t and c t and the Humanistic feature of the two-compartment g are common throughout. The e caudata is frequently used for . The first oration begins with a historiated initial containing a painting of Cicero holding a book.