While formal hieroglyphs may be read in rows or columns in either direction (though typically written from right to left), hieratic was always written from right to left, usually in horizontal rows.
Sementara hieroglif formal dapat dibaca dalam baris atau kolom di kedua arah (walaupun biasanya ditulis dari kanan ke kiri), aksara keramat selalu ditulis dari kanan ke kiri, biasanya pada baris horisontal.