Some inscriptions combine the two methods. Runic writing may go from left to right or from right to left. The order above represents the Vadstena version.

The reason of this division is disputed, but it seems to have been meaningful and important for Germanic peoples who used the elder Futhark. The Vadstena listing has an important feature: the sequence of runes is divided into three equal groups (ON ǽttir, ‘families’, orginally meaning ‘groups of eight’). In the latter listing the ï and p as well as o and d-runes go in inverted order as compared to the Kylver inscription. The second-oldest sequential listing is on a bracteate (thin single-sided gold coin) from Vadstena (Östergötland, Sweden) dated to the 6th century. The earliest known instance of sequential listing of all the runes is found on the so called Kylver Stone (after the name of a farm on Gotland, Stånga parish, Sweden), which was discovered in the surroundings of a 5th century grave. The elder Futhark remained in use until the ninth century, when it was superseded by other runic systems due to the phonological changes in Germanic languages, which made it less suited to render the current speech sounds. As it seems, the oldest datable runic inscription is on the comb from Vimose (ca 160 AD). As for the runes themselves, there is no agreement on their origin: some researchers are inclined to think that runes were greatly influenced by the Roman alphabet, others point to Etruscan writing from Northern Italy. The order of the runes has nothing to do with the ABC and clearly developed independently. See below which signs represented which sounds: The word futhark is formed after the first six runes in it, the same way as the Greek word alphabet is formed after the first two Greek letters, Alpha and Beta. The elder Futhark is the most ancient Germanic runic alphabet.

What are elder futhark runes