Types of Writing Systems

Different systems of writings can be categorized by the way they represent the underlined meaning.

Proto-Writing
This is the most basic of all writing systems. It includes a few set of symbols, that have a lot of room for interpretation. Proto-Writing does not allow for full sentences, but instead act as mnemonic reminders for the reader.
Example: Aztec

Ideographic
Ideographic is where each symbol represents an idea. There actually has never been a true writing system based on this, but there are many examples today.
Example: Mr. Yuck

Logographic
This system is where a a tremendous number of symbols are used, each representing a morpheme(minimal meaning, either being part of a word, or a whole word). This system creates a horrifying amount of symbols, similar to Chinese which has more than 10,000 kanji.
Example: Chinese

Logophonetic
This system is similar to Logographic, in which there are morpheme symbols, but in addition, there are symbols which carry over as phonetic sounds. Most often, Logophonetic languages are Logosyllabic, meaning symbols that stand for syllables.
Example: Japanese

Syllabic
The Syllabic system is where a large number of signs are used for their phonetics only, but occasionally common used words have their own symbols.
Example: Cherokee

Consonantal Alphabetic
This is a system where the symbols are only a concental alphabet. The vowels are not specified.
Example: Hebrew

Syllabic Alphabetic
Syllabic Alphabetic comes from South Asian scripts, for example, Brahmi. Each sign stood for a consenant and vowel, but to change the vowel, they would add addtional markings, making it somewhat Alphabetic.
Example: Brahmi

Consonant and Vowel Alphabetic
This Alphabet has a symbol for nearly every consonent and vowel.
Example: Latin

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