Whether it's to start analyzing a detail or impressing someone in conversation, understanding a classical building begins with an awareness of the different classical orders of architecture. In the historical records of architecture, the first account of the orders was written by Vitruvius: "[...] The orders came to provide a range of architectural expressions, ranging from roughness and firmness to slenderness and delicacy. In true classical design, order choice is a vital issue—it is the choice of tone," [1] which for the author, synthesizes the "architecture grammar." [2]

According to John Summerson, author of The Classical Language of Architecture, "[...] a classic building is one whose decorative elements derive directly or indirectly from the architectural vocabulary of the ancient world—the 'classical' world [...]. These elements are easily recognizable, such as, for example, the five standard types of columns that are used in a standardized way, the standard treatments of openings and pediments, or, still, the standardized series of ornaments that are employed in classical buildings." [3]

Broadly speaking, there are five classic architectural orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, of Greek character, and the orders Tuscan and Composite, of Roman character. The differentiation of each nomenclature is shown in the composition and/or capital ornamentation—the upper end of the column, responsible for transferring the efforts of the entablature to the shaft and unloading them on the basis. Alongside the capital, there are other constituent elements of the classical orders—cornice, frieze, pediment, architrave, shaft, podium, and pedestal.