What form of written communication involved the use of pictures to represent words?

Pictograms represent a form of written communication where pictures or symbols are used to convey specific concepts or words. This method relies on visual imagery, making it one of the earliest forms of writing, as it directly correlates images with ideas or objects. Pictograms were particularly effective in early civilizations for record-keeping, storytelling, and communication, as they were easily understood by those who could not read more complex writing systems.

While cuneiform and hieroglyphics also utilize symbols, they are more complex systems that evolved from pictograms and incorporated additional elements like phonetics, which allow for more nuanced written expression. Alphabets, on the other hand, are entirely different as they use letters to represent sounds rather than ideas or images. Pictograms stand out as a straightforward and direct means of communication, focusing purely on visual representation to convey meaning.