אידך דאמר רב הכותב ס"ת ובא לגמור גומר ואפילו באמצע הדף מיתיבי הכותב ס"ת בא לו לגמור לא יגמור באמצע הדף כדרך שגומר בחומשין אלא מקצר והולך עד סוף הדף כי קא אמר רב בחומשין
And an objection is raised from the following: He who is writing a scroll of the Law and has reached the end may not finish off in the middle of the column as one does with other books, but he should reduce each line as he goes on until he reaches the end of the column! - Rab was referring to other books. But he says 'a scroll of the Law'! - He meant the books of the Law.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., each of the first four books of the Torah may finish in the middle of a column, but the fifth book which would complete the scroll of the Law, Rab agrees, must be written in the form of a colophon gradually reducing the lines so as to reach the end of the column.');"><sup>1</sup></span>
Keset HaSofer
Even if one is transcribing from a copy, he must also speak each word out loud before he writes it, in order that he not err (Rashi and Tosafot, Menahot 30), and also in order that the holiness of the breath of reading of each and every word which comes from his mouth is drawn over the words (Ba”h). Only words of admonition need not be spoken aloud (Tosafot, Mordechai).
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Sefer HaChinukh
For everyone to write a Torah scroll for himself: That we were commanded that each man in Israel must have a Torah scroll (Sefer HaMitzvot LaRambam, Mitzvot Ase 18). If he wrote it with his [own] hand, this is praiseworthy and very dear; and as they, may their memory be blessed, said (Menachot 30a), "If he wrote it" - meaning to say, with his hand - "Scripture attributes [it] to him as if he received it from Mount Sinai." But one who is unable to write with his hand must pay someone to write it for him. And about this it is stated (Deuteronomy 31:19), "And now, write for yourselves this poem and teach it to the Children of Israel" - meaning to say, write for yourselves Torah, which contains this poem.
