I was just wondering if it is possible to have both penmanship handwriting (as in special handwriting or fancy handwriting) as well as normal handwriting?

for example, a handwriting you use at work and one you use for letter writing. I am trying to improve my handwriting but I am starting to see that fancier handwriting takes longer than normal handwriting. Is anyone able to write very quickly with their improved handwriting (special handwriting). Im sorry if my question is not clear but any interpretation and comment is much appreciated.

I expect that most of us who are interested in penmanship, will have two levels of our basic handwriting - our letter-writing standard and, of necessity, our handwriting at work, where legibilty is the only concern. Usually, it's the same handwriting, but written much faster. By general concensus, basic italic handwriting is the least likely to break down when written at speed. Although it's beyond me, I have seen on this forum excellent examples of rapid italic.

Having said that, I doubt if anyone can write rapidly without losing some of the quality of their carefully-constructed best lettering!

caliken

It seems to me one uses fancy calligraphy maybe, handwritten notes for business and for personal correspondence, and each will probably use a different font. (also a block and cursive version of one's personal correspondence). In short, one writes differently for different occasions, reasons.

Sorry if it's been posted here before, but this article tries to distinguish
handwriting from calligraphy
http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007/08/17...ic-handwriting/

This is discussion on 'what makes an italic easier to read?"
http://typophile.com/node/17431

TTYL,

David

I have two modes of writing.

My quick note-taking is super sloppy, fast, and usually only legible by me!

But if I'm making a note to a friend, or if I want someone to be able to read it, than I slow down and make it look nice.

I also print for my notes, and usually use cursive when I want someone else to read it.

I also have two signatures...my in a hurry, could care less signature, and then my neat and attractive signature.

When I started my recent effort to improve my handwriting, I isolated three "types" of handwriting that I was aiming for. Since the reason I was striving for improvement was that I couldn't read my work notes even 5 minutes after writing them, the main style was what I call "note cursive." The only requirement here is that I myself could read it easily and that it be relatively easy to write.

The second, more careful style I call, "letter cursive" which is handwriting that can be easily read by someone who knows me and is familiar with my handwriting.

The third and most careful style I call, "journal cursive" which is handwriting that can be easily read by a third party who doesn't know me at all. It has to be as easily read as the captains' logs and journals I've seen digitized on the internet.

The three varieties of handwriting are the same style, but vary only in speed. I can write fairly quickly now, but I'm still working on that. I notice that my handwriting can instantly dissolve into an illegible scrawl if I allow it to.

Another important requirement was that it be light and easy on my hand. I wanted the act of handwriting itself to be free-flowing and relaxed. I didn't want "nice" handwriting if my hand had to clench or labor mightily or do weird gymnastics.

Those interested in calligraphy can manage different styles, but that takes more skill and dedication than I have. I'm just aiming for "handwriting" and one style (at different speed levels) serves my purposes.

Just mentioning my experience for what it's worth -- not giving advice...

Doug

Only at the beginning does "fancy" handwriting take longer than "normal" handwriting. The goal of studying a hand, say italic, is to make the hand one's own. After as little as a few weeks of practice, many students of italic find the writing has become second-nature. Other people report it takes longer than that. Kate Gladstone, Inga Dubay, et al -- various authors have put out manuals on how to improve one's handwriting. With a variety of styles and a plethora of advice. The common point of most authors is that real advancement depends mostly on changing a few letters at a time and adding one set of changes to your basic hand. Then, once mastered, adding a few new changes. Until your hand has become distinctly your own.

I think you should just practice, just go slowly writing then throughout time it'll will get quicker and quicker without making your handwriting more messy.