For the past few months, I've been trying to improve my handwriting, and I think I'm getting there. Right now, I'm using at least 3 different styles, and I'd like to pick just one major style.

Out of the 3 styles below,



Which one should I use most of the time? Also, what comments/suggestions do you have so I can improve further?

Thanks in advance,
Gabe

I prefer B.

Fancier writing looks great on an envelope, but for reading
a letter I prefer less fancy.
Printing is my least favorite, because it is least expressive, imo.

Well, myself, I prefer sample A. Your italic is elegant, and I think, very readable.

Jim

While they're all quite nice, I happen to like the readability of print followed by the beautiful italics. I find cursive hardest to read and least attractive.

Hi Gabe,

I think all three look very good, and I don't see why you would have to choose just a single one.

Each of them serves a different purpose, in my opinion, and as they look all good, why not keep all three and use all three, whenever appropriate?

I wouldn't be ablr to choose at all, to be very honest. I wish I could write like that!

Warmest regards, Wim

I'd choose "A."

If you are going to be "unique" enough to use a FP for dailiy writing how much more so would be writing in your italic had. And it is very attractive as well!

Kudos to all us "uniquers" here on FPN :bunny1:

Andy

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I think I just might keep all 3, as Wim suggested. However, I'd really like to pick one "go-to" hand, as per the requests of my classmates. They find it confusing to read my notes whenever they borrow my notebooks, especially since there are at least 3 different styles in there.

That being said, I'm having a hard time picking, because I like each one for a different reason. I like the Italic because it's the fastest and most expressive to write, the cursive because it's the most flowing, and the print because it's the most readable.

Wim, you said that there are different purposes for each...Any suggestions on what those might be, specifically?

Gabe

Well, I like the italic best, and if it's the fastest for you, then go for it. You might want to make it a little simpler for day-to-day writing.

The cursive I find easier to read than most cursives, but it's interesting you say it's improved alongside your italic, since to my eye it seems to have more straight lines than a typical cursive.

Nice hands.

Best

Michael

All 3 look good to me, but if only one, I like #1 best, but might not be practical for everything until you practice enough to be fast with it. All are very nice, though.

I like all three. We might want to categorize cursives according to their use as well as the style of the letterforms. I'm guessing B is quickest to write, and that would be a good reason for continuing its use for all sorts of "utility" writing, especially since it's so easy to read. Quick and readable -- that's a winner.

I print (like your C except not as nice) when I'm filling out some kind of form (a P.O.) or something that has to be okayed by the CEO or that finicky anal retentive guy in Finance. I call it my "ballpoint cursive" because I use it when I have to fill out a multi-part form.

The italic A is gorgeous and receiving a letter or note in that hand would really be special.

If I were in your place and could only maintain one style, I guess it would be B, but all three are not only readable, but are unique and express your personality. They each lie on the page well and create an attractive "face" -- that's what I call the personality of the whole page itself.

Thanks much for sharing. I love seeing writers "faces" so please post more samples!

Doug

Hi Gabe, If this is the fastest, I would pick this for "go-to" writing. It is also a very nice hand for official invitatiosn and the like, IMO. I would use this for formal writing and letter writing, although I would use the italic for letter writing too. And I would use this indeed for when your writing needs to be very readable. Addresses on envelopes, instructions, etc. And in letter writing, to change to something else from the other two styles . Yes, see above. You really did give the answers yourself, so I only really needed to add letter writing to it. And you'd want to use all three for that... I mean by letter writing in this case letters to friends, relatives, snail pals, etc.

HTH, warm regards, Wim

Sample A gets my vote.

Just lovely.

school print -- clean, simple and inviting the reader in.

:bunny1: :bunny1: :bunny1: :bunny1: :bunny1:

You have asked a very interesting question.... and in reality one that only you should answer in it's entirety....

All three examples are well done and easy to read....
I prefer examples 2 and 3 for most easy reading.... but then again I am not a big fan of every day italic... I feel italic is best suited for more formal writing, i.e. special correspondence, cards, etc.

Now comes an even more interesting concept...
A lot of younger people have problems reading cursive.... even extremely neat cursive as in your example. WHY??? ... because they were not taught to write it correctly and therefore ended up printing or using a keyboard.
We had some friends over the other day and I did a little experiment with their kids...
I had two written messages.. not all that long... 2 short paragraphs.... one in cursive and one in print...
Obviously, all could read the print...
Of the 6 children here, ranging in age from 7 - 15, most had a problem with the cursive.. I have a classical parochial shool Palmer hand... so I know my writing is neat and readable.....
My 7 yr old daughter had no problem, but she has been writing cursive since kindergarten.... what surprised me was that 3 out of 4 of the teenagers struggled with it. When I made that observation, the parents said "Well why would they need to read that..... everything is done on a computer today". Before I could answer, my little one said "No, it's not, we learn to write cursive in school now. And my Daddy and I write to each other every day so I can learn." She also has a penpal she writes to every month..... in cursive with a FP...

SO to get to the point of all this garbage... :doh: :doh:
I would most likely go for the print with the school cursive as a second choice. If only for the reason you may run into someone who actually has a problem with cursive...

I like all of them...

I agree with Slush, all are equally nice. But I favor printing myself, as it is the easiest to read. I think handwriting that is difficult or confusing to read is abominable!

I suggest:

1) Italic for non-business correspondence (letters, cards, journals, etc.)

2) Cursive for personal (reminders, notes to yourself, etc.)

3) Printing for those occasions where legibility is the prime concern (office forms, inter-office memos, etc..)