Your Handwriting Quality?

[johnr55]

I am amazed by the awful handwriting I see coming from intelligent, educated people--and vice versa. I am not speaking of calligraphy, which is as much art work as writing. No, I speak of the everyday writing we do--grocery lists, short memos, notes to ourselves and others. Do you like your handwriting? Do you make an effort to improve it?

[umenohana]

I practice whenever I have a pen in my hand. I'm obsessed. :ph34r:

 

-Hana

[Ray]

I went for the legibility over beauty option. The primary function of writing is to communicate, either to another person or to ones future self. To be sustainable as a means of communication, it has to be capable of being done quickly, and this brings a trade-off. Whilst it's nice to write attractively and nice to read attractive writing, it is nowhere near as important as creating and viewing something legible.

 

Ray

[umenohana]

I wish there was a legibly beautiful option, as I completely agree that one should be able to fully appreciate the beauty of the writing by understanding its contents.

 

-Hana

 

edit: grammar

Edited October 19, 2006 by umenohana

[WillAdams]

A long while ago, when I was at college, I was discussing art and design and plans for the future, and was asked by a guest lecturer what the objective on my résumé was:

 

``To make beautiful books.''

 

She then asked, ``You mean books with meaning, don't you?''

 

``How can there be beauty without meaning?''

 

William

Edited October 19, 2006 by WillAdams

[FLZapped]

I certainly try to work on my writing. I've noticed an inverse relationship to writing and typing. the more I write, the worse my typing gets and vice versa. :roflmho:

 

 

 

-Bruce

[Ringtop]

I am amazed by the awful handwriting I see coming from intelligent, educated people--and vice versa.

 

So am I. If by "vice versa" you mean lovely handwriting coming from the apparently unintelligent and uneducated, I saw a homeless guy's cardboard sign that had been written in lovely cursive, with shading even. I really should've given him a dollar, just for that, but I was in traffic in the wrong lane.

 

Ringtop

[ToThePoint]

The whole reason I started using a fountain pen was my desire to make my handwriting beautiful. I wish I could use my italic for everyday writing like James Pickering and others, but it is just not fast enough. But I believe my cursive (with some personal adaptations) makes my correspondence stand out.

[James Pickering]

http://jp29.org/cal47.jpg

[Slush99]

I care more about if it's readable. I really don't work on making it beautiful, I confess.

[HDoug]

Although not all beautiful handwriting is legible, I note that there is a certain beauty in all legible handwritings. I've abandoned beauty coming from my hand, and aim for legible in the hope that attaining this will at least avoid ugliness...

 

Doug

[chud]

My handwriting is really quite wretched, I think in large part because I spent many years focused on writing fast rather than on writing carefully, and only recently have started to try to do something about it. So, I'm working on it, but I have a ways to go.

 

I have started posting to my blog in longhand though, which helps; if I know that I'm writing for others to read, I'm motivated to make it as painless for them as possible.

[georgem]

When I first saw one of James' exemplars shortly after I joined FPN, I knew I wanted to write like that.

 

My handwriting has vastly improved from my former simian scrawl. However, my ability does not yet even begin to approach the level of James' exemplars.

 

In a way, it reminds me of my first serious attempt at playing a musical instrument. After attending a concert of guitar music performed by Andres Segovia, I became entranced by the instrument. I took lessons (for several years). Practiced daily. Acquired some modest skill. And realized that I would never, ever, achieve that level of mastery. But I really enjoyed what I was able to do. BTW, I have let my ability fall by the wayside through lack of time to practice.

 

Likewise, I enjoy writing using italic minuscules. I may never achieve James' level of proficiency, but I want to be producing far better characters than I do now at this time next year, both in daily writing, where speed & legibility are paramount, and in my journal, where I can take the time to form the letters in a more leisurely fashion.

[Stumpy]

A long while ago, when I was at college, I was discussing art and design and plans for the future, and was asked by a guest lecturer what the objective on my résumé was:

 

``To make beautiful books.''

 

She then asked, ``You mean books with meaning, don't you?''

 

``How can there be beauty without meaning?''

 

William

Well done! I hope you received a high grade in that class.

[Sidney]

I voted 'somewhat important' because I try to use the best handwriting I can, but I'm not trying to make it a work of art.

[HDoug]

Stumpy (and anyone else), by the way, I saw your entry in the italic competition and want to ask you something. Your minuscule d's have the reverse ascender slant that I've seen in 18th century British captain's logs and that sort of thing. In other ways, the forms are very much "italic." My question is, what is the "name" of that kind of writing? Also, how do you form that reverse ascender. It seems that wouldn't be too hard with a regular fountain pen, but for any edged nib (or quill) one would have to push against the edge.

 

I really like the appearance (I call it the "face") of writing peppered with those "contrary" ascenders, and was just wanting to learn more about the style.

 

Doug

 

P.S. One of my goals handwriting-wise, is to be able to write as legibly as the captains (or 1st mates) who recorded those ships logs. They were seemingly written with great ease in what must have been challenging circumstances (at least some of the time). And you can read them quite easily after all these years.

 

P.P.S Here's a link to an entry in Captain Cook's log that can serve as kind of an example:

A page from Capt. Cook's journal

 

P.P.P.S Oh, sorry, but here's another one:

Another entry in Cook's log

Edited October 20, 2006 by HDoug

[Blade Runner]

While I admire very neat cursive or printed writing, I actually

enjoy the idiosyncrasies and various degrees of messiness of cursive writing.

And while i prefer a legible letter, occasional illegible words make it

interesting in a mysterious way.

[Quicksilver]

I have bad doctor handwriting. My print varies between "illegible," and "possibly a foreign language, but at least they look like words." That being said, I have decided to switch to cursive handwriting in an effort to force myself to concetrate on my handwriting.

 

I decided it after reading this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15229032/

 

I am not exactly old, but I still do remember a time when we were made to practice handwriting in school, and I have a habit of trying to keep a hold of those things, because I think they are important.

 

[edit]fixed wrong link[/edit]

Edited October 20, 2006 by Quicksilver

[umenohana]

Stumpy (and anyone else), by the way, I saw your entry in the italic competition and want to ask you something. Your minuscule d's have the reverse ascender slant that I've seen in 18th century British captain's logs and that sort of thing. In other ways, the forms are very much "italic." My question is, what is the "name" of that kind of writing? Also, how do you form that reverse ascender. It seems that wouldn't be too hard with a regular fountain pen, but for any edged nib (or quill) one would have to push against the edge.

 

I really like the appearance (I call it the "face") of writing peppered with those "contrary" ascenders, and was just wanting to learn more about the style.

 

Doug

 

P.S. One of my goals handwriting-wise, is to be able to write as legibly as the captains (or 1st mates) who recorded those ships logs. They were seemingly written with great ease in what must have been challenging circumstances (at least some of the time). And you can read them quite easily after all these years.

 

P.P.S Here's a link to an entry in Captain Cook's log that can serve as kind of an example:

A page from Capt. Cook's journal

 

P.P.P.S Oh, sorry, but here's another one:

Another entry in Cook's log

I think people used to write with the reverse ascender d, because the quill lays down more ink. If you try to write a more modern "d" with a quill, you'll notice that the ascender becomes swollen with ink.

 

Just my theory.

 

-Hana

[chud]

I decided it after reading this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15229032/

Maybe in addition to teaching the penmanship side of writing more attention should be given to the content as well.

 

"Less Students Learning Cursive Handwriting" ???