Fastest/Practical Print/Cursive Styles?

[MegaPixel]

The problem is, my handwriting is terrible, and most of my teachers complained that my handwriting really needs improvement. And also I'm starting to get into fountain pens, since I just feel better writing with one than with a ballpoint pen.

 

I was just wondering what kind of cursive writing styles out there that actually are meant for writing fast and have the everyday practical uses? I mean, I don't really think that writing slowly is going to help me in my particular situation for taking notes in school. So I was just wondering what types of cursive handwriting is out there that is practical and fast.

 

If there isn't a practical cursive style, then there must be a practical print style right?

 

I just need some sort of style that isn't a complete tragedy of a handwriting like my current one. (Also, I don't really want to write with an italic fountain pen, so I would prefer that I just learn a style that can be effectively written with a regular fountain pen nib.)

 

Thanks!

[wykpenguin]

There was a clip on youtube of an Indian writing at high speed in business script (a variation of Spencerian). Business script might look nice but that's training yourself to be a printer because one good sample of business script should look exactly like any other.

 

IMO the most important thing about handwriting is that it is yours. Upload a sample of your handwriting and I am sure many users will be happy to give encouragement and comments. Most of the time, you are your worst critic.

[celthana]

As a school student who has also just started using fountain pens, I think the most important thing is to be comfortable with how you're writing - i.e. don't worry about pen lifts happening in random places. I use a semi-cursive style, basically a personalised version of the handwriting taught at school all those years ago (http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/parents/k6writing.html) - just join the letters where it is comfortable, which is most of the time. However, I also enjoy using an italic-style script for headings.

 

I think you should aim for a simple, clean handwriting, whatever that conjures up for you (I find some "fast" scripts become "messy" scripts)

[lishalee]

Agreed with the above. All through school I had a chicken-scratch-style print of tight, angular letters. Eventually I improved my writing by loosening my grip and copying my friends' prettier handwriting. College was where my writing really improved - I was able to write very fast and it was still legible and most importantly, it was ME.

 

You could post a sample of your handwriting here for other members to critique about legibility. You don't need to adopt a whole new style of writing. I bought my first fountain pen a month ago and have been trying out cursive, but my old joined-up printing still serves me well.

[tawanda]

Get the book Write Now by Getty and Dubay. Its amazing and so easy to follow. Your handwriting will improve in record time and your teachers will be astounded. (no affil)

Its helped me no end.

[Jamesiv1]

Hi megapixel,

 

I've found that italic can develop into a nice, "print style". I consider my own handwriting rather print-like since I don't employ many joins.

 

With a ballpoint:

 

http://www.iampeth.com/stuff/ballpoint.jpg

 

With a couple of different italic nibs:

 

http://www.iampeth.com/stuff/fountain.jpg

 

Both of these were written "at speed" - that is, about as fast as I can legibly write. Around 32 words/minute.

 

I learned from Fred Eager's "The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting". Out of print, but you can find used copies on Amazon.

 

James

Edited June 12, 2009 by Jamesiv1

[caliken]

James,

 

IMHO your writing is very distinctive and individual and particularly impressive at speed. An object lesson to those of us plodding along at a pedestrian pace!

 

Ken

Edited June 12, 2009 by caliken

[Jamesiv1]

Thanks Ken. Appreciate the kind words.

 

James

 

[HedgeMage]

I'm another happy Write Now user -- it made a dramatic difference for me. Before Write Now, my handwriting was very neat, but I had issues with some capital letters in cursive, and all of my writing was painfully slow. Write Now's cursive italic is very practical: not only did it help me write neatly faster, but it eliminated most of the hand cramping and wrist pain I once experienced when writing.

 

--Susan

[MegaPixel]

I don't think that I'm ready to develop my own kind of handwriting style just yet. See, like I just want to completely abandon my current handwriting style and just start with a blank slate.

 

And it appears to me that italic handwriting is the best way to go. So I was just wondering if I could write italics with just a regular fountain pen instead of any italic pens, or is that just not possible? And if I have to write with an italic fountain pen, does anyone know where I can find some italic nibs, I've looked everywhere and there just aren't any italic nibs that I could find for some reason.

 

Thanks!

[mackal]

I'm another happy Write Now user -- it made a dramatic difference for me. Before Write Now, my handwriting was very neat, but I had issues with some capital letters in cursive, and all of my writing was painfully slow. Write Now's cursive italic is very practical: not only did it help me write neatly faster, but it eliminated most of the hand cramping and wrist pain I once experienced when writing.

 

--Susan

 

Wow, the book looks great. I just had a peek at the book on Google Books:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=jzsFSIFJb9...PA5&pg=PA22

 

Drat, it is hard to get this book in Canada for a reasonable price... neither amazon.co nor chapters.ca (our biggest two online bookstores) have it new, and used they want more than double of amazon.com price... grrrr! I need to get it, I have the same wants as OP...

[mackal]

Oh, I'm so daft sometimes. I just realized, after years of using amazon, that I don't have to buy from amazon.ca (which doesn't have this book new, and Merchants want too much, for used)... I can buy directly from amazon.com and have it shipped internationally... sigh... I amaze myself sometimes, but not in a good way...

 

On the plus side, book is ordered! That makes 3 things I'm now waiting for in the mail... it's going to be a good next two weeks!

[Nabster]

I mix cursive and print letters in my writing, generally using whichever version of the letter is quicker for me to write. For example, I find I'm generally using a cursive s over the print version, and print k's and b's over cursive. Sure it can be a bit odd for someone else to read, but I don't have a problem with it.

[MegaPixel]

I'm another happy Write Now user -- it made a dramatic difference for me. Before Write Now, my handwriting was very neat, but I had issues with some capital letters in cursive, and all of my writing was painfully slow. Write Now's cursive italic is very practical: not only did it help me write neatly faster, but it eliminated most of the hand cramping and wrist pain I once experienced when writing.

 

--Susan

 

Wow, the book looks great. I just had a peek at the book on Google Books:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=jzsFSIFJb9...PA5&pg=PA22

 

Drat, it is hard to get this book in Canada for a reasonable price... neither amazon.co nor chapters.ca (our biggest two online bookstores) have it new, and used they want more than double of amazon.com price... grrrr! I need to get it, I have the same wants as OP...

 

Cool, that book looks good. Too bad I can't find a copy anywhere that's not totally expensive to buy. So I guess I'll just have to check the book out and renew it a lot of times...

[willisoften]

I don't think that I'm ready to develop my own kind of handwriting style just yet. See, like I just want to completely abandon my current handwriting style and just start with a blank slate.

 

And it appears to me that italic handwriting is the best way to go. So I was just wondering if I could write italics with just a regular fountain pen instead of any italic pens, or is that just not possible? And if I have to write with an italic fountain pen, does anyone know where I can find some italic nibs, I've looked everywhere and there just aren't any italic nibs that I could find for some reason.

 

Thanks!

 

That book is available from a number of international sellers on Amazon About £26 GBP including Shipping - I don't know if you pay TAX or Duty on books in Canada. When I've ordered books from the US (to Northern Ireland) the service has always been excellent and delivery rapid. US book stores really seem to know how to treat customers.

 

I found Teach Yourself Better Handwriting by Rosemary Sassoon helpful, though it's more about remedial help than learning a new style.