Ruled or blank, which do you prefer?

[HDoug]

I like writing on blank, unruled paper. I don't like lines because I might want more line spacing when writing a letter or when writing with a broader nib, and more compressed line spacing when writing in a journal. It also varies with my mood, etc.

 

I recently got some Clairefontaine Triomphe pads and though unruled, it came with a lined guide that is apparently designed to be laid under the sheet to serve as a guide. When forced to use lined paper (the notepads at work for example), I write with the words between the lines rather than use a line as the "floor" for the letter bodies.

 

It just made me wonder what the people here prefer. Just curious...

 

Doug

[Margana]

Lined works best for journals as it helps me keep my writing small for those tiny pages. For everything else I was surprised to realize I seldom use lined but grab blank paper most of the time. It gives me the freedom to write in any direction and to sketch in all the empty spaces. It works well for my creative but disorderly style of thinking. Recently I've been filling up some of Richard Binder's pads. They are the best I've ever used. Fountain Pen Friendly Pads.

Edited May 30, 2006 by Margana

[grasshopper]

I'm with you on both counts, Doug.

 

I prefer blank, unruled paper because of the feeling of freedom evoked, as compared to the regulated appearance of lined paper.

 

I too write in the space between lines, if ruled papers are used, as opposed to on the lines.

 

 

raf.

[JRodriguez]

Unlined. No doubt. It might sound silly, but I don't like the structuring effect on my writing that lined paper forces me into. And like HDoug, I almost never write on the line when I do use lined paper.

[Dudley]

I prefer blank paper, but without the lines my writing will go everywhere, so when i want to write alot on blank i just rip a ruled paper out and shove it under the blank pages to write.

 

There is this japanese notebook that had paper that is dotted graph which i found to be my favorite. the dots are light grey and help you align not only your writing but graphs too. I'll show you some samples later.

[Phthalo]

I voted for Ruled... I love structure. At work I couldn't use anything else.

 

I use paper with lined guides at home. I have several printed guide pages with different line spacings, then I select the appropriate sized guide to suit the pen nib, handwriting size or content for that task.

 

Am I a perfectionist? Absolutely! (I'm also one of those freaky people who must line everything up on my desk at 90 degree angles...)

[Dudley]

My favorite Note book, Made by Kyokuto. 160 pages. 320 sides. 7x10 inches approx. Dots 5mm spacing. Re-enforced wire bound (Thick wires, and not typical

"spiral" binding that gets flattened when thrown in your bookbag). Maybe I'll write a review with some FP inks later. But for now all i got to say is that the pages isrelatively thin, which are typical of Kyokuto notebooks you see here in the US(rare, but i've seen them in stores). I bought this from a japanese bookstore which i can never spell correctly.

 

Cover title, centered on the cover.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/Dudleykun/NB_cover.jpg

 

 

Interior pages, compared to a rodia pad in the corner with lavenderish grid. The top has a nice blank section for title/date and whatever you want to put there.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/Dudleykun/NB_Blank.jpg

 

A filled page. I wrote front and back for notes, so with this you can sort of see how "transparent" the sheets are.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/Dudleykun/NB_writing.jpg

[BMWRT]

I am a line person.

I find that without lines my writing is not straight

[Slush99]

Lines. For the words to walk on.

[Sidney]

I voted for ruled because most of my writing is notes. Ruling keeps my words from sliding downhill, one of my pet peeves of my own handwriting. For social correspondence, my papers of choice come blank. I like it, but sometimes I wish I had a guide.

[jpolaski]

I prefer squared paper, at least in my notebooks, since the notes I'm writing half the time are sketches of ideas, and I can work lengthwise if I have to, it also allows for quick drafting sketches if it warrants.

[southpaw]

It varies, depending on mood, what I'm writing, etc.

[sonia_simone]

Richard's pads are fabulous, onto my "buy" list they go.

[guy]

I use narrow ruled, but because I use medium or broad nibs I write on every other line.

It's a habit from my lab days as it also allows you to make corrections to your notes as you have the space below your sentence.

[Sonnet]

I really prefer anything but graph-lined paper. Too many bad memories of grammar school and math, I guess. My handwriting can go all over the page on blank paper so the lines help keep it even-- but they have to be wide-ruled lines or else my writing will be too cramped. The French-ruled pages on my Clairefontaine notebook are a fun diversion.

[Anne-Sophie]

I use ruled pads for note taking.

 

Wide French ruled paper of my own making, (I made it on my word processor), is used to practice fancy lettering or under plain paper as guideline.

 

Plain paper is always used with guideline as my handwriting as a life of its own if not guided.

[corienb]

Narrow ruled without a doubt.

I hate wide ruled paper, and although I like the look of a neatly written letter on unlined paper my sentences get really angled when I don't use rules.

I write on the lines by the way.

[Margana]

My favorite Note book, Made by Kyokuto. 160 pages. 320 sides. 7x10 inches approx.  Dots 5mm spacing. Re-enforced wire bound

Dudley,

 

Where did you get the Kyokuto notebook? Is that a B6? I'd love to order several. I've seem them somewhere but can't recall where.

 

Thanks!

[Velma]

Where did you get the Kyokuto notebook? Is that a B6? I'd love to order several. I've seem them somewhere but can't recall where.

If there's a Kinokuniya, or another major Japanese bookstore near you, check that out -- I get my Boston Note spirals and Cute Model notebooks from them, and have always been satisfied with the prices and styles.

[thewolfgang]

I was just wondering what paper planners and diaries we use. I have used Quo Vadis and Planner Pads, and have been wanting to take a look at the Moleskine equivalent.

 

Or is this a topic all its own?