To what extent does the pen you use affect your handwriting?

[rbuchanan]

My handwriting changes depending on what pen I use. This isn’t a conscious thing, but I have noticed that when I use my Pelikan (EF), my writing leans forward. When I use my Kaweco Sport (Fine) or my Jinhao 911 (EF) my writing is very upright. Nib width aside, I can clearly tell what I have written using the Kaweco and what I have written using the Jinhao. There is a noticable difference in the writing style and in the formation of some of the letters. As I siad, this is not a conscious thing, and is something I have sort of been aware of, but only realised the extent to which it happened recently.

With the Kaweco Sport and the Jinhao, there are clear differences in the pens - one has a fine nib, the other extra fine. One is a short, pocket pen, one is full length. So that  would affect the way I hold it, which in turn would affect the way I write.  But the Pelikan and the Jinhao are a similar size, the nibs are a similar width (the Jinhao is quite a bit wetter, but I doubt that would make much difference)… Why is my writing upright with one and slanted with the other? Much plainer with one, ‘fancier’ with the other I supppose other factors come into play, like the weight and feel of a pen, but I was surprised at just how different my writing is with different pens. I would expect some difference with the different feel of a pen, but not a total change in character.

Is this normal? Do other people experience something similar? Just curious about whether it is just me or whether other people also find this.

[txomsy]

I find it is the opposite: my handwriting determines the pen I use: depending on whether I want to use italic or copperplate-derived, or quick notes or else I'll use a pen with a stub, flexible, EF or else nib.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

1 hour ago, rbuchanan said:

My handwriting changes depending on what pen I use. This isn’t a conscious thing, but I have noticed that when I use my Pelikan (EF), my writing leans forward. When I use my Kaweco Sport (Fine) or my Jinhao 911 (EF) my writing is very upright. Nib width aside, I can clearly tell what I have written using the Kaweco and what I have written using the Jinhao. There is a noticable difference in the writing style and in the formation of some of the letters. As I siad, this is not a conscious thing, and is something I have sort of been aware of, but only realised the extent to which it happened recently.

With the Kaweco Sport and the Jinhao, there are clear differences in the pens - one has a fine nib, the other extra fine. One is a short, pocket pen, one is full length. So that  would affect the way I hold it, which in turn would affect the way I write.  But the Pelikan and the Jinhao are a similar size, the nibs are a similar width (the Jinhao is quite a bit wetter, but I doubt that would make much difference)… Why is my writing upright with one and slanted with the other? Much plainer with one, ‘fancier’ with the other I supppose other factors come into play, like the weight and feel of a pen, but I was surprised at just how different my writing is with different pens. I would expect some difference with the different feel of a pen, but not a total change in character.

Is this normal? Do other people experience something similar? Just curious about whether it is just me or whether other people also find this.

Yes if i use a fountain pen or ball pen depending on length and thickness/ nib size my writing is generally neater than if i use a gel pen or rollerball pen

[Nellie]

A lot! That is why I'm so pen-obsessed! A badly-writing pen even destroys my concentration, so that I start making mistakes because I get distracted by even the slightest skips, e.g.

Any round-nibbed Sheaffer makes my handwriting come out tidier than it is with other brands (yes, I know, it's still nowhere near tidy 😆). I looked through my uni-notes the other day and I could see a marked difference between my writing with my first ever Sheaffer (a NoNonsense 'Vintage') and the Pelikan piston filler I had mostly used up to then - although both pens had M nibs! Sheaffers (through some unknown magic) control my scrawl, as do some italics/stubs and architect-style nibs.

[dipper]

Using a different pen puts me into a different mood. The pen used alters my writing angle, neatness, and the style of letter forms.

Ink colour also has an effect.

 

Looking back through old and recent notebooks, I enjoy the look of my handriting wherever I have used a fine flex nib, or a narrow cursive italic. With other nib types my handwriting is often an ugly scribble.

 

The effects seem linked to nib softness and line width variations, and nib tip feel on the paper.

Pen length and weight seems to make little difference. Similar writing is seen with a lightweight wood pen holder carrying a flexy dip pen, or with a heavier, fatter grip, metal body Pilot Falcon.

 

With some pens I write with larger letters - for no obvious reason. Currently using a Moonman C1 with a FPRevn Ultraflex nib. Writes a western "fine" to "medium" line with a light touch.

Previous pen, for the last few weeks, was a Preppy with M nib ground to be a cursive italic.

Both nibs give attractive line variation. But, without any conscious intent, the Moonman written letter forms are over 50% larger than the Preppy.

 

Both pens do make me feel happy though! 🤗🤗🤗.

[Stompie]

Like Dipper, my pen use is governed by my mental state/what mood I am in and then I choose a pen/nib accordingly.

It also depends on what I am looking to present to the reader of my, mostly letters that I write for.

 

Quick notes and stuff are often, at work, with a ball point pen but I do occasionally use a fountain pen that I keep in my pocket.