Graph Paper for WRITING?

[Judybug]

I have noticed that many people write on GRAPH paper. Can someone help me understand this? I just can't picture myself writing on a graph? Also... how do people write straight on paper with no lines? I just can't do that either.

 

Thus far, I have not written letters on paper with a grid. But I love receiving letters from my pen pals who do. Somehow the grid squares make me think of a ceramic tile back-splash in a cozy kitchen. As I'm reading the letter, I feel like I've been ushered in to the kitchen table and served a nice steaming cup of coffee/tea. OK - I have a vivid imagination.

 

Judybug

 

[rikki]

Finally, once you start using graph paper, it is addictive. You get really used to the aesthetics of it and find the little grids familiar and comforting. Give it a try : )

This!

 

I picked up a Rhodia graph paper pad to practice calligraphy on at my local art store, because I don't have easy access to a printer or the patience to hand-rule. I never wanted to try writing normally on it.

 

...Well, after a few ink tests I was pretty well hooked. My handwriting tends to expand to fit the space it's given, which means I can fit far more information on a page full of 5mm x 5mm squares than ruled paper. I can write vertically if I want (!) and I'm a shameless doodler of vaguely geometric shapes (the squares are great for this).

 

(Now I just have to talk myself into using all the lined paper I've accumulated before touching the other three Rhodia pads sitting on my table...)

[Garageboy]

So do you guys write one letter per box, just write and ignore the vertical lines or what? Also, do you skip boxes to give some space for legibility

[thibaulthalpern]

So do you guys write one letter per box, just write and ignore the vertical lines or what? Also, do you skip boxes to give some space for legibility

 

One letter per box? Garageboy, I want to ask you, do human beings write in monospace fonts? :roflmho: Actually, one could argue that Chinese and Japanese are basically monospaced ;-) Anyhow...no, I don't write in monospace font. I ignore the vertical lines except for margins, indentations, and tabs. Even then, they're often ignored for margins. I keep a visual margin and not one that is created by the lines.

[tawanda]

I use quad ruled Moleskine (large size) reporter notebooks a lot. The squared paper is so useful on many levels. Firstly it helps to keep my large, unruly handwriting in check. Secondly, as has already been mentioned you can write landscape or portrait.

I tend to use only one side throughout the book, then flip it when it is full, and begin on the other side. Usually I begin in portrait and when I come to the back, I flip and write the opposite way in landscape. It looks cool, and makes it very easy to keep track of notes etc.

Quad rule also makes it easy to indent for headings, sub-heading etc, and also to keep your margins, both right and left, nice and neat. The squares themselves make a great guide for writing bold dramatic headings, in capital letters, one letter per square, if you so desire.

In a nutshell, quad ruled paper is incredibly versatile, and fantastic to use once you throw off your 'vertical' inhibitions!

Cheers

Tawanda

 

[shigidab0p]

I used 5mm squared paper for the majority of my school work this year. I find the lines very good for doing maths/physics/chemistry on because it is easy to do neat tables, diagrams and graphs. For music and English literature, I stuck to plain lined or music paper. When I want to really squeeze the writing in, I use the 5mm squared paper as lined paper, ignoring the vertical lines.

[khymeera]

I use graph paper a lot for my notes because I can better draw diagrams and what not in admist my notes easier. Also, it is visually pleasing, at least to me, to have dark blue writing on light blue lined graph paper

[Edgar Allan Bo]

I allways use graph paper because my handwriting fits perfectly in the 5mm blocks... 5mm for big letters, 3 mm for the small ones, f's, g's, y's continue down into the next free 5mm line!

[Aeltar]

I couldn't explain why, but I love writing with graph paper, particularly quadrille. Seyes rule is a close second, though - in fact, I just ordered a new Seyes pad from Goulet Pens for my music lessons in the fall (for the instructors to write down what music and techniques to work on during the week).

[Lorna Reed]

Years ago I was asked to write labels for the exhibits in our treasury at church and I found it far easier to keep my writing neat and of a consistant size by using graph paper. I used what was called 'drop-out blue' graph paper - white paper with pale blue graph, which when printed or photocopied, does not show the graph.It made the job much easier and quicker.

[tigger23505]

I use the Quad Ruled Moleskine pocket notebook at work to keep a log of what I'm doing. I like the quad ruling for this it makes it really easy to draw sketches of equipment, take notes on wiring of equipment, and similar tasks. For what it is worth, I was trained as an engineer, I still use Quad Pads for a lot of things, they make it pretty easy to keep things organized and squared up.

 

What I like about the pocket notebook is that it fits nicely in the cargo pockets of my work pants, and I keep a Lamy Safari in the same pocket for quick use.

[jniforat]

why do people write on blank paper....? it's just preference.

[Jaco]

For certain professions it makes life easier. I'm a town planner / urban designer, so there are usually a few sketches and calculations in my notes, so that makes life a bit easier to have vertical lines. I prefer to use 5mm grid paper, but if I only knew where to get good quality 5mm grid writing pads! All, I get here and on the net is cheap course paper pads, or bound notebooks with better quality. :blink: .

[txinsk]

People like to write with LINED paper? How do you do that without something to line up indents? If you are worried about being constrained then go free from all worries to blank paper.

 

Rick

[bassopotamus]

I have noticed that many people write on GRAPH paper. Can someone help me understand this? I just can't picture myself writing on a graph? Also... how do people write straight on paper with no lines? I just can't do that either.

I ignore the vertical lines on graph paper. It actually isn't my first choice, but locally, the only rhodia choices we have are the lined notebooks which are nice, but a tad flimsy feeling, or the reverse book in graph paper. I just bought the reverse because I needed something for some meetings. So far, it is fine.

 

As for the no lines, I personally write straight lines that go kind of uphill.

[cubic archon]

For certain professions it makes life easier. I'm a town planner / urban designer, so there are usually a few sketches and calculations in my notes, so that makes life a bit easier to have vertical lines. I prefer to use 5mm grid paper, but if I only knew where to get good quality 5mm grid writing pads! All, I get here and on the net is cheap course paper pads, or bound notebooks with better quality. :blink: .

Rhodia? You won't beat Rhodia pads for reliable paper quality, and 5mm squares are their staple.

[Moynihan]

I have noticed that many people write on GRAPH paper. Can someone help me understand this? I just can't picture myself writing on a graph? Also... how do people write straight on paper with no lines? I just can't do that either.

I prefer blank and graph. Use those two and lined. I am not a fan of the aesthetic of lined, so i only use it if the paper/journal is not avaiable in one of the two others. If i want my writing to in a perfectly straight line, I use a computer

 

Which i use (blank or lined) depends on what i am writing. I use a fair amount of graph style paper and journal, since both my work writng and personal writing is comprised of alot of word/and/visual, systems thinking, systems dynamics, theory, biological / behavioral stuff.

[Mr Blifil]

I have noticed that many people write on GRAPH paper. Can someone help me understand this? I just can't picture myself writing on a graph? Also... how do people write straight on paper with no lines? I just can't do that either.

 

I've found I prefer paper with no lines for writing, because the space seems more open, and that frees my thought process and my hand movements. I generally write a slightly rising line, but that's doesn't bother me. If you want to use paper that is not school or college ruled, but you want a consistently level line, there is a paper you might try. There are some deluxe business papers, sometimes called resume or presentation papers, that are described as "linen" paper. They are not actually made with linen fibers, usually, but they do have a very subtle horizontal line in the paper like real linen paper has. That might be enough of a guide for you to write a level line every time.

 

You could also use a computer and printer to create a sheet of paper heavily ruled with the spacing you like. You could place this under your writing paper; the lines would be visible through your paper.

Edited August 21, 2010 by Mr Blifil

[stinkyweasel]

For letters and journals I like lined paper,but I have a Moleskine graph notebook for writing down recipes.It just looks neater and more organized.

[GouletPens]

Have you tried the Rhodia dotpads? They're similar to the 5x5 quad, but have dots instead of lines. I love them, and so do a lot of others:

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TBGetpyVIlI/AAAAAAAAAYs/xcSj6EETnQg/s400/IMG_1726.jpg

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOalBv9Wqks