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How is your hand-writing these days?

(69 Posts)
Fleurpepper Mon 20-Mar-23 17:32:56

In order not to highjack another thread- have you noticed that your handwriting flows less easily, and has become somewhat untidy and perhaps hesitant even?

We are type away to communicate with others- so it is not surprising. But should we be concerned and perhaps practise more?

grannyactivist Tue 21-Mar-23 23:57:37

From the time I left school up until about ten years ago my handwriting never altered. Since then it’s gone downhill and lost any particular style: for example I can write a word like forfeit and the two fs may look completely different. I do hand write lots of notes for my work, which I then type up and I can always read my own writing, but I always decline to note-take for anyone else.

LisaAN Tue 21-Mar-23 23:24:19

My handwriting has never been beautiful, but always legible. It’s a mix of printed and joint up writing. All I write these days are shopping lists amd sometimes to do lists when I haven’t got my mobile close by to set reminders

glammagran Tue 21-Mar-23 22:53:08

My handwriting used to look pretty good but no longer. I think this is because other than shopping lists I never write anything at all other than typing everything on one of my devices.

Welshy Tue 21-Mar-23 20:59:57

I write using all capital letters. Not that I do that much writing anyway, birthday cards, shopping lists etc. Does anyone else do this? Yet I don't when I type.

Grannynannywanny Tue 21-Mar-23 20:55:45

I wrote a brief letter today and I was shocked to see how much my handwriting has changed. Maybe it’s a “use it or lose it” scenario. It’s probably 2 years since I’ve written a letter as almost everyone I know uses emails . Apart from a few Christmas cards and birthday cards I’m out of practice. I’m thinking the next day my little grandson is sitting at the table practising his writing I should join him in the task.

HettyBetty Tue 21-Mar-23 20:40:30

I still write most days, my writing is fairly neat and tidy. I exchange regular hand written letters with a friend. We both agree it is so much nicer than an email, so lovely to get a proper piece of post and sit down with a cup of tea to read it.

Fleurpepper Tue 21-Mar-23 18:46:19

Thanks for all your replies. So it seems most of us have noticed that our hand-writing is not quite as flowing and neat as before, even for those of us whose hand-writing was never perfect.

Will tell my sis in law that she is not alone, as she seemed quite concerned the other day.

Witzend Tue 21-Mar-23 18:07:33

My handwriting was never good - partly down to 3 different schools in 4 years, each of which taught a different style of writing.
Some years ago, when I was doing OU exams (4 essays in 3 hours) I had to actively practise writing fairly fast and legibly - I was so unused to it - my hand would ache!

mrswoo Tue 21-Mar-23 12:46:51

I once worked as a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and prided myself on my neat and legible register entries. These days I rarely hand-write anything and certainly never use a fountain pen. My writing is probably best described as slap dash although I canbe neat if I really try!

Greyduster Tue 21-Mar-23 11:02:33

Mine is truly appalling. It used to be very neat. My father, who left school when he was fourteen, had beautiful handwriting all his life. All his letters were exactly the same height and the words evenly spaced. I tend to write very long emails to people these days. If I had to rely on hand written letters, they would need GCHQ to decode them!

henetha Tue 21-Mar-23 10:29:49

My handwriting was reasonable until a couple of years ago.
Now it's small and often below the line, for some reason.
(my age I suppose). I still do write, mainly lists, almost every day, so it isn't lack of use.

Happysexagenarian Tue 21-Mar-23 09:56:14

My handwriting has deteriorated over the last couple of years. We were taught to write in italic script at school and that was how I always wrote. I later became a keen calligrapher so my writing was really quite neat, and I try/tried to use a fountain pen whenever possible. So I now feel quite ashamed of my shaky spidery writing. But I'm blaming the cocktail of medications that I take, my hands are often shaky and pens seem to have a will of their own. My children have noticed the deterioration when I write on cards for them. I find that the flow of the ink and how smooth the paper is also makes a difference. Perhaps I should just do some practise exercises.

LadyGracie Tue 21-Mar-23 09:46:15

My handwriting is still good, I love writing. It’s very like my fathers was, my younger sisters is the same.

Lovetopaint037 Tue 21-Mar-23 09:42:36

I have noticed this lately. My writing has got shaky and appears to lack control Writing cards is subject to this and I have put it down to getting older.

fancythat Tue 21-Mar-23 09:30:56

I sometimes cannot read my own shopping lists! Though that is not too much of a new thing. I somtimes have to return home without whatever the item was.
I have to remind myself to write larger. Then I have a better chance of reading it.

Elusivebutterfly Tue 21-Mar-23 09:29:07

My handwriting was bad at school, then I learnt to type and use shorthand, which made it worse. Handwriting is an effort when you can use shorthand.
Recently I have found that I can't even manage my usual scruffy writing as the arthritis in my hands is getting worse.

Yammy Tue 21-Mar-23 09:23:33

My handwriting has reverted to a type taught at Junior school a kind of joined-up print called "Marion Richardson". As an infant teacher, it was all round print.
I especially noticed Christmas cards.
I have bought three-sided ballpoints which help the grip and keep it tidy, though quite child like.

Cherrytree59 Tue 21-Mar-23 09:20:15

Another messy handwriter here.
Have passed on card writing to DH.
Rarely need to actually write on paper these days.

Calender on phone, list on phone and/or Alexia.
Email WhatsApp, texting are the norm now.

No milkman to pop note into empty milk bottle🍶

LRavenscroft Tue 21-Mar-23 08:56:34

I always typed from the age of 17 using first a type writer and then a computer. However, when I sat a written exam a few years back I had to get 4 questions answered in 3 hours and found that writing by hand was excruciating in the sense that my thoughts ran away with me and I could not get them down fast enough manually, whereas, when typing you can almost type as quickly as you think. Also, my handwriting was nowhere near as neat and clear as it once was.

nanna8 Tue 21-Mar-23 01:41:36

Mine’s shocking now. It resembles the awful scrawl that many doctors used to have when writing notes. Now I understand! It has got larger. I can still sew neatly, though, funny enough.

MrsKen33 Mon 20-Mar-23 20:00:55

We learnt to cultivate a distinctive hand when at art school. Big and bold. My handwriting is still thus, and I do write a lot.

MiniMoon Mon 20-Mar-23 19:55:34

My handwriting is still good as long as I concentrate. It's a bit scruffy if I'm in a hurry or just writing a note for myself.

Kim19 Mon 20-Mar-23 19:54:05

Thank you for this. Just the very prompt I needed. I used to be pleased with my handwriting and lately I've found it disappointing to say the least. Fact is I don't use it often enough nowadays. I realise practice is the thing and I'm now resolved to have a daily bash. Can't see how there can possibly be a problem with this. However, we'll see. Again.....thanks. Good topic for me indeed.

crazyH Mon 20-Mar-23 19:52:45

My handwriting is still quite good, as noted by one of my sons , when he was double-checking the list I had made of the menu choices, for our Christmas family meal. May I add, his handwriting is an awful scrawl 😂

Farmor15 Mon 20-Mar-23 19:38:50

My handwriting has always been awful and is worse now. Both my parents had bad handwriting and used typewriters long before computers were around and I followed suit - so can't blame modern technology! I do handwrite shopping lists but often can't read some of the items.