Having trouble with my handwriting

I stopped writing Christmas cards several years ago now because I couldn’t cope with writing more than one as my hands would seize up and were painful.

Used to have lovely handwriting but nowadays it’s more of a scrawl sadly.

M0nica

I have execrable handwriting, and always have had as I have dyspraxia. However I find myself writing all the time. Not sustained writing, but shopping lists, to do lists, noting down phone numbers, all sorts of things.

I loathe mobile phones. Not in the technical sense, but my dyspraxia makes them difficult to operate and I find the screen far to small to use for any practical purpose. It can only contain about a sentence of text at a time and I just cannot hack it.

You can use your pc for sending texts

support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/send-and-receive-text-messages-from-your-pc-43189e43-8121-35f6-7930-db095bf938a4

I was taught using italics but we had to use an italic pen. So once you remove the special nib that goes from flat to thin the style disappears and a clear but childish style appears. My handwriting has definitely deteriorated in recent years due to old age and lack of use.The only thing I can say in its favour is it is very easy to read.

Cabbie21

My handwriting improves if I use a good quality ball point pen rather than a cheap or free one. If I were to use a fountain pen , my writing would be good. Most things I write are lists: shopping lists, reminders, To Do lists.

Agree with that. Find a favourite ballpoint pen. I like these papermate ones with a rubbery grip. They're lovely to write with. And then it's just maybe practising writing something every day and do it slowly - don't try to rush it. Then you can enjoy it a bit.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000SHSFNY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

Mine is terrible now - it's because I hardly ever write and type or use the phone mostly. I couldn't even get my signature right last time I had to do it! It took loads of tries (that was for a postal vote so it had to be right!)

I recently bought an Escribe on which I can write lists ,notes etc but my writing on it is haywire. It doesn’t help that usually I write shopping lists in bed . I used to have really nice writing although DH always said it was fussy.

Maggiemaybe

I was taught at school to write in italics and my handwriting used to be very neat, but that’s not so now. I’m the designated writer at our weekly quiz - everyone else claims their writing is worse! - but I jot down the answers in capitals these days. Ditto any shopping lists.

I am making a bit of an effort right now though. I’m filling in a grandparent’s journal in triplicate for the DGS. Most of it I’m completing on the laptop, printing out and sticking in, but I am writing in it too, as a GN friend of mine once commented that future generations might like to see how we actually wrote.

I thought you might like to hear about this new app that I was introduced to; it's called Hello Nova - it's an alternative to the grandparent's journal you mentioned, It is a personal memoir app and the answers to the questions are saved and sent directly to your grandchildren or whomever you'd like. You go in to the app and answer prompted questions, it's all voice led and there are hundreds, you can also record a daily diary if you'd like.

Future generations will be able to learn all about you in your own voice! I believe you will be able to take photo's of handwriting (or old photo's) also in the not too distant future according to their website. I just think it's marvellous and I've found it to be very convenient as my writing isn't great... plus, don't we all wish we'd been able to ask more questions to those who have gone before us. I'd have loved to get to know my grandfather in his own voice, but he died when I was young, so he remained as just a figure I loved; sad really.

I write a lot, because I keep an ongoing narrative diary in a series of notebooks. My writing was beautiful when I was young, but now it is truly awful. Often I can’t even read it myself. Too much careless rushing. I don’t think the Bic biros help. At school we were not allowed to use ballpoint pens.

I have arthritis and nerve damage in my neck
. The consultant asked if my writing was legible and more messy than a few years ago,as this can be a sign of deterioration.

I like handwriting but mine is awful now. And I do write regularly as I'm a list maker, - shopping lists, to-do lists, etc.
but it's still so bad that I can hardly read it myself.
It get smaller and smaller and I can't stay on the lines.
Just old age, I suppose.

Rosiebee

I must be an oddbod. I love writing anything by hand. Every year I start a small notebook of bits and bobs which I keep in my bag. Usually consists of books that have been recommended , books I'm looking for , food/wine recommendations. Recipes, restaurants, measurements for all sorts. Notes about a trip we're doing in the Spring - but I think that will soon have it's own little book. DH keeps all his "stuff" on his phone but I like to see mine written down, whether it's shopping lists, diary dates, addresses. Even have a Craft notebook where I note down patterns I'm on, wool being used, size of hook etc, quilting notes etc. Love all things stationary related, especially notebooks, preferably with unlined pages. Wish there were more reasons for putting pen to paper.

Ha I'm an oddbod too then as I have always loved all things stationery, notebook, lovely pens, writing paper and envelopes, scrap books, coloured papers.

Interestingly though, I once met a real stationery addict, it was a real condition and she had to receive treatment for it because she was spending all her money on stationery even when she went for coffee etc if the shop had a little gift section, she'd have to buy a card or a pen or a pencil despite having loads and loads of them at home.

I guess we'd better be careful !!!

Yes mine is the same. It's a shame though , that today's children will lose their handwriting skills much more quickly than we have done.In lots of cases they hardly write at all.

I spoke to a lady in the bank about this as due to arthritis in my right hand, sometimes my signature doesn't look the same. She said that they do have a way round this for elderly or disabled people. I know we don't use cheques so much now adays but sometimes you may need to sign a document or form in the bank or BS.

Yes, my handwriting has become worse. Like tuskanini, I think this is largely due to lack of use these days. (Though old age doesn't help!) Shopping lists are OK, cards not bad, but writing letters (written occasionally) requires a lot of effort!

I find if I write with pencil or fountain pen, my writing is lovely, but with Biro it skids all over the place!

In 2022 I had a brain tumour removed. My handwriting was never great now I find it really difficult to write. Thank heavens for keyboards!

Most probably, it is simple lack of practise, but if there is a marked deterioration, it's worth mentioning it to your GP, as some neurological disorders affect handwriting, as TashandRiver has mentioned.

I think that it is a mix of things. Arthritis can be a major cause Also we don't seem to handwrite as many letters in the high tec age of emails. I find using a quality pen writing on quality paper seems to improve my writing. A gel pen is much nicer than a standard biro and I prefer writing on Conqueror Laid paper. I'm sure that anybody receiving a handwritten letter from any of you will appreciate your words and thoughts more than in an email regardless of how poor you think the quality of your writing is.

I noticed that my handwriting was deteriorating years ago. (at least 20).

I think it is due to a lot of different factors.

Years of writing large clear letters on a blackboard with chalk
Before that years of scrawling lecture-notes in long-hand as fast as possible
Typing, computers, deteriorating eyesight and increasing rheumatism.

If it really bothers you, you could try doing the kind of copy-book exercises we did at school - forming every letter as perfectly as possible, check that your reading glasses are the strength you need, write on a sloping desk, rathr than a flat table - you can prop a board up on a couple of books to try if the slanting desk makes a difference. Use a fountain pen rather than a biro or felt-tip,

I have chosen just to accept it as one of the minor inconveniences of growing older. But I don't have anyone to write letters to any more, and if I did I would write them on the computer and print them out.

But you are certainly not alone in this.

I must be an oddbod. I love writing anything by hand. Every year I start a small notebook of bits and bobs which I keep in my bag. Usually consists of books that have been recommended , books I'm looking for , food/wine recommendations. Recipes, restaurants, measurements for all sorts. Notes about a trip we're doing in the Spring - but I think that will soon have it's own little book. DH keeps all his "stuff" on his phone but I like to see mine written down, whether it's shopping lists, diary dates, addresses. Even have a Craft notebook where I note down patterns I'm on, wool being used, size of hook etc, quilting notes etc. Love all things stationary related, especially notebooks, preferably with unlined pages. Wish there were more reasons for putting pen to paper.

Yes. I've thought the same for ages. It has to be to do with keyboard use.

Lack of use is my reason for bad handwriting.

I have to write anything now in capital letters.

My joined up writing is not very good.
But I don’t want to ruin a birthday card for instance with illegible handwriting.

Like many others, my handwriting used to be lovely.
And I miss it.

If you are concerned about your handwriting - buy an adult colouring book from WHSmiths or any stationers and enjoy colouring in as we did as children .

Right hand tremor and handwriting getting smaller and much less legible led to the diagnosis of Parkinson’s for me. I even had a cheque returned by my bank as they couldn’t recognise my signature. PD meds have helped. Now I type rather than write.

Mostly simple lack of practice, I think!