Is Good Handwriting Something We are Born with or Something We Learn

@2wicelot (2945)
October 17, 2011 9:24am CST
I have always had bad handwriting ever since I was young. I know some people who write as if the use a machine as it is always perfect all the time. I remember some colleague asking if I was not taught handwriting in school. I remember being taught how to write but it seems I never mastered it. These days I do very little writing because most of my work is done by typing on the computer. The other day I had to write an old-fashion cheque and it felt weird holding a pen because I haven't done that in quite a while and I got a bit nervous and the writing was not so nice. Do you think it is possible for me to learn how to write more legibly?
14 people like this
55 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Oct 11
Sample of Italic Hand - Note that this was written quite quickly and after little practice. I learned this hand from my father when I was about 11. Previous to that, my hand had been very untidy.
Good, legible handwriting is something that everyone can learn. Handwriting itself is always learned and, if it is not taught properly, can easily degenerate into an undisciplined scrawl. It is true that some people are better at controlling their hand movements than others and so find it naturally easier to write well but good handwriting is largely due to motivation and the appreciation of the value and beauty of handwriting. It is a skill, which I believe anyone can acquire, but it may also be an art, which only a few can attain to. Practice is as important in handwriting as the choice of good tools. The ballpoint and fibretip pens don't give one any guidance and tend to encourage an undisciplined hand while the nib of an ink pen, especially the chisel-edged type, automatically encourages a good letter formation with proper thick and thin strokes. Handwriting is really all about the consistent formation of certain letter shapes. In Italic hand, "a", "c", "d", "e", "g", "o" and "q" are all formed using the same basic movement (a rounded triangle with a flat top, a vertical stroke and a diagonal return) with specific additions or subtractions for each letter. Regularity is important in producing a readable hand and so exercises may involve writing rows of the same letter over and over until each one is as identical as possible. For those learning, squared paper or paper with lines drawn to give the height of the body and ascenders and descenders can be helpful. When writing other scripts, such as Devanagari, Arabic, Tamil and so on, very much the same principles apply, though the letter shapes are, of course, different.
3 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
This is an excellent insight. You seem to have covered all the requirements for good handwriting. I think one of the problems I have is consistency. I do not write all the letters consistently all the time. I have noticed people with excellent writing are always consistent with their letters just as in the photo you have uploaded.
@sanofer (525)
• India
17 Oct 11
Practice makes a man perfect. Like that we can get good hand writing by practicing that art of writing. Before my hand writing was also not good,when I was in 9th grade. I practiced to write for half an hour daily and I started writing neatly. So good hand writing is not something we are born with but with something we learn.
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
That is nice. Half an our daily is not too much time to make in a day. I would probably try to implement that.
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
Thank you very much. I shall try that.
@sanofer (525)
• India
17 Oct 11
Just try for 30 days. Try to write a page in half an hour neatly andslowly. Day by day you will find the improvement in your hand writing. All the best:)
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
It would take a special effort to procure handwriting exercises, lots of concentration and also lots of practise. It seems as though you have the interest to achieve good penmanship and so I think it is possible. In school, we had a special lined page which we would put under the page we were to write on. The page consisted of semi-diagonal lines, evenly spaced which we would follow (trace) as we wrote. It meant our letters all went in the same direction, slanting from left to right, and were also evenly spaced. Maybe you could make something yourself?
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Oct 11
Don't sweat it mate...I have several teachers in my extended family and they are not very good writers either...lol.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
24 Oct 11
We did have some of that practice in school but probably I am just not a good writer. There is also the issue with computers and typing these days. That may have had a huge contribution to my bad handwriting.
1 person likes this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
19 Oct 11
For some, they are born with this ability to write very well and there are those who just got to practice a lot until it became part of their abilities. Most skills that people have are learned. There are just some level of acquisitions that each individual have. Let's say that one's absorption for a particular skill is higher compared to another person, say in playing video games. We have two individuals who share the same interest when it comes to video games. However, one easily gets to play well as this person easily understands everything while the other person just needs more time in getting use to the same game that they are playing. Same thing goes with any skill or talent that people do. Singing, dancing and so on. If they can't easily do a particular skill right away, they only need to invest more time on it until they get better and better at it. ('_^ ) So yes, it is possible for you to learn how to write legibly.
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
19 Oct 11
You have put it in a very good way. It mostly comes down to practice and to the individual. Cheers.
2 people like this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
19 Oct 11
Yes, when there is a will, there is surely a way. If one makes excuses, just means that one doesn't really have any determination in becoming who they say they want to become (-_-") No time? Make time! ('_^ ) One usually has a lot of that when they also have a lot of money as well.
1 person likes this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
20 Oct 11
I believe its something that you have to practice at to make better. Like when you are first learning it in school the teach had you practic over and over until it got better.
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
20 Oct 11
I agree too. With more practice the handwriting can be better.
1 person likes this
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Yes, and the same is true of all things we do. Practice makes perfect. Or as much as can be anyway.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
19 Oct 11
Good handwriting is something that is learned. When I was in school I had won awards for the best handwriting. But as the years went on, my hand writing became more and more unreadable. Now I write like a doctor. I do agree with that fact that computers changed the way we view handwriting. I know now I prefer typing on a computer then writing on paper. But, not everyone can have perfect handwriting. Don't think about it.
@2wicelot (2945)
19 Oct 11
It seems the more we practice the better we write. I wonder why doctors have very unreadable handwriting. I guess they may have practised for it.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
19 Oct 11
I don't know, but they are always in a rush when they write. So that must have something to do with it.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Oct 11
When I was in school we had a class caled penmenship we had to practice the letter I noticed I used to write on unlined paper and the lines were always straight across the page if I take my time not to skribble my letter are all pretty even
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Oct 11
thanks and yup I do as long as I can write I have it
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Oct 11
thanks and yup I do as long as I can write I have it
@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
That is really cool. It is really exciting that you had that class as a child. It has all paid off and now you have the skill for life.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
17 Oct 11
As for me, it was something that I learned. I had a very strict teacher in school.
2 people like this
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
Sometimes we only appreciate strict teachers when we are all grown up. They really make us really learn the things we need and master them when we were young.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
17 Oct 11
LOL I had a nun than would come around and straighten my paper because it always slanted too far. She never 'rapped my knuckles' but nagged a lot....
2 people like this
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Oct 11
I think it is something we learn. I can remember spending my week-ends rewriting my school work so it looked nice. I was told I had very nice handwriting and I prided myself on that. I think you can learn to write better. Practice makes perfect. You can do it if you want it bad enough.
@2wicelot (2945)
19 Oct 11
That is really cool. You learnt to write well at a young age. I guess I can still learn to do that now as well.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Oct 11
You're never too old.
17 Oct 11
It's definitely learned. I remember when I was just entering adolescence, I decided I didn't like my writing and wanted to change it. So I did. You just have to remember to concentrate and pay attention when you're writing so that the new style becomes your normal one. Of course, these days I write very rarely with a pen, just like you. Mostly 'cos I type quicker!!
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@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
So it is actually possible to learn to write better. I would have to find time to teach myself that. But the trouble is as I mentioned above I do very little writing these days anyway.
• United States
18 Oct 11
Luckily for me since I was young I had pretty descent and nice handwritting. My hubby on the other hand, most of the time you can't even understand what he is writting. If you continue to practice and write more often, there is a possiblity that you handwritting skills could improve. But like you said we have gotten so accustomed to computers and/or typing that we don't tend to practice in our handwritting skills. In my line of work most of what I do involves computers, but there are times that I write notes in my files and those I tend to handwrite them, so at least I get to practice it there.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
You are really fortunate to have a good handwriting since you were young. It is really cool that you are still able to practice writing even with the keyboards all other the place.
• United States
19 Oct 11
Even though my handwritting is pretty good, I still prefer my computer it is so much easier just to press the buttons on the keyboard and voala my letters magically appear.
• Indonesia
17 Oct 11
a good hand writing is something we learn. more you use, more you can. so, if you wanna have a good handwriting, just write everyday. what you wanna write? up to you.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
It really requires practice it seems. But these days I do very little writing.
• Indonesia
17 Oct 11
maybe you can wite about what you see while you walk. or your activity.
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@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
That's another good idea. I would try that too.
@Jlyn10 (11966)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 11
I think our handwriting is something we learned. Maybe as we see our handwriting so often that we find it as bad handwriting but others don't see it as bad. Some would say that our handwriting is nicer than theirs.
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@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
But I would think if we see our writing all the time we may get so familiar with it and not realise that it is not as good as it should be.
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@Jlyn10 (11966)
• Malaysia
19 Oct 11
I always see mine as not very nice, but many of my friends said that mine is nicer than theirs.
• Canada
17 Nov 11
I know it is learned and not a born talent. I am a poor hand writer and I always had trouble with it since I was a kid in school. I tried and tried when I was young but always found it difficult. Then when I was in grade 2 I saw a girl using her other hand to write so I tried it with my other hand and it was better and it felt better. Turns out I am left handed but never realized it for some time. Then when my teacher noticed I was using my left hand she asked me why and I told her it felt easier and she wouldn't let me use and and insisted I use my right hand. When she would catch me using my left hand, myself and the other girl I saw before, she would hit us on the hand with her yard stick. It hurt enough that I would use my right hand for awhile again, but I always ended up switching back to my left hand. So after a few weeks I told my mom and she went to the school and put a stop to that. I was always allowed to use my left hand after that and could print a lot better. Now I usually am typing but when I have to write something I use my left hand. littlemissy here signing off for now, talk to you later my new friend
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
23 Dec 11
That is an interesting discovery. I have seen some people who can actually write with both left and right hands.
• Canada
6 Jan 12
My brother, who is 8 years older than me, can use both left and right hands to write but he is most comfortable using his left hand as well.
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
26 Nov 11
Personally, I feel Good handwriting is something that most people have to learn and work on and develop. Many times you will see where someone might get a Bad grade due to their Writing and spelling. To where enough times if people continue to encourage them they do succeed and Good things happen from there.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
23 Dec 11
I agree with your points absolutely.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
17 Oct 11
I think that this is a learned skill. I know that when I was young, we had writing exercises. I always felt proud that I could write well and had a relatively good penmanship. When I went to college, we had an drawing class where everything had to be written down as if by machine. I excelled in it. If you have the time, I think you could re-learn it!
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
You are really fortunate to be able to write so well. There was a colleague of mine who writes as if it was printed by a printer. It is a skill you learn but it seems some are born with this gift.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
18 Oct 11
A printer! When I write, I could write as if it was done on a printer too! But nowadays, I could only do it for so long. When my arm and hand gets tired, it doesn't look like it came out from a printer. When I'm tired, it looks like it was done by a broken down old typewriter!
@umabharti (3972)
• India
17 Oct 11
Handwriting is something which we practice when we are young.If in the childhood we practice the handwriting then as we grow up there willbe a good handwriting with us.If we do not have good practice then we scribble.
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@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
I tend to scribble a lot. . I remember I was taught to write as a child but for some reason I never could write well.
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@umabharti (3972)
• India
17 Oct 11
its okay friend,if u feel that ur scribbling what does that matter,if ur a good typist then u can use the computer and type beutifully ,y u worry ?
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
Yes, good handwriting can be learned. Had you been so keen in learning how to write legibly and nicely when you were in school, your handwriting could have bee nicer as you just want it to. But no one's too old to learn . You can try to practice and master writing now.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
I think when we practice and with time we should be able to improve our handwriting.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
19 Oct 11
Learning how to write could be done through constant practice. if you want a nice handwriting then practice how it could be done .
@globaldoc (858)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
The handwriting is actually an inborn skill. The style is dependent on one's growth and individuality. However, there are so many people who have lousy handwriting because of their poor attitude. They tend to be lazy and have lousy handwritings.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
18 Oct 11
Nice outlook to writing. It is a skill we are born with and probably can be improved with hard work.
@Jlyn10 (11966)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 11
But wouldn't practice make them write better?
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@shanemae (1025)
• Philippines
17 Oct 11
i was bad in writing too. i am so insecure with my boyfriend's penmanship because he writes legibly. it's such a shame that me as the girl have this bad hand writing. maybe i got this from my father.lol! he's writing is really bad. but now, i am happy that it has improved so i think with you. practice would perfect it. so just practice.
1 person likes this
@2wicelot (2945)
17 Oct 11
I think it just boils down to practice. The more I practice the better I get. Cheers.
@shanemae (1025)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
that is true. we.... just have to practice and practice until we do better with our hand writing.