Among Friends

[sunshine45]

My adult children all print if necessary, even though they all learned cursive.  Otherwise, they do almost everything on a computer. Most schools around here stopped teaching cursive.  They are probably teaching them more computer skills now, which isn't a bad thing.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I have always admired beautiful handwrighting.  I always took pride in my own and have been complimented on it many times.  Sadly, with aging and arthritis I don't have the control I once did so it's not up to par, IMO.  I still use cursive, but sometimes print as well. 

[songbird]

I print.  I always have.  I never learned cursive writing.  I'm left handed.  I had a terrible time.  When I did, I was criticized by slanting my letters the opposite way.  We were supposed to learn this in the third grade.  I was in Italy.  The have very stylized writing. When I came to the U.S. my English was printed.  I guess the teachers gave up.  I was given a D in it.  A complete failure.  My husband has beautiful cursive writing.  He went to a private school.

[willowbark]

Wish I had an excuse for my cursive that has become so bad I can't read it most of the time.

I would leave a note for my husband - a very important one too and he'd tell me what does it say I can't read it hours later.  

[Effie54]

I'm totally old,school! I have very nice handwriting (so I've been told many times). I enjoy taking my time, handwriting cards, notes and whatever comes along. I think it's a shame that cursive is a lost art. 

[songbird]

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@Effie54 wrote:

I'm totally old,school! I have very nice handwriting (so I've been told many times). I enjoy taking my time, handwriting cards, notes and whatever comes along. I think it's a shame that cursive is a lost art. 

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It is in a way.  It's a very personal way of writing.  For writing long letters, etc. Even the way you read good cursive writing.  Your eyes never miss the next sentence.  It flows along.  I still admire it.  Even if I was a disaster learning it.

[Boehm Collector]

Yes, I still use cursive whenever I hand write anything.  

[Sunshine Kate]

I learned to write cursive in school and that's all I write.  I dislike  printing as cursive is quicker and easier.

My grandchildren didn't learn to write in cursive only print.  They don't know how to read cursive either and don't want to learn.

It's sad, in my opinion.

Kind of like going to the grocery store nowadays and the cashiers don't know how to count change.

My granddaughter learned how to divide and had to show her work on paper.  A problem like 34/589 had two pages of showing work.  

I showed her the easy way to divide, as I learned, but the teacher told her she can't work the problem that way.

[just bee]

This, according to the app Writey:

While often used interchangeably, handwriting and penmanship aren’t quite the same. 

Handwriting is personal. It’s the messy writing on a sticky note or the quick reminder written during a meeting. Think of it as the raw, unfiltered way you express ideas on paper.

On the other hand, penmanship is about precision, style and artistry. It’s careful and calm, each stroke flows smoothly on the page. 

To put it simply: handwriting reflects the writer’s personality, while penmanship shows their discipline.

Understanding the difference isn’t just words; it’s about valuing a lost art and everyday use. Handwriting is a snapshot of personality. It’s unique, flawed, and deeply human. Penmanship, however, is a commitment to craft. It’s a deliberate choice to slow down and embrace the art of the written word.

In our digital age, where typing is the norm, you might wonder if penmanship still matters. The truth is, it does. Studies suggest that practicing penmanship improves:

• Fine motor skills: Writing by hand requires coordinated hand movements.
• Retention and comprehension: The act of writing helps reinforce memory.
• Cognitive connections: Writing in cursive strengthens neural pathways between the brain’s hemispheres.

Penmanship isn’t just about making things look pretty on paper, it’s an essential skill that supports deeper cognitive processes. Plus, it carries a certain emotional value that digital text can’t quite match.

[just bee]

The good news:

Many school districts are reintroducing cursive to the curriculum.