Community Chat

[Halcyon]

The perennial discussion inquiring about cursive handwriting and how technology has potentially influenced its demise appeared this week. It spun off into a topic asking if posters still engage in the activity themselves. I read a few responses, all the while wondering:

Do any of those, who insist that it is ever so important for children to read and write cursive, concern themselves with the two most important points of writing: grammar and punctuation??

They are surely as important, if not more important, than script handwriting. Yet, it is often a true challenge to find the two mastered in our modern society of email, Facebook, blog, Twitter, and bulletin board writings. Adults and children alike are culprits.

I do not mean to put anyone under the intense microscope of scrutiny, nor am I offering censure. I, of course, understand that the odd mistake is inevitable, for no one is infallible. Further, I do indeed realize that conveying one's idea is often times more important than how one conveys said idea, especially in a pithy text or on an informal bulletin board. However, I am curious if an effort is even made any more to: accurately use capitalization, distinguish between homonyms, correctly employ punctuation, and ensure proper spelling?

It is a valid query, for never mind knowing how to write in script, syntax is woefully lacking in our society. Why is this so?