choice of pen nib and handwriting style

[arbatrmwc]

"An abstract quality" - that's one way to put it! :ltcapd: I'll have to remember that...

[Sakura]

Here's my sample contribution. I'm another lefty who has had to adapt. My writing changed a lot when I was in school, but in it's "final" state it was influenced by the pretty writing of a high school friend (it stopped changing so much after that). Still, it's quite different from hers..my interpretation, I guess? She was right-handed.

 

I don't dislike my writing, but there are parts of it that feel awkward, I can't quite pinpoint it. My mother loves my handwriting, she's always asking me to address envelopes for her. But I think that's because she hates her own writing, not because mine is especially great or even legible. In fact, people are always confusing my lower case "n"s and "u"s. Try as I might, they do look the same, I'll admit that.

 

 

Edited July 26, 2007 by Sakura

[Hélène]

Recently I have been writing with my Pelikano with a left handed nib, I learned traditional cursive in 3rd grade, I never got the hang of it and printed until freshman year (9th grade) when I started relearning traditional cursive, I mainly tried to develope nice printing sophomore and junior year. Mid junior year I started to write in cursive and have been writing in/improving my cursive since then. I have learned some Italic this summer and now use a hybrid of traditional "American" cursive, French cursive, and Italic with letters from other sourses mixed in.

Edited August 3, 2007 by Hélène

[nigeldun]

How do you write?

 

It would be great too see the handwritings that people use -- especially in the hybrid/italic groups. What if you came up with a short set of words for people to copy, Kate?

[PAKMAN]

I was looking back through my journal tonight and noticed that six other people have been writing in it. They are all my thoughts but I swear that there are 6-7 different handwritings in there!!! I change pens and nibs and inks often and only write a page or two with a pen before I move on to another pen/nib/ink. It is ridiculous how much my handwriting changes from page to page. I know using the different nib sizes and inks contributes but other factors like - how big of a hurry am I in, what time of day I am writing, how tired I am, if I am concentrating on writing neatly, etc. -seem to affect the handwriting greatly. You really wouldn't believe it was the same person if you picked up this journal! The only consistent thing is my inconsistency!!!

[Clive Merrick Morel]

How do you write?

 

When filling-out forms, making journal entries, or jotting-down notes:

• Careful printing (as exacting as possible)

However, when "writing" writing:

 

• "School" cursive script

-Clive

 

 

[Bristolian]

May I please draw on the evident depth of knowledge of this thread to help my own handwriting? I really havent consciously followed any particular style, but I have found that an oblique nib (left-foot) has helped me write a little more legibly. Im trying to improve my style to enable me to take fast and legible notes (to be read by others) so shorthand isnt really an option. All suggestions gratefully received! This is my sample (doctor...!) which is done at a speed half-way between 'nice-n-neat' and 'get-it-down-quick' so probably a good average. Oh, and using a Pelikan M1000 with medium oblique nib and Sailor Jentle Black.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p206/Surveyor64/dwritingsample1.jpg

Regards

 

David

 

[andyk]

If I want other people to be able to read it I print (or write very carefully) if it's just for me I use proper joined up writing.

 

Andy

[Titivillus]

I pick up a pen and write..I don't have much truck being forced into a particular style. I feel it stunts my individuality :ltcapd:

[funzoneplanet]

non-italic styled print. But hope to someday buy a fountain pen with an italic nib to try italic writing.

 

If anybody has a few and would like to donate one to me please pm me. I promise that I would use it on a fairly steady basis.

[inkypointer]

Okay, colour me STUPID!, but I have been reading here and I am very new to fountain pen world and all the different nib selections. What is the difference in italic (I pretty much understand what those are used for, how they write, etc.) and a stub??? I like calligraphy and have done a bit of italic calligraphy, but I want to do more cursive style towards spencerian, copperplate. Just what does a stub nib do???

[Tournevis]

Though I can write a perfect French cursive if I want to, and my capitals/block is quite fine, my "normal writing" is not pretty and varies a lot. It is at its worse when I use a ballpoint or a rollerball. If I write fast, it can be illegible. With a fountain pen, the necessity to hold it at a certain angle makes my writing a lot better. My husband still thinks I write chicken scratches, but he has trouble reading anybody's handwriting but his own. In short, my everyday handwriting is irregular at best, but there is a story behind it.

 

When I was in primary school, in first grade, I learned to write cursive directly. We never learned block. So when I changed schools in the middle of the second year, I started in a class who were following a different programme and were just starting to learn to write, entirely in block. Since I already knew how to write, and to write cursive to boot, I did not see the point in learning "kid's writing" (I was 6, smart and stubborn as an ass). To make a long story short, after several sheets of letters where I got a zero for writing cursive instead of block, I had to unlearn to write cursive, in order to write block. When we went back to cursive, it was no longer natural for me. I can still write a perfect French cursive, but I have to think to do it. If I just write, notes for instance, it comes out like a bastardised hybrid of cursive, block and just plain crooked.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2007 by Tournevis

[myles]

What is the difference in italic (I pretty much understand what those are used for, how they write, etc.) and a stub??? I like calligraphy and have done a bit of italic calligraphy, but I want to do more cursive style towards spencerian, copperplate. Just what does a stub nib do???

 

Hi Leanna,

 

I'm a fountain pen newbie myself, but from what I understand a stub (I've also seen "stub italic") is a little like an italic nib but with a lot more rounded edges and corners, and less of a width/height ratio in the lines it write (more like 2:1 or even 1.5:1, unlike an italic ratio of more like 3:1 or 4:1), so it writes very quickly and smoothly but gives less variation between the thin and thick strokes you can get from an italic. Good for lots of general faster constant writing rather than slower prettier writing, and good for when you are tired and can't get that finicky italic nib to write properly. So a stub is a good alternative to a standard round nib, with a little more expressiveness to the lines.

 

There is also the difference between a crisp italic - like writing with the edge of a very tiny knife and can cut right through paper in the hands of the inexperienced, but it gives very clear edges and good thick/thin variation - and a cursive italic, which has slightly rounded corners and edges but not as far as a stub italic, and is easier for the less experienced, or for somewhat faster and more constant writing.

 

For copperplate/Spencerian, you might be more interested in flex nibs, although I believe learning to use them properly requires some commitment.

 

Credit for the correct information in this post goes to the wonderful members of this forum and the fantastic and informative website of nibmeister Richard Binder - here's a good page to read for this particular topic: http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_beyond.htm which has useful information and writing examples from stub, crisp italic, cursive italic and flex nibs.

See also http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_primer.htm and http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_flex_italic.htm

 

Any misleading information in this post comes from my incorrect understanding.

 

Regards, Myles.

[inkypointer]

What is the difference in italic (I pretty much understand what those are used for, how they write, etc.) and a stub??? I like calligraphy and have done a bit of italic calligraphy, but I want to do more cursive style towards spencerian, copperplate. Just what does a stub nib do???

 

Hi Leanna,

 

I'm a fountain pen newbie myself, but from what I understand a stub (I've also seen "stub italic") is a little like an italic nib but with a lot more rounded edges and corners, and less of a width/height ratio in the lines it write (more like 2:1 or even 1.5:1, unlike an italic ratio of more like 3:1 or 4:1), so it writes very quickly and smoothly but gives less variation between the thin and thick strokes you can get from an italic. Good for lots of general faster constant writing rather than slower prettier writing, and good for when you are tired and can't get that finicky italic nib to write properly. So a stub is a good alternative to a standard round nib, with a little more expressiveness to the lines.

 

There is also the difference between a crisp italic - like writing with the edge of a very tiny knife and can cut right through paper in the hands of the inexperienced, but it gives very clear edges and good thick/thin variation - and a cursive italic, which has slightly rounded corners and edges but not as far as a stub italic, and is easier for the less experienced, or for somewhat faster and more constant writing.

 

For copperplate/Spencerian, you might be more interested in flex nibs, although I believe learning to use them properly requires some commitment.

 

Credit for the correct information in this post goes to the wonderful members of this forum and the fantastic and informative website of nibmeister Richard Binder - here's a good page to read for this particular topic: http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_beyond.htm which has useful information and writing examples from stub, crisp italic, cursive italic and flex nibs.

See also http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_primer.htm and http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/nib_flex_italic.htm

 

Any misleading information in this post comes from my incorrect understanding.

 

Regards, Myles.

Thank you so much, Myles. This info and clarification was very helpful to me. Thank you again!

[konstantinos_d]

Here is a sample from my horrid notetaking on an A5 notepad (light paper but does not bleed). I am determined to try and improve my handwriting, though at this point speed is much more important than quality, as long it stays legible. This is a mixed style (I wouldn't even dare to call it handwriting) typical of when I write latin characters, when writing in greek I tend to print each letter more. Blue ink is PR Supershow Blue with a Parker 25 Fine, Red ink is Diamine (don't remember which) with a Pelikan M100 X-Fine.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2023/1809345740_068dfe59f0_o.jpg

Edited October 31, 2007 by konstantinos_d

[alexanderino]

Generally, I tend to lean towards italic cursive, regardless of the pen used. However, the italic and/or could vanish depending on my mood.

 

I shall now attach a writing sample. This was written fast [my usual speed], but without any regard to rhythm, uniformity or consistency. A Rotring Clipper pen containing a Parker Jotter gel refill was used.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/311846934_25323d3e4e.jpg

[caliken]

Generally, I tend to lean towards italic cursive, regardless of the pen used. However, the italic and/or could vanish depending on my mood.

 

I shall now attach a writing sample. This was written fast [my usual speed], but without any regard to rhythm, uniformity or consistency. A Rotring Clipper pen containing a Parker Jotter gel refill was used.

 

<a href=" title="Script"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/311846934_25323d3e4e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Script" /></a>

alexanderino :

Your writing looks good to me - even, clear, consistent and perfectly legible. Thanks for posting.

caliken

[caliken]

http://cantabgold.net/users/born/handwriting-1.jpg

 

This is how I write. I don't know how to call this style; it has developed from the Chancery Cursive I normally use for calligraphy. As you can see, not all the letters in the same word are joined. As to legibility, I'll let you be the judge.

 

I find a combination of a very wet, fine italic nib and Moleskine paper is the best, and I use the latter for all sorts of writing.

 

Regards,

Born

I know that this is a very late reply, but I've only just found this post.

 

This was written at speed with a lot of consistency - especially with the slope of the writing which is very even.

 

Also, you are able to write straight without guidelines, which is, by no means, easy.

This very distinctive writing looks like it could have been written a couple of centuries ago! This is possibly helped by the great choice of colour!

 

caliken

Edited November 3, 2007 by caliken

[alexanderino]

Thank you, caliken! Coming from you, that is high praise In fact, you’ve encouraged me to photograph and post a few more samples, this time written with a Sheaffer calligraphy fountain pen. Fine nib and a weird ink mix were combined with neurosis and insomnia to produce these trippy lines:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/1849063764_e85398dbd4.jpg

 

Dipping into the fascinating world of broad italic nibs:

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/1849202244_d64a8e2c51.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/1848380123_16c92c172a.jpg

 

Note the spelling mistake above

Edited November 3, 2007 by alexanderino

[alexanderino]

This is how I write.

:blink: Stunning and very elegant! I will strive to acheive your level of uniformity. Inspiring, indeed!