After & Before: I Choose Legibility

[dms525]

I never had really good handwriting. I started to learn Italic in college but could not continue with it after entering medical school. My "regular" cursive just got worse and worse as I increased my writing speed, trying (fruitlessly) to keep up with the professors. It stayed worse too.

 

A couple years ago, as I approached retirement, I resumed my study of italic writing. Now, in retirement, I use italic almost exclusively. It has become my everyday hand.

 

 

 

I hope this is seen as a message of hope by those seeking improved penmanship.

 

David

 

 

[mortiana27]

Wowser.

Very nice job on improving your handwriting!

[SuperNib44]

I actually really like your cursive, just as much as your italic.

[Randal6393]

Hi, David,

 

My story is similar to yours. My cursive was legible only through deciphering machines. So, about thirty years ago, I started on italic and made it my standard script. Was fortunate in that I never looked back.

 

Your cursive is quite legible, in the same way that most black-letter gothic scripts are legible -- the letters are distinct and can be puzzled out if the reader has any experience with that style of cursive. But italic is so much clearer and more precise. Sort of explains why italic took the European world by storm, as it were.

 

Enjoy,

[RobbW]

David, I find both your Italic printing and Cursive Italic to be legible and pleasant to the eye. Both are very nice. What ink are you using? Diamine Salamander or Noodler's Burma Road Brown, perchance?

[dms525]

David, I find both your Italic printing and Cursive Italic to be legible and pleasant to the eye. Both are very nice. What ink are you using? Diamine Salamander or Noodler's Burma Road Brown, perchance?

 

Thanks for your comments. You seem to like my cursive better than I do. Maybe we can work a trade?

The ink in the Piccolo is Pelikan Brilliant Black. I think the Naka-ai has Aurora Black, but it might be Waterman Black.

 

David

[dms525]

I actually really like your cursive, just as much as your italic.

 

I am astonished, as I have always disliked my cursive hand. Anyway, I'm glad you like it.

 

David

[dms525]

Hi, David,

 

My story is similar to yours. My cursive was legible only through deciphering machines. So, about thirty years ago, I started on italic and made it my standard script. Was fortunate in that I never looked back.

 

Your cursive is quite legible, in the same way that most black-letter gothic scripts are legible -- the letters are distinct and can be puzzled out if the reader has any experience with that style of cursive. But italic is so much clearer and more precise. Sort of explains why italic took the European world by storm, as it were.

 

Enjoy,

 

Thanks for your comment, Randal.

 

I never liked the cursive I was taught in elementary school. I would rather type. Italic, on the other hand (no pun intended), I can write for hours with pleasure. It makes me happy.

 

David

Edited January 25, 2014 by dms525

[kingcobradude]

your curive is a million times better than mine. I really like the Italic script though. makes me want an Italic nibbed pen.

[perth]

Every time I try italic, my paper looks like it had just developed a leak. And don't get me started on my so-called "cursive"; I only wish mine were as fluid and consistent and yours.

[adamselene]

How is the speed of your italic compared to cursive?

 

Unfortunately, my cursive turns into scrawled curves instead of letters, and legibility of patient notes is now expected. Italic and stub nibs helped for a while, but I've speeded up with those as well.

 

Beautiful writing!

[dms525]

How is the speed of your italic compared to cursive?

 

Unfortunately, my cursive turns into scrawled curves instead of letters, and legibility of patient notes is now expected. Italic and stub nibs helped for a while, but I've speeded up with those as well.

 

Beautiful writing!

 

My cursive italic is, on average, slower than my cursive. After a point, legibility decreases with increased speed with either hand, of course.

 

Most of my colleagues in office-based practice feel the gov't mandated EMRs slow them down, but hand-written notes that no one else can read has not been a good solution either. For the last 8 years or so of my practice, in a setting where I could make the rules, I used forms of my own devising and typed into them on a PC as I was taking my history. It was marvelous. I can type many times faster than I can write legibly by hand.

 

Thanks for the compliment.

 

David