My Handwriting Is... Bad, And I'm So Desperate To Fix It.

[MynDuke]

Hello, I'm 18 years old an I've been trying to fix my handwriting since 8th grade. Before 8th grade, I use to write in cursive, which was the font that I was first taught. I then tried to write in print and managed to write better, well sort of, at least the letter were more lisible. Gradually, I changed my font for better handwriting and in 2014, when I was in 10th grade, my writing was quite nice, especially with traditionnal Pilot Frixion Ball and a Staedler Triplus Fineliner



But then, 11th grade came, taking notes becamed a hassle as the teacher read extremely fast and now, my writing rhythm is so fast that I can't write normally anymore. I'ved tried to beautify my font during Summer but entering this year in 12th grade, it hasn't helped much either. Please tell me what is my problem now and what I should do to make my writing more appreciable.

[ac12]

You WILL have to have 3 styles of writing.

#1 - FAST cursive writing to keep up with the teachers/professors. Beauty is of no concern, you just need to be able to read your notes.

#2 - A SLOWER more deliberate cursive writing. This is where your 'nice' handwriting is.

#3 - Printing.

 

#2 and 3 will require you to slow down. Think in your head 1-2-3 ... about 1 count a second. This may help you slow down for this writing. Draw loops, and see if you can slow down the loops to match your counting.

[ksm]

My handwriting was too slow to make longhand notes throughout my high school and university. If teacher/lecturer was just reading their notes I used to do the following:

 

• I've made extensive use of copies of notes made by class mates with more legible handwriting.
• I took bullet point notes to summarize what was said.
• I used (hidden) recording device as a backup in case I've missed something important.
• Much later I got a notebook, at 60 WPM my writing speed was equal to anyone using longhand.

Exclaimer:

• In Poland it is illegal for third party to record conversation without consent of other parties. Common understanding expressed by lawyers is, that this regulation implies it is legal to record conversation you're part of.
• If you record lecture. Do not share it. Lecturer can pounce on you for distributing recording of a lecture (or its transcription) as copyright infringement.

[Rednaxela]

From your letter forms it looks like you're ready to move back to cursive. You only need to change a handful of letters and force yourself to join them.

 

In general I don't think your handwriting is that bad at all. You maintain a pretty consistent slant and x-heights. Also your loops and semi extended letters are very nicely dimensioned.

 

Of course you have to stop writing with ball point pens. They take way too much pressure to make a line with. I suggest a capped (non retractable) gel pen/roller ball, for instance a uni-ball Signo or Eye, or perhaps a fountain pen.

 

Then practise every evening for half an hour or so, very mindfully writing out texts you like.

 

Hope this helps!

[zuerincolour]

You WILL have to have 3 styles of writing.

#1 - FAST cursive writing to keep up with the teachers/professors. Beauty is of no concern, you just need to be able to read your notes.

#2 - A SLOWER more deliberate cursive writing. This is where your 'nice' handwriting is.

#3 - Printing.

 

#2 and 3 will require you to slow down. Think in your head 1-2-3 ... about 1 count a second. This may help you slow down for this writing. Draw loops, and see if you can slow down the loops to match your counting.

 

I agree with this 100% - I have 3 styles of writing as well. Super fast cursive to write as fast as the lecturer speaks, slower cursive for taking my own notes at my own pace and full caps printing for labelling diagrams. Honestly, I don't think your handwriting is bad at all.

 

Though, the best way I learned to write fast and keep a relatively neat handwriting style when taking notes in classes was to learn to abbreviate commonly used words and only write down what is absolutely necessary. For example, I just took this from my notes: 2^o CW CSS dist. of PM is disorg. by loss of mt. To everyone else that may make no sense, but makes perfect sense to me. I also bullet point everything as well. If you fell like you'll want to expand on something to clarify later, leave a space to write neatly after class.

[akustyk]

Hello, I'm 18 years old an I've been trying to fix my handwriting since 8th grade. Before 8th grade, I use to write in cursive, which was the font that I was first taught. I then tried to write in print and managed to write better, well sort of, at least the letter were more lisible. Gradually, I changed my font for better handwriting and in 2014, when I was in 10th grade, my writing was quite nice, especially with traditionnal Pilot Frixion Ball and a Staedler Triplus Fineliner

 

FullSizeRender.jpg

 

But then, 11th grade came, taking notes becamed a hassle as the teacher read extremely fast and now, my writing rhythm is so fast that I can't write normally anymore. I'ved tried to beautify my font during Summer but entering this year in 12th grade, it hasn't helped much either. Please tell me what is my problem now and what I should do to make my writing more appreciable.

 

Thank you for asking.

 

Are you kidding? For an eighteen-year-old, your handwriting is spectacular! I mean it. Don't believe me? Ask for samples of handwriting from your classmates, and you will see. I can read every single word with ease. Your handwriting has uniformity, a nice flow, and a nice overall look.

Of course, you one can always improve one's handwriting. But, since legibility is not your problem, and it should not be a problem for your teachers, you can now focus on improving consistency. If you want to write cursive, that's fine, but my question is why? If you improve your existing handwriting in terms of consistency (so that letters and spacing between them alike), you will be amazed how much that will do. To switch to cursive, on the other hand, will require lost of work, practice, kind of like playing a new musical instrument. Do you have the time and patience to do that?

 

And, as always, our own ac12 has excellent advice! Nothing to add.

[Schadenfreude]

Adding an off topic comment here, sorry.

 

Your handwriting is readable and it's nice to see you're writing in two different languages

 

I think if you really want to improve is you can watch youtubers who write in cursive like federflug and openinkstand art & calligraphy, or take a look at palmer and spencerian scripts, practice every day without rushing. If you're already writing in cursive, be critical to the letters and try to correct. If full cursive handwriting has become natural for you, then in my opinion it is time to try to write faster.

 

Start with slow motion first....

Edited September 29, 2016 by Schadenfreude