Crappy handwriting

[shootingstar]

Unfortunately no matter how hard I seem to try, my handwriting is a bit messy. Of course, over the years it hasn't improved with greater reliance on computers. I think I gave someone a shock who requested that I provide handwritten answer with a diagram. It was for a test.

I'm sure it left a fantastic impression.

Too bad I couldn't have done in hand calligraphy which I can do if have lots of time!!

[ttaylor508]

I am "write" there with you. My hand writing is terrible. I rarely hand write anything and when I do, I print just so people can read it. Very bad, I know....

I think you are right, with greater reliance on computers, you lose the skill to write legibly when you don't practice. My spelling has gotten worse too with relying on the auto correct function.

[PamNY]

I heard an interesting interview with the author of this book
about handwriting.

Listening to the interview didn't make my handwriting any better.

Pam

[shootingstar]

Since it's been ten thousand years since I've taken a real credit course where testing involved writing essay questions, I'll ask the obviously stupid:

Are essay response tests still happening in spades at college/university? I am certain I unintentionally lowered my marks for certain tests, simply because my handwriting became barely legible.

Nowadays when I stand up to instruct briefly on something or to discuss something with a group, I scrawl (il)legibly ?? on the flipchart. Please, please not everything can be done on the fly, on laptop for projection sceen, especially for free-flowing flowcharting and conceptual modelling.

(Yea, well not every workplace has a Smart board.) This is where it might help still, to have naturally legible handwriting.

[aka_kim]

That book sounds interesting!

My handwriting is atrocious. I don't believe I'm able to write cursive for anything but my signature, which is a hideous scrawl. When forced, for the occasional check or to address a letter, I print slowly and painfully, and still end up with an embarrassing mess.

I read an article which said that handwriting analysis is part of the job interview process in France. Guess I'd never find work there.

[Tuckervill]

I don't have good cursive, but I have a good handwriting that's a semi-print, if I take my time. I never take my time!

I never even bothered to teach my youngest son (homeschooled) how to write in cursive, because everyone I know who had to learn it in school wrote any old way they wanted to once they were out of school anyway. I just told him the idea is to get the point across, and it didn't matter how it is written, as long as it is readable.

Computers have ruined my handwriting, that's for sure. But handwriting what you want to write has advantages. I had to prepare a 20 minute talk this week, and I handwrote it first, because something about it just slows the brain down and makes the act of writing so much more interesting. Then I typed it up and edited it on the computer!

Karen

[tulip]

I read an article which said that handwriting analysis is part of the job interview process in France. Guess I'd never find work there.

It is, at least it was 10 years ago when I was job searching there. The cover letters had to be hand written. I even took a course that taught the proper format and margins to maintain. I never got a job over there, so maybe it was because of my handwriting...

I am a landscape architect and city planner, so I have neat printing (architect-like), but my script is not so nice anymore. I think it's because I just don't practice.

[shootingstar]

jeez, I can only type 35 wmp still..on computer.

Several months ago I was amazed to see incoming engineering design manuals with 40 pages of neatly handwritten mathematical design caculations and notes. Don't know how easy it is to type those huge formulae but alot of engineers don't have great handwriting or printing.

Oak, made an interesting point about spontaneous note-taking. That is still necessary to certain types of jobs involving on the spot inspections and investigations where audiotaping and videotaping still isn't enough.

And those notes can be taken seriously later on..for court or at least for compliance purposes.

On the flip side, I took several courses on Western hand calligraphy which include the border illumination work (the fancy floral stuff). I know I have a natural hand for executing perfect 45 degree or 33 degree angle script, depending on the style ..without line guide underneath.

[Crankin]

I use a mix of print and cursive, but I can print really nicely (all those years of writing on the board).
It's true, about using a computer to take notes, as Oakleaf said. I brought my lap top to class once last fall; that was it. I was also too tempted to get online! Almost everyone, including the 20 somethings take notes by hand.
But, I am pretty sure they are not writing in cursive. My husband can barely read cursive.

[Tuckervill]

More on how computers may hinder a writer, from a friend's blog:

http://ohtheresjustnotelling.blogspo...t-i-wrote.html

Karen