Handwriting advice

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Fountain pens are much better for writing than ballpoints. I find using a fountain pen makes writing so much more fluent; it's easier and quicker due to the lesser friction and more fluid ink.

Now, that is something worth stating. When I was at grammar school (1956 -1962), we all used fountain pens and I will vouch for all that you say above concerning less friction. Gold nibs, although dearer, do give an excellant and smooth writing experiance. I used a fountain pen all my time at University (1962-1966). Of course, this was much prior to the use of home computers that is viewed as the norm these days. I do accept the fact that school work these days that is produced upon a computer is far easier for a teacher to read.

I still own a Parker Sonnet with a blue "marbled" design and do use this to sign all my letters. I still use it to write down notes that I make during telephone conversations. There seems no difficulty in purchasing good quality inks these days in our part of Cheshire East. Indeed, when I was visiting Hereford last Thursday, the stationers there stocked the Parker inks in black, blue red and green, plus a good selection of coloured inks used in calligraphy, which still is said to be a hobby with a following.

 

[Intermodal]

http://imgur.com/GvnXE

My handwriting is terrible. Top - written quickly, middle - written slowly, bottom - all caps.

If anyone can even read the top one I'd be shocked!

 

[90019]

If anyone can even read the top one I'd be shocked!

I can read the top, what do I win?

 

[Intermodal]

I can read the top, what do I win?

 

[90019]

Woo!

 

[bb21]

I don't understand the insistence on joint-up writing in schools. Before anyone has mastered the art of writing each letter legibly and neatly, how can they be taught joint-up handwriting? It's madness. It's like teaching a baby to run before he/she can walk properly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I don't understand the insistence on joint-up writing in schools. Before anyone has mastered the art of writing each letter legibly and neatly, how can they be taught joint-up handwriting? It's madness. It's like teaching a baby to run before he/she can walk properly.

I agree with you on that. It is better to learn how to write the shape of each individual letter first, both in lower-case then in capitals. Only then, when this has been learnt, can the progression to conjoining occur.

 

[43021HST]

My handwriting has the unusuality of looking neat and scruffy at the same time, then again I was taught to join up and that ruined my writing, but I dont like writing not joined up though because it takes too long.

I think females are generally better at handwriting with some exceptions.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thats creepy

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Good Morning, Tks again for the replies here. Further to my remarks above, I went into a stationery shop in Wimbledon yesterday and was lucky enough to find a caligraphy fountain pen set, with 3 different nibs. I have already tried it out, writing a few lines, phrases etc and it seems to work well, improving my handwriting. I think because it makes one slow down when writing. Maybe one day I'll even be able to do "Copper Plate" style.

Now I must get back to the writing practice and also looking for a new job. So if anyone wants a mature worker (51 years old,) willing to try anything reasonable in the South West London UK area, via PAYE and with a fair wage, all suggestions/offers would be gratefully received. (See my comments in thread 23 above.) Tks Steve.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The new pen I bought certainly seems to be improving the handwriting.

 

[valenta]

I know some other members have said this, but my biggest advice to improve your handwriting is not to write joined up.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I know some other members have said this, but my biggest advice to improve your handwriting is not to write joined up.

Yes, I am trying that too as well as keeping up the practice about an hour or so most days writing out the phrase "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" or similar excercises, (these are also used as typing & keyboard tests/excercises.) At first I found that rather hardgoing, but now I have got used to it, although it feels rather like having to write lines when we annoyed the schoolmasters when I was in school. Anyway it's worth doing to improve my handwriting, which may help my applications for new jobs following my being made redundant earlier this year. (The firm that I had been at for 21 years went into administration, another victim of the economic problems at the moment.)

 

[dfishw]

i dont know why schools insist on joined up though i guess it is a useful talent to have. The most important thing is for your writting to be readable. Ok joining up looks nice but it also makes it harder to read. I used to get criticised for my writting being "scruffy" but at least it was easy to read. The same people had the writting looking very nice and all joined up but of course there was one huge flaw: i couldnt read a word of it because it was all joined up!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I Am still keeping up the regular handwriting excercises and have now been praised for the improved script. It was a chore at first, but now I quite enjoy it. Rgds Steve.

 

[LCC106]

Glad to hear it, Steve. I currently work in HR and try to take grievance and disciplinary hearing notes verbatim. My writing is horrendous! It's so bad that even when I'm reading my notes back to participants at the end of the meeting I struggle to understand the odd word! I actually think I might do some practising myself. I have a fountain pen at home and generally think it improves my writing (I'm right handed) but one word of warning would be not to complete application forms in fountain pen. Keep up the good work!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Glad to hear it, Steve. I currently work in HR and try to take grievance and disciplinary hearing notes verbatim. My writing is horrendous! It's so bad that even when I'm reading my notes back to participants at the end of the meeting I struggle to understand the odd word! I actually think I might do some practising myself. I have a fountain pen at home and generally think it improves my writing (I'm right handed) but one word of warning would be not to complete application forms in fountain pen. Keep up the good work!

Thank you, it was an effort at first, but I am glad that I carried on with it. As mentioned above what I do is, practice for about an hour or so most days writing out the above mentioned phrase "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" phrase or similar excercises, at first I found that rather hardgoing, but now I have got used to it and quite enjoy it, although it feels rather like having to write out lines when we annoyed the schoolmasters when I was in school. Anyway it's worth doing to improve my handwriting. Hopefully It may improve my chance of getting a new job, I was made redundant last year and am still job seeking, it is very hard out there jobwise at the moment and not for the want of trying. Rgds Steve.