I love my handwriting. I read that cursive handwriting is not going to be taught in schools anymore. I can see that it probably isn't needed, but I am glad I was taught "penmanship" way back when.....

I used to, but as I get older, my handwriting is pretty awful. Mostly, now when I want to 'write' a letter, I use the computer and printer and just put my own signature on the bottom. That way I'm sure the recipient will be able to read the letter. If's kinda strange, when I was in my 40's, my handwriting looked just like my Mom's.

My cursive handwriting has always been awful. I prefer to print notes,list,messages,cards,etc. My printing is big and neat. My handwriting, not so good. I really tried to learn and train myself from childhood. I remember bringing honme a report card with A's and B's in all the subjects but a big fat D in handwriting. My parents were disappointed. I still remember that to this day. And I'm 58 years old,that was a long time ago.

But I do like my signature-over the years, I developed a fancy loop on my "J" for Jannie/Janice. I thought it was unique until I saw my dentists's signature and he uses the same J loop. His first name is James.

I think we inherit our handwriting. Mine is a combination of my mom's and my dad's, I think--and theirs were quite different. I've always gotten compliments on it. Sometimes I make it look more "artistic" for fun.

My handwriting is very good, except that I get in a hurry (brain works faster than hand) and get sloppy. Also, I love shorthand and sometimes it creeps into things I am writing. Unfortunately, most people can't read shorthand...

My handwriting used to be very good, but arthritis in my hands has made it almost illegible. My signature is now a scrawl.
I usually print now, or type out and print.

I used to love handwriting and mine was pretty but as I have gotten older it isn't quite as neat. Depending on my mood, my handwriting did change and I could do different styles.

I think I have good handwriting, although some that I have seen is better. When I was in school I had a teacher that would make you write over and over until you got it right. That was a grade we had on report card. My husband says that none of his teachers stressed the importance of good penmanship and his writing is worse than awful. If it gets cold you cannot read it.

Mine used to be very good. People used to ask me to address wedding invitations and such for them... they don't ask anymore. My handwriting has deteriorated over the years.

I take after my mother in the penmanship category. Her writing is beautiful. I won an award in 3rd grade for the best writing. I run a business and once in while a subcontractor will ask me why I hand write envelopes when printing a label is easier. My answer is always the same: I like my handwriting and prefer to write them.

I'm also a professional Calligrapher and get paid for it. I think having good writing helps with being a good Calligrapher, though I did take classes to learn the basics.

My handwriting has always been very good and I like it. However, now that arthritis is settingin it gets and looks more difficult. I have always loved to write, and have journals around....and discovered long ago that writing oftentimes reveals, to myself, what is really on my mind. I too have tried Calligraphy and never really got very far.

My handwriting depends on my mood. I can't write very well if I don't have lined paper. I taught myself cursive without anyone ever correcting me. My handwriting is unique. I've been told it is pretty by some people.

I agree it must be inherited. My daughter's writing, which is half writing/half printing is exactly like her fathers, and he died when she was 17 months old. It's sort of eerie.

Not really I have kept that aspect of the medical profession I guess, plus with my hands the way they are now it sure is not getting any better, I am very thankful to be able to type most stuff.

My husbands is very good so if something needs writing around here he usually does it. His is very mathematical/ engineer like.

When I was in school I was taught penmanship and I have very good handwriting, but when I went in the Air Force I had a job where I had to sign my name 600 to 1000 times a day, You can imagine what they did to my handwriting,

Now on the security card at my bank it says,,,"If you can read the signature its forged"

I used to have good penmanship but over the years it has deteriorated. With computers being in everyone's home now it is easy to just send an email so no writing involved.

I dread it when I have to write something to mail out. My handwriting is so bad now and I get nervous so I tend to make mistakes.

I used to have beautiful handwriting, but now it's barely legible. Often times I can't even read my own shopping list when I get to the store and my memory stinks, so I can't remember what it was that I needed.

I do like my handwriting, I've been told it is artistic. (The artistic part of me ends there!) But just like Wanda, I sometimes get ahead of myself!! I did calligraphy for many years, but haven't picked up my pens for at least 3 years.

My handwriting has never been that great but now as I am getting older and also I have nerve damage in my right hand, my handwriting is really, really bad. I print my grocery shopping lists and should probably print when I need to write a note on a greeting card I send.

I find it hard to read my own handwriting. just make notes now. when in school I had an opportunity to skip 6th grad but my hand writing was at fault.
I used to copy someone elses writing style and it was better then .

I like mine ok,especially if i have room to write it.If i have to cram it into a little space,then not so much.

The op is correct in that the schools not teaching cursive.Last year when i gave my GS his b'day card,he opens it and hands it back to me saying"i can't read cursive" What??? You're in 5th grade,but they don't teach it to us anymore.

I don't agree with that as there are a lot of us older folks around that still write in cursive.

So as they get older will they have to print their signature on a check,a contract and things like that.

They already can't count back change from a cash register unless the register tells them what is owed.

Sorry state of the world we're going to live in!!! JMHO
Kathi

No. I remember in grade school we had paper with wide lines so we could practice getting all the curves in the right place; what went below the line and what went above it. Can't remember the name of the book we used to practice from.

Never managed to get it right. And I always, even now if I'm trying to write a letter, I start out okay but then I'm writing uphill.

I love to see pretty cursive writing; my DH had beautiful handwriting, and my DD does.

Mine is also in that chicken-scratching category.

Sue

I am old enough to remember push pulls and ovals exercises in penmanship class. The teachers today probably never heard of them.

I still write a fairly pretty cursive.

Did you ever see a sample of Nancy Reagan's writing?

I remember them as well, Soxxx. I think it is sad that cursive is disappearing, it really is a thing of beauty. Didn't Nancy Reagan print?

Kids in 3rd and 4th grade are taught cursive here. I'm more worried about the kids inability to spell. I hate phonics. My 8 yo dd writes all the time. I can't read a large majority of it because her spelling is horrible.

I tend to like it fairly well ... when I can read it ... and that really is true, for sometimes recently when trying to read something I've written, even recently, e.g. grocery list ... I find it hard to decipher the word.

I've developed a bit of a wiggle and a jiggle in my writing fingers, recently.

It seems that "cursed" and "cursive", if not closer together in the dictionary than I thought, it seems that they are getting to be so in real life!

ole joyful

My husband went to a Catholic school...and he still remembers the smacks on the wrist from the nuns during writing class!

I was taught cursive in the 60's elementary schools -- back when teachers had kids practice daily with a set method. No making up your own interpretations or doing it "your way"! My handwriting was pretty good, but for the last 20 years I've been using a keyboard more than a pen or pencil, so it's not as consistent as it used to be.

My daughter had terrible handwriting for years, I think because her pre-kindergarten teacher gave the kids pencils and let them 'draw' the letters with no instruction where to start the pencil, when to push, when to pull, etc. So watching her print was painful ... there was no "flow" to it. She struggled for years.

But now she has beautiful printing, and quite nice cursive too! What made the difference was she took a Drafting class in 11th grade. I have no idea what method the teacher used, but now dear daughter's printing looks like it was professionally type set. And she can write fast -- absolutely amazing. I'd recommend any high school kids out there look into taking a Drafting class if their school offers it.

it's a wonder I can write at all...my first grade teacher would make me slant my paper for a right hander...I was left handed...Mom had a nice little talk with her and she left me alone after that...I'm not one who curves my hand around but my handwriting is still pretty good if you don't mind leaning to the left!

Liz, that's like Mom. She was left-handed, and she always turned the paper, instead of her hand.

Her writing is slanted to the right.

I remember vividly practicing ovals and the proper way to form letters.

I enjoy writing. When I'm in the mood, I like my writing and DH often compliments it. When I'm in a hurry, though boy even I have a hard time reading it.

I write out my recipes........weird huh.

Most of the time I like my handwriting.

Sue

Yes I do. Because in 4th grade my principal taught me (a lefty) the proper position for a lefty so that I would write legibly and without the 'lefty hook'. Because so many teachers do not know how to address the needs of a Left-hander, I wrote a book titled, 'Left-Handed But Not Left Behind, A Positive Approach for the Left-Handed Student'. In it there is a chapter on the importance of handwriting and I developed a Cursive method just for lefties. I think we should work to keep cursive alive. However, since cursive is losing popularity, I suggest that teachers and parents at least teach the student/lefty to write their name in cursive so that they will have an attractive and distinct signature.

My Dad was left handed and he did not write like I have seen most left handed people write. He did not curve his hand around to write.

Sue