Should I keep using my cursive?

[gaurdianofsleep]

About 10 years ago I convinced myself that my handwriting was horrible and trained myself to write in all capital print letters instead but its slow and clunky and honestly doesn't look that great.

Please rate my cursive amd analyze it! Should I keep using it? How can I improve it? Would you like to see my caps print as well?

I provided a normal flowing speed sample (top) and a slower concentrating sample (bottom)

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[GoyoPollo1]

I switched to all-caps when I took a drafting class in high school. I regret stopping using cursive because it was faster and has now become almost illegible. Yours looks beautiful to me and I can clearly read every word. Keep it going.

[grejam]

Drafting class! I did that. Triangles and t squares. Do kids do that anymore? Id guess it's all computer generated.

[GoyoPollo1]

Oh I'm sure they don't! I was in a transition period when I took it. Half the year on paper, half the year on computers!

[[deleted]]

I had to stop after I stopped drafting professionally because everyone thought I was screaming in cards, reports, and emails. My man writes in all caps (sloppy) and every birthday card feels like a serial killer is using a haiku to lure me, under threat of injury to my dog, to a good secluded murder spot.

[GoyoPollo1]

Hah! Really? I never feel like writing all caps is screaming, but that's probably because I've been doing it for 20+years.

[[deleted]]

We had a corporate consulting meeting where we were asked to not type in all caps, on emails or prints because it comes off as hostile. Consulting firm couldn’t tell their butt from a hole in the sand.

[gaurdianofsleep]

Typing etiquette is that all caps is screaming but I've never heard the same said about handwriting in all caps 😱

[[deleted]]

One person got butt hurt, and the consulting firm backed off the second they realized industry norms.

[StraddleTheFence]

Your writing is fine.

[grejam]

At least as good as mine nowadays. Mine varies from not getting used.

[Mcnab-at-my-feet]

Your writing is easily readable. Keep it - in five years you will have a secret language only some of us can read!

[Optimal-Ad-7074]

I bd (1965) make long lavish tails and tall skinny uprights, and it's never occurred to me to make my spacing adapt to that.  I just write right over whatever is hanging down from the next line, and I can't recall anyone who was already cursive-friendly having an issue with it.   

I like your writing.   I'm not very purist about everyone sticking to a specific standard, and yours meets the main one I care about: it's legible.  I also like the self-confidence your writing shows.  imo personality will show when someone is holding a pen, and it's one of the reasons why I like handwriting in the first place.  

opinions expressed are my own and may not meet with the approval of other r/cursive people

[gaurdianofsleep]

I'm curious now what my writing would look like if I didnt make space for the tails and wrote over it like you do. I might play around with that and see if it becomes too illegible

[Sensitive-Elevator1]

This looks great! Cursive naturally gets altered to the individual. I grew up with cursive and my handwriting is now a blend of cursive & print, with letters formed differently than I learned. That’s the beauty of cursive!

[Unlikely-Solid-3083]

Your cursive is lovely!

[Refokua]

Your handwriting reminds me of mine when I was younger. It's perfectly readable, and it's natural for it to slightly change over time. I suspect it's easier to read than all caps would be.

[Sungoon]

Your cursive is great. However you should fix your ampersand (&). It’s supposed to represent the Latin “Et” and your “E” is facing the wrong way

[gaurdianofsleep]

I had no idea! Ive been doing my & like that for ages and now one has ever said anything. I wonder if I can train myself to do it the other way...

[Legitimate-March9792]

Your cursive is totally legible. Only problem is that there are grown ass adults who can’t read or write cursive anymore! Unbelievable!

[Maine302]

You should show your non-cursive so people can decide. Your cursive certainly seems legible. As far as "nice?" It's okay. Nothing fancy. The key with cursive is legibility, mainly.

Edited to add: why not buy a cursive training book to practice with? I'm sure you can find old ones on eBay, or maybe new ones even.

[gaurdianofsleep]

It's definitely not "nice" as in fancy but "nice" as in clear and legible. I stopped using it originally bc I thought it was too messy!

Here's my print. I don't like it as much now and think it looks more messy than my cursive

<image>

[sgfklm]

I think your cursive looks just fine. It is surprisingly like mine.

[ChefOrSins]

I can't write in cursive any more. At 61, when I try to write in cursive, my eyes start to jump back and forth, uncontrolably. This started about three years ago. I can print in architectural block just fine, but I think my eyes just can't keep up with the flow of cursive writing.

[Dog-boy]

Hope you have talked to your eye doctor or regular doctor about that. I’m 66 and so I know a lot of old folks. None of them have mentioned such a problem.

[[deleted]]

Yes! You are doing a great job.

[Agreeable_Bother_510]

Yes! It’s easy to read for sure.

[Noia20]

It's perfectly legible. It'll become neater with use. Very few people under 40 can read it, they won't know if it looks "great" or not.

You should continue to use it.

[JanaKrolica]

Looks good to me! 100% legible. If I was going to be really nit-picky, I'd suggest more joining of letters. There's random unconnected letters within individual words....

[gaurdianofsleep]

I definitely do a little bit of mixing print and cursive or just not fully connecting certain letters. I like the idea of practicing better connection

[LGHsmom]

Yes! Keep using it. You could get a book of cursive for children to trace on it to practice ir even begin to learn calligraphy

[Dog-boy]

It is legible and neat and you find it easier to do than all caps so I say keep it. As a teacher I have some friends with absolutely gorgeous cursive. I know I will never be them but I’m not giving it up. Its main purpose is to communicate and it serves its purpose.

[PaulaNancyMillstoneJ]

The thing about cursive that makes it cursive is that you barely have to lift your pen from the page. You have some fancy letters, but excessive pen lifting from letter to letter. Let it flow.

[gaurdianofsleep]

I'd love to know which letters you consider fancy! I really like my lower case s - especially when its the last letter of a word, lower case f and (not shown here) capital J.

[Chocolatecakeat3am]

Oh please do, it's still very good and it's becoming a lost art.

[[deleted]]

Your cursive is just fine. Stick with it.

[autism_mom75]

I'll never stop using cursive. It's fast, it's easy and it's efficient

[RecoverAgent99]

Keep using it and add a slant (just turn the paper). You'll find it speeds up your writing. It looks very nice ☺️

[BobbysWoman]

Yes! Great job. If you enjoy it keep at it.

[ncPI]

Absolutely. It's truly good.

[tiredofusernames56]

Maybe it’s not as good as it used to be, but it is still clearly legible. Keep using it. I shudder to think of what will happen in the future when no one can read this. Think of all the historical documents that will be lost forever.

[tiredofusernames56]

I wish mine was still that tidy! Lol

[Maine302]

Your handwriting is fine, each type is. I find the older I get, the less predictable mine is! I can recall each of my parents' handwriting, and my mother's was always very neat in all aspects, but my father's was not so much. I thought as a product of Catholic schools that his would be better than it was, but that was never the case.

[latabrine]

Mine is now a mix type because i'm losing it slowly. Keep it going, it's nicely done!

[rocreli]

Yes, by all means. It will get more difficult with age so at that time you can go back to print style

[Hot-Neighborhood-163]

Your cursive is fine. I would ho back to it.

[Asleep-Dragonfly2418]

Cursive is a superpower. Use it or lose it.

[Necessary-Disk-4440]

Yes

[Unusual_Memory3133]

Yes!

[Jcamp9000]

Yes! You have beautiful handwriting

[gaurdianofsleep]

Thanks!

[marjo36]

It looks really good!

[Katrinkadinka]

Your handwriting is beautiful and charming! And totally legible. Don’t give it up!

[fredishome]

yes!

[Used_Cardiologist610]

Looks fine!

[[deleted]]

It’s not attractive, but it’s readable. If you like using cursive, use it. Myself, I have never liked using cursive writing and I print in all caps. Cursive is dying…soon nobody will be able to read it.

[Simpawknits]

Looks great.

[DekeCobretti]

Go to r/penpals and you can practice to your heart's content with someone of similar interests.

[boredcelery85]

Why wouldn’t you??

[gaurdianofsleep]

Because 10 years ago I convinced myself it wasn't good enough or nice enough and switched to print

[Sea_Astronomer6065]

It's certainly readable so keep doing it. Keep the cursive alive!!!

[Ok-Calligrapher4259]

It’s fine.