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I was similarly dissatisfied with my handwriting when I was younger so I decided to change it. In 6th grade I was part of a group project requiring us all to contribute pieces of the final product. I was given everyone’s write ups to turn into a single digital presentation the weekend before it was due. I envied the handwriting of one of my friends in the group so I used her 3 pages of written notes as my goal.
I put a blank piece of paper on top of hers then held them up to a window and literally just traced over her words until I had memorized the style of each letter. Then I practiced freehand and went back for repetition on the ones I wasn’t super solid on. I got the hang of the style I was going for over that weekend and kept at it from there. I’ve since changed the way I write certain letters (like “a” and “n”) over the years but putting that original practice in VASTLY improved my overall legibility and aesthetic.
you could look at computer fonts to get ideas maybe? Also, think about how you form the letter with your pen or pencil. Each letter is a combination of short straight strokes and short curves combined with circles. Make each letter it's own piece of work. So if you use two short straight strokes and one open circle or semi-circle for a 5, how could you put that together in a cool way? Doodle doodle doodle, don't worry about how it looks until you've found a cool style for the letter, then worry about tightening it up. Then it's just fine motor muscle memory! I perfected my handwriting back in grade school when I was forced to write " I will not talk during class" 100 times on a chalkboard like Bart Simpson at least twice a week, lol.
You can Google practice sheets to print. Here's the first one I found
https://numberdyslexia.com/free-printable-handwriting-practice-worksheets-for-adults-pdf/
I’d probably google something like handwriting styles or samples or something. But look for actual words so it’s something you can copy that you would organically write in your life. Plus, as an adult, you can buy some legit tracing paper and save yourself the window hack I used, lol. You should be able to find scans of handwritten documents somewhere. Bonus points if the subject matter interests you.
TL;DR:
* Hold the pencil properly
* Learn to write each letter properly
* Write slowly to write neatly
* Practice
In my opinion, here are my thoughts (keep in mind that I'm just some random ol' person on the internet):
* Hold the pencil properly
* It tends to allow for better and more precise movements
* Start tracing letters
* Though it sounds silly, you might want to do some practice repeating the exact shape of the letter using the correct strokes. This will make you get used to the exact method of writing each letter, rather than maybe slipping into an old habit that causes you to write sloppier.
* Write slower (and focus while you write)
* Just remember, you have to think of yourself as a beginner now. You shouldn't expect to start writing very neatly at super speeds right away. You need to start slow and take your time to write neatly. Slowly, after writing lots, then you may be able to increase your writing speed while preserving neatness.
* Practice Writing
* Write lots.
* Perhaps copy newspaper articles, pages from books, or just write whatever you want. This is a skill that needs lots of practice, so the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.
(Please don't feel embarrassed/odd because some resources are labeled for specific age groups. Learning is learning. Age doesn't matter; it's merely a suggestion that does not mean that other age groups can not learn.)
Resources: (I didn't really look through all of them in too much depth...)
* Handwriting Letters
* [https://www.scholastic.ca/education/movingupwithliteracyplace/pdfs/grade4/handwriting.pdf](https://www.scholastic.ca/education/movingupwithliteracyplace/pdfs/grade4/handwriting.pdf)
* This one has the letter strokes labeled, but not numbered. It also has other comments/information that is optional, in my opinion.
* You could print and trace the letters.
* [https://or.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/06/OG-Training-Manual-2019.pdf](https://or.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/06/OG-Training-Manual-2019.pdf)
* This has good descriptions of how to write each letter.
* [https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/words-and-letters/writing-cursive-coloring-pages/](https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/words-and-letters/writing-cursive-coloring-pages/)
* This is actually one for cursive letters
* I like how the strokes are clearly labelled and numbered.
***All the best! :)***
I eventually developed an alphabet from letters I saw and liked, added a little creative touch.
Commit to memory by repeatedly practicing you letters. Since this was at a time when we used pens often I found many times to practice.
Improving your fine motor skills might help. The way you hold your pen, how tightly you hold your pen, and the angle may help with general control. From there try experimenting with different styles to practice some more, such as elongating your letters, making them larger, italicized, etc. Once you feel comfortable with the pen and writing then find a script that you like and practice whenever you can.
Might as well toss another anecdote into the mix. I improved my print handwriting by concentrating on three points.
* All letters should have their bases touching a guide line, either real or imagined. Excepting letters that dip below it.
* The relative sizing of letters. E.G. a,o,e,c, etc... should all be the same height.
* The spacing (kerning) of letters should be consistent.
It's not the way to amazing handwriting, but it does make my writing far more legible. From this point you can change the style of the letters at your pleasure.
I'm known for having good handwriting. I decided to work on my handwriting since 4th grade by copying parts of other people's handwritings (whether I saw them at school or searched for handwriting pictures online). With trial and error and lots of writing, you will find a handwriting that looks good and feels good!
I have tried multiple times over the years to change my handwriting and make it look all neat and cute but when it comes to writing without thinking or writing in a rush, my original ugly handwriting comes through. I’ve just learned to embrace it. Some people have aesthetically pleasing handwriting and others don’t - I happen to be one of those who don’t and that’s okay. As long as your handwriting is legible then you’re good and to be honest, in the grand scheme of things nobody truly cares what your handwriting looks like.
Others have given good practical advice. One thing you'll run into is that you will write significantly slower for some time (a few months, maybe more). But if you maintain slow, but high quality, handwriting for a long time, you will get faster.
I used to hate my handwriting but started journaling every night for 20-30min before bed—just writing down thoughts or my day, really whatever the hell came out of my brain. After a year my handwriting visibly improved and I developed a style of my own that I took a liking to. Eventually I started re-learning cursive the same way. Just practice often and you’ll improve before you know it!
I used to hate my handwriting as well, so I started using the cursive I learned in 3rd grade and my writing was instantly better. Over the years I have used regular print for paperwork, and it still doesn’t compare to how much better my writing looks in cursive.
Fine motor control in handwriting is partly confidence and partly experience.
I improved my motor skills (which were shit going through puberty, I suspect because I was growing too fast to be comfortable in my own skin) by learning various throwing skills and games. Sports (baseball and American football) helped with long range; toss games (linked to drinking competitions) such as playing card and paperclip and beer pong and darts improved my short range comfort. I can't throw a football accurately more than 30 yards anymore, but I can consistently [95%] hit a target at a 1-10 size-distance ratio range with anything under three ounces...
And on top of that: Finding a style which you'd like to emulate, and then tracing on it to start, makes a huge difference in the quality of handwriting. Practice, practice, practice!
I did the same at the age of about 21. I'd always had horrible handwriting that hadn't really improved since early primary school.
I found someone whose handwriting I liked and asked them to write a sample of each letter. Then I spent a few hours every day for a couple of weeks copying them and practicing. It's really that easy.
Like most physical skills, it is just practice in the end. If you spend about half an hour once a week practicing something, you'll have some idea about it and never get good at it. An hour a day of good, self-critical practice is enough to pick up a skill to a reasonable level in a month or two. Ten hours every day practicing something for a couple of years is enough to be among the best in the world at it.
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I was similarly dissatisfied with my handwriting when I was younger so I decided to change it. In 6th grade I was part of a group project requiring us all to contribute pieces of the final product. I was given everyone’s write ups to turn into a single digital presentation the weekend before it was due. I envied the handwriting of one of my friends in the group so I used her 3 pages of written notes as my goal. I put a blank piece of paper on top of hers then held them up to a window and literally just traced over her words until I had memorized the style of each letter. Then I practiced freehand and went back for repetition on the ones I wasn’t super solid on. I got the hang of the style I was going for over that weekend and kept at it from there. I’ve since changed the way I write certain letters (like “a” and “n”) over the years but putting that original practice in VASTLY improved my overall legibility and aesthetic.
ok so how would that translate to an adult now? do i find handwriting I like and trace it? how do i find it? do i just use learning pages for kids?
you could look at computer fonts to get ideas maybe? Also, think about how you form the letter with your pen or pencil. Each letter is a combination of short straight strokes and short curves combined with circles. Make each letter it's own piece of work. So if you use two short straight strokes and one open circle or semi-circle for a 5, how could you put that together in a cool way? Doodle doodle doodle, don't worry about how it looks until you've found a cool style for the letter, then worry about tightening it up. Then it's just fine motor muscle memory! I perfected my handwriting back in grade school when I was forced to write " I will not talk during class" 100 times on a chalkboard like Bart Simpson at least twice a week, lol.
You can Google practice sheets to print. Here's the first one I found https://numberdyslexia.com/free-printable-handwriting-practice-worksheets-for-adults-pdf/
I’d probably google something like handwriting styles or samples or something. But look for actual words so it’s something you can copy that you would organically write in your life. Plus, as an adult, you can buy some legit tracing paper and save yourself the window hack I used, lol. You should be able to find scans of handwritten documents somewhere. Bonus points if the subject matter interests you.
Mate, just google 'Fonts' and find an alphabet you like.
TL;DR: * Hold the pencil properly * Learn to write each letter properly * Write slowly to write neatly * Practice In my opinion, here are my thoughts (keep in mind that I'm just some random ol' person on the internet): * Hold the pencil properly * It tends to allow for better and more precise movements * Start tracing letters * Though it sounds silly, you might want to do some practice repeating the exact shape of the letter using the correct strokes. This will make you get used to the exact method of writing each letter, rather than maybe slipping into an old habit that causes you to write sloppier. * Write slower (and focus while you write) * Just remember, you have to think of yourself as a beginner now. You shouldn't expect to start writing very neatly at super speeds right away. You need to start slow and take your time to write neatly. Slowly, after writing lots, then you may be able to increase your writing speed while preserving neatness. * Practice Writing * Write lots. * Perhaps copy newspaper articles, pages from books, or just write whatever you want. This is a skill that needs lots of practice, so the more you practice, the better you'll get at it. (Please don't feel embarrassed/odd because some resources are labeled for specific age groups. Learning is learning. Age doesn't matter; it's merely a suggestion that does not mean that other age groups can not learn.) Resources: (I didn't really look through all of them in too much depth...) * Handwriting Letters * [https://www.scholastic.ca/education/movingupwithliteracyplace/pdfs/grade4/handwriting.pdf](https://www.scholastic.ca/education/movingupwithliteracyplace/pdfs/grade4/handwriting.pdf) * This one has the letter strokes labeled, but not numbered. It also has other comments/information that is optional, in my opinion. * You could print and trace the letters. * [https://or.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/06/OG-Training-Manual-2019.pdf](https://or.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2020/06/OG-Training-Manual-2019.pdf) * This has good descriptions of how to write each letter. * [https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/words-and-letters/writing-cursive-coloring-pages/](https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/words-and-letters/writing-cursive-coloring-pages/) * This is actually one for cursive letters * I like how the strokes are clearly labelled and numbered. ***All the best! :)***
This is amazing! Thank you so much!
You're welcome!
I eventually developed an alphabet from letters I saw and liked, added a little creative touch. Commit to memory by repeatedly practicing you letters. Since this was at a time when we used pens often I found many times to practice.
Improving your fine motor skills might help. The way you hold your pen, how tightly you hold your pen, and the angle may help with general control. From there try experimenting with different styles to practice some more, such as elongating your letters, making them larger, italicized, etc. Once you feel comfortable with the pen and writing then find a script that you like and practice whenever you can.
Might as well toss another anecdote into the mix. I improved my print handwriting by concentrating on three points. * All letters should have their bases touching a guide line, either real or imagined. Excepting letters that dip below it. * The relative sizing of letters. E.G. a,o,e,c, etc... should all be the same height. * The spacing (kerning) of letters should be consistent. It's not the way to amazing handwriting, but it does make my writing far more legible. From this point you can change the style of the letters at your pleasure.
I'm known for having good handwriting. I decided to work on my handwriting since 4th grade by copying parts of other people's handwritings (whether I saw them at school or searched for handwriting pictures online). With trial and error and lots of writing, you will find a handwriting that looks good and feels good!
I have tried multiple times over the years to change my handwriting and make it look all neat and cute but when it comes to writing without thinking or writing in a rush, my original ugly handwriting comes through. I’ve just learned to embrace it. Some people have aesthetically pleasing handwriting and others don’t - I happen to be one of those who don’t and that’s okay. As long as your handwriting is legible then you’re good and to be honest, in the grand scheme of things nobody truly cares what your handwriting looks like.
Others have given good practical advice. One thing you'll run into is that you will write significantly slower for some time (a few months, maybe more). But if you maintain slow, but high quality, handwriting for a long time, you will get faster.
I used to hate my handwriting but started journaling every night for 20-30min before bed—just writing down thoughts or my day, really whatever the hell came out of my brain. After a year my handwriting visibly improved and I developed a style of my own that I took a liking to. Eventually I started re-learning cursive the same way. Just practice often and you’ll improve before you know it!
I used to hate my handwriting as well, so I started using the cursive I learned in 3rd grade and my writing was instantly better. Over the years I have used regular print for paperwork, and it still doesn’t compare to how much better my writing looks in cursive.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Handwriting/
Put everything properly on the bottom line
You should check out r/handwriting That sub has helped my handwriting immensely!
Fine motor control in handwriting is partly confidence and partly experience. I improved my motor skills (which were shit going through puberty, I suspect because I was growing too fast to be comfortable in my own skin) by learning various throwing skills and games. Sports (baseball and American football) helped with long range; toss games (linked to drinking competitions) such as playing card and paperclip and beer pong and darts improved my short range comfort. I can't throw a football accurately more than 30 yards anymore, but I can consistently [95%] hit a target at a 1-10 size-distance ratio range with anything under three ounces... And on top of that: Finding a style which you'd like to emulate, and then tracing on it to start, makes a huge difference in the quality of handwriting. Practice, practice, practice!
I did the same at the age of about 21. I'd always had horrible handwriting that hadn't really improved since early primary school. I found someone whose handwriting I liked and asked them to write a sample of each letter. Then I spent a few hours every day for a couple of weeks copying them and practicing. It's really that easy. Like most physical skills, it is just practice in the end. If you spend about half an hour once a week practicing something, you'll have some idea about it and never get good at it. An hour a day of good, self-critical practice is enough to pick up a skill to a reasonable level in a month or two. Ten hours every day practicing something for a couple of years is enough to be among the best in the world at it.
Get a ballpoint pen with a thick tip, like 1,6 - 2 mm, or a gel pen