Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?

[MichelleinMaine]

I do a print/cursive combo.

When DS14 was in kindergarten, the big push was for D'Nealian writing (a printing with sort of curved up endings- it was supposed to be an easier transition to cursive. ) I felt I had to be so careful writing stuff "his way", putting "monkey tails" on everything. Fast forward, he's now entering HS and can't do cursive. I think it was like a month long thing in grammar school? Drives me nuts when he has to sign a check or something and prints it.

By the time DD9 got to school, they'd scrapped D'Nealian (and she looked at me like I had 3 heads for putting monkey tails on letters!) She is entering 4th grade. They have done cursive in 3rd, but definately not any major emphasis.

 

[Kimberly]

100% cursive writer here. I actually started doing this before they taught us in grade school since my grandmother was obsessed with "proper penmanship."

Now... I could care less, but it is just a habit for me.

 

[DisneyFan06]

100% Zaner Bloser here....

I write everything in print... could be because I stress handwriting daily in my class (I teach kindergarten)....

 

[Northstar]

The only thing I ever write in cursive is my signature. And that's really more of a stylized, personalized cursive.

I ditched cursive as soon as they let me out of the remedial handwriting sessions I had to take in grades 6-8. Truly, once I got over to the high school, no one cared whether I printed or used cursive ever again.

I also hate to read cursive, but am adept at deciphering all sorts of cursive styles due to years of teaching.

 

[almburr]

Mine is the hybrid style. I think cursive is a dying art. my MIL writes beautifully. When they were taught you wrote with the whole arm moving. Its so fluid and easy to read. One lady I knew she has since passed but she wrote in caligraphy.

Kids now dont write papers they type them. Im 35 and I cant beleive how little they write these days, its all typed. I can write all day and not complain DD16 whines if she has to write more than half a page.

I love to write in cursive but print grocery/menu lists and recipies. every thing else is hybrid (more cursive than print)

 

[Luvchefmic]

I am very old school cursive writing and I love my fountain pen

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For function, I prefer print. I can write it faster and can better keep up with my thoughts. Cursive feels like I'm trekking through mud--very tedious and slow. When learning handwriting, my hand would often cramp. With print, I can adjust my grip but with cursive, I cannot do that.

I would prefer to write in cursive if it were easier for me.
In school, once cursive was no longer mandated, I switched to print.

My rising 5th grader prefers print though I am still teaching her cursive. From what I can figure out, she seems to have the same
difficulties that I did.

 

[almburr]

I wonder if the day will come when kids have to write it will be done in text form?

 

[aprilgail2]

My handwriting is so bad that people prefer I print LOL.... they learned script in my daughters school but the teachers require reports etc to be either printed or typed- no script. My brother teachs high school and he also requires either printing or typing, no script. Sure not the same as when I went to school- I would have loved to type my reports but we had to write them--in script LOL...how things change!

 

[marcyinPA]

Printing. I'm a teacher, and had to learn the writing styles in college. My friends used to tease me about my perfect "Zaner-Bloser" printing. I can write cursive neatly, but I think my printing is even neater and it's faster for me.

My oldest son prints most of the time, but it's chicken scratch. Absolutely HORRID. Thank goodness they do most of their work on the computer! My youngest son has nice printing and cursive, but he usually only prints when he's writing at home. Last year, in fifth grade, everything in school had to be cursive. This year, in middle school, they generally don't care if they print or use cursive, as long as they do their work and turn it in!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

There is a thread on the family board about cursive writing. In one post, someone mentioned that she can write in cursive but chooses to print as do all of her adult friends. I was a little surprised because most people write in cursive in my circles.

So, I'm just simply curious. Do you prefer to print or write in cursive? Before someone posts and asks why do I care? What difference does it make to me? Etc. Let me say that it makes no difference to me at all. I am simply curious.

Personally, I write in what I call "broken cursive." Some of my letters are connected to the ones next to it but not all.

What about your children? Do they write in cursive?

I write in cursive.

My kids print.

I don't think they emphasize good penmanship today like in days of old (I still remember writing pages and pages of OOOOO's and vertical lines on the paper in first grade.) I tried to explain to my kids that it's quicker to write in cursive, but they never believed me.

They attended public schools if that makes a difference.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We live in a different day and time.
When all writing and communication could only be done by hand, handwriting was, naturally, a very important thing. Not only was it important, just to be able to accomplish basic communication, but reading and writing were also an important part of social 'caste' (class) systems. Beautiful flowing cursive handwriting was equated with wealth, intelligence, social status, etc... Compare that to those who signed their name with an 'X'.

I don't necessarily see beautiful, flowing, handwriting as anything to even think about today. And, certainly nothing for anyone to judge, or be judged, upon.
While I can appreciate beautiful handwriting and the art of calligraphy... I do not mourn the passing of the day when this was something so important.

PS: my son has a slight disability which also affects his hand-eye-fine motor.... Just Print handwriting is tough enough for him. I really do not care if he ever attempts cursive.... He faces enough academic challenges without adding to it.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I do a print/cursive combo.

When DS14 was in kindergarten, the big push was for D'Nealian writing (a printing with sort of curved up endings- it was supposed to be an easier transition to cursive. ) I felt I had to be so careful writing stuff "his way", putting "monkey tails" on everything. Fast forward, he's now entering HS and can't do cursive. I think it was like a month long thing in grammar school? Drives me nuts when he has to sign a check or something and prints it.

By the time DD9 got to school, they'd scrapped D'Nealian (and she looked at me like I had 3 heads for putting monkey tails on letters!) She is entering 4th grade. They have done cursive in 3rd, but definately not any major emphasis.

My son's school system teaches D'Nealian as well...I thought it might be the only place after asking around, lol. I personally think it is crazy to teach D'Nealian if they aren't going to teach cursive...what's the point?

Anyway...I do mainly print unless it is a thank you card, or signing a card. But I have very neat handwriting either way. DH and DS...hardly readable


DS2 is autistic...I'll will be very happy if he learns to write in any fashion! Just seeing him write his name in print will be a joy for me!

 

[GJM]

Print - but I do prefer to type! The only thing I write in cursive is my signature and you would never be able to read it.

My DS is going into 5th. grade and they have never taught cursive, they have had him copy words in cursive which i think is stupid if you don't know the correct way to write the letters.

 

[bicker]

We live in a different day and time. When all writing and communication could only be done by hand, handwriting was, naturally, a very important thing. Not only was it important, just to be able to accomplish basic communication, but reading and writing were also an important part of social 'caste' (class) systems. Beautiful flowing cursive handwriting was equated with wealth, intelligence, social status, etc... Compare that to those who signed their name with an 'X'. I don't necessarily see beautiful, flowing, handwriting as anything to even think about today. And, certainly nothing for anyone to judge, or be judged, upon. While I can appreciate beautiful handwriting and the art of calligraphy... I do not mourn the passing of the day when this was something so important.

I think that's critical; handwriting is now more art than anything else. Indeed, it is to be valued as much as having great skill at watercolors, or oils, or violin.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I hate cursive. I connect some of my letters but I wouldn't call that hybrid, I just call it, I didn't feel like lifting the pen up all the way.

Whatever you want to make of this: every time I see someone who writes in cursive I think, what the hell is wrong with this person where they can't write like a normal person!

fwiw: I have really nice handwriting, and I print it. Calligraphy is an art, cursive is not.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I prefer print but usually when I write it is a combination of printing and cursive. haha

 

[Sparx]

I pride myself on my handwriting. I have very nice cursive but I tend to print on more official forms and things like that. If I'm writing a note or something, its a mix of cursive and print. Like I would write a printed I instead of a cursive I, but I would write longer words in cursive. Its a pretty equal mix of cursive and print in casual writing.

 

[mrodgers]

There is a reason why in technical fields, they emphasize on not only printing, but printing in all capital letters. It is easier to read.

I print using all capital letters and if a letter should be capitalized, then it is emphasized using size.

 

[ZachnElli]

I use a self-invented combination of the two. Letters that I never liked to write in cursive, like Q or Z (among others), I print.

My sons' school still emphasizes cursive. Penmanship in K & 1st is manuscript. They learn cursive in 2nd grade. However, it didn't help my (almost) 7th grader. His handwriting looks like he used his feet!

That cracked me up! I officially switched to print the day I got married and couldn't get that darn cursive Z right in my new last name (capital Z)!