There are so many different writing styles from decorative cursive script to a brief WhatsApp message filled with LOLs and YOLOs. We take a quick look at the history of handwriting and tell you what your handwritten words reveal about you!
A Brief History Of Handwriting
Early handwriting was based on pictures like the Egyptian system of hieroglyphics, but the first known alphabet came from the Phoenicians, around the eleventh century BC. This alphabet was eventually used by the ancient Greeks to develop a script. Then the Romans modified the Greek alphabet to develop the Latin writing, that our alphabet is based on today.
In the 17th and 18th centuries handwriting was a status symbol. People received penmanship training and Master Penmen were employed to copy official documents.
As computers became more common in the 1980s and 1990s penmanship became less important and not such a focus of education in schools.
Types of Handwriting
Cursive Handwriting
Cursive handwriting is ‘joined-up’ writing where letters are connected, making it faster to write as you needed to take your pen off the page less. Cursive handwriting was first developed in the 17th Century. Before the invention of the typewriter, cursive handwriting was the preferred style of writing for professionals like lawyers and doctors.
Print Handwriting
Print handwriting, also known as block letters is when the pen lifts off the page after each letter. It is considered clearer and easier to read and often requested when you are filling in forms.
Modern Cursive
There have been lots of variations to cursive writing over the years to make it easier for children to learn. It has developed to minimise unnecessary strokes so it is less tiring to write. Nowadays there are fewer loops and flourishes than in older styles, and the look is simpler and uncluttered.
As adults, we normally write in a combination of cursive and print writing that we have developed over our lives.
What does your handwriting say about you?
We all have our own writing style and little quirks when we form our letters. Did you know that, according to research from the National Pen Company, they are associated with different personality traits?
Letter Shapes
If your writing is curvy with rounded letters you are arty and creative. Sharp and pointy letters indicate you are intelligent and curious about your surroundings.
Letter Size
Confident, outgoing people tend to write with big letters, whereas smaller writing is thought to indicate you are shy and introverted. What if your writing is somewhere in the middle? This shows you are adaptable and well adjusted!
Letter Spacing
People who leave lots of room around each word are said to enjoy freedom and independence, but dislike feeling crowded. Those who squeeze their words together tend to like the company of others and fear being alone.
Letter Angle
If your writing slants to the right you look forwards to meeting new people and having new experiences, whereas a slant to the left means you prefer to keep to yourself and like things the way they are. If your writing doesn’t slant you are logical and practical.
The future
These days we rarely pick up a pen as typing on keyboards and screens has become the norm. Will handwriting become a lost art form? We hope not. Handwriting still has lots of benefits, it boosts fine motor skills in your hands and fingers; if you write things down you are more likely to remember them and there is nothing more touching than receiving a handwritten note or card.
At Inscripture we can engrave handwritten words onto a piece of jewellery or gift. Discover our range of Handwriting Jewellery & Gifts and Memorial Jewellery to create your special piece today.
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