Hate my handwriting

[Runsonvegetables]

As stated in the title, I hate my handwriting. Thinking back to primary school I was conscious my handwriting wasn’t that great and I always tried changing it but it never worked. Secondary school and college I didn’t mind it so much but as I got older and started working and sending Christmas, birthday cards and filling in forms I became very aware of it again. When I am faced with a form or have sign something the fear and anxiety it brings is terrible. I have tried buying numerous books etc but nothing has helped. Any advice welcome! Should I just accept it at this stage in my life?

Sometimes finding the right pen is what it takes for nice handwriting. I don't mean expensive ink pens - my favourite is a very fine roller ball pen from Muji.

Part of the problem now is that we have to write so infrequently - my handwriting has certainly deteriorated since the advent of computers/tablets/phones,

Thanks for replying, I have so many different pens over the years but to no avail:( I have never come across anyone else with bad handwriting. My spelling isn’t great either so I’m thinking could there be a link?

There’s so many factors that influence handwriting yours could be bad for so many reasons. I have to write in capitals or mine is terrible. I don’t really care I only have to make notes for myself at work everything else is done electronically. If it’s functional then personally I’d just accept it

DS2 (adult!) writes like a spider has crawled across the page so you aren't alone!

I'm dyspraxic and my handwriting is awful so I never let anyone see it.

Choose a nice pen - one that feels right in your hand. Try them out in a proper stationery shop and ask them for help and guidance.

Write as often as you can. It doesn't have to be anything deep and meaningful or anything for other people to read. I've found that writing a daily diary with a fountain pen has helped mine improve.

Get a notebook or exercise book, copy out something into it every day, like a poem or saying that you like. Write carefully but stay relaxed about it. Experiment with different pens and different ways of writing - is it joined up writing that's giving you grief? You can choose to either practise it, or concentrate on writing each letter individually instead (upper or lower case as you wish). Don't look back on it critically, it's just a way of improving through repetition.
My son is dyspraxic, his writing is awful!

I agree with this.

Also, I remember when learning to write at primary, doing lines and lines, tracing zigzags, wave shapes, loops, then repeating them without guidelines. Part of it is just building the strength in your hand and wrist, and getting used to the patterns.

Feel very disheartened about it. I need to fill in long application form over the weekend and I’m dreading it! Might go a buy a few pens and try them out and also plan all my answers before I start. I think people might silently judge me over my writing.

My writing improves a lot when I write more slowly so that could help for your application OP.

I wonder if learning/practicing calligraphy would help with handwriting? I had a calligraphy set as a kid and I’m now quite tempted to find one and try it out!

Get a good notebook and a load of pens (go to a Ryman or WH Smiths and buy a few types) and just practice writing your name or something down the page in different pens - you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.

My sister once said she hated her handwriting and I blithely went, "well just do it differently then?" - turns out I'm the weird one because my handwriting is VERY different depending on different paper, different pens, how tired I am, etc. But not like, neat or a bit sloppy - I'm talking from spiky all-caps pressing heavily on the paper to swirly italicised cursive to scrawly light doctor-style writing.

But If I'm trying to write a particular way I try and grab a particular pen that makes it easier for me to write that way - so I would recommend trying it! :)

You can practice. I believe you can get practice books for cursive writing.
Dyslexia and poor handwriting are linked, I think.

If people can read what you write that's good enough for me.

I wouldn’t worry OP, as long as it’s legible and neat.

Most of my friends have got awful handwriting, something barely moved on from childish print. In fact, they all look like they have the same blocky handwriting. I love ‘proper’ handwriting and pride myself on my own, but I’m definitely in the minority.

Cursive writing seems unusual in this country now.

Does it have to be handwritten? That's highly unusual these days for anything.

Can you show us a photo of an example of it, OP? It might not be as bad as you imagine.

Just checked and you can get cursive writing practice book for adults.

The handwriting may be analysed as part of the application. If so, they should tell you. If they don't tell you, you could ask someone with neat handwriting to fill the form on your behalf (cheating slightly)

You could try getting assessed by a behavioural optometrist. It’s not cheap but could help you to understand what might be the problem.

You need to try different nib sizes and ink flow. My writing looks awful if the nib size is too thin and looks childish of the nib is too thick. Also I have to use ballpoint or my writing looks dire. Staedtler stick 430 m or standard bic biros work well for me and my writing looks better in blue rather than black ink. Also I don't really write in cursive anymore as when I was in Uni I did an essay writing course the week before Uni started that was held by them and the lecturer who was running it advised us to start writing in non cursive as it made it easier for the lecturer to mark the exams and if the subject was subjective it could have an impact. It has massively improved the look of my writing.

Mine had always been rubbish, it could look tidy if I was going really slowly, but even then it started to get messy after a few lines.
The only thing that helped for me was practicing writing slow and neat and doing something different that meant I had to keep focus on the handwriting. I made my tall letters and low letters (qtypdghjklb) much longer than normal- so the 'stalks' touched the line above. It helped break me out of my lazy handwriting habit.
My handwriting is not pretty still but it has got a lot clearer and I can write neatly in cards and things now- even if a full page would still look bad.

After starting secondary school, I got really fed up with being given my homework back unmarked because my witch of an English teacher said it was illegible. So I spent the summer holidays with a handwriting book and it really helped. I often get praised for my writing.

i love a fountain pen, currently have 4 in my desk with3 different colours of ink, plus a gorgeous Cross pen. DH said a few years ago he would buy me a new pen (he bought the Cross one) and I said not to, unless he bought n
me a Mont Blanc. He did, but he bought me a very light one, whereas 8 prefer a heavy chunky pen. I have never told him.

but fountain pens aren’t always practical. I also adore the Muji roller ball pens mentioned above, and they are refillable

@AuditAngel , I have pen envy.
Having said that, I don't like being given pens as it's something very personal, and the weight and feel of it, and the nib size and flow, is critical.

I also like the Muji pens.

Try the uniball air pen. Writes like a dream and turns weird scratchy handwriting into calligraphy.

I have no advice, I just wanted to say my handwriting is terrible too. It always has been.
I really struggled at school and it was either fast and messy or slow and neat.
As an adult, I don’t do joined up writing, it’d definitely be worse if I did.
I like the idea of practicing actually.
The uniball air pens mentioned above are good too

My handwriting was awful until I started music, although I'm rubbish at it it made it easier to get the relative size of the letters steady it suddenly helped me have neatish writing

That's the 5 lines you write music on