To ask if you handwrite anything any more?

[surreygirl1987]

YABU - yes, I handwrite lots
YANBU - no, I hardly handwrite anything

I'm a schoolteacher and was thinking the other day about how practically the only time I ever handwrite anything, apart from the occasional birthday card, is when I'm marking pupils' exercise books. It made me wonder if people actually write by hand much anymore, or do most people only write by typing on a phone/ computer etc?

@MyBottleOfRibena yes, I have tried using my phone but was very frustrating. Even worse when mask wearing and having to unlock manually every few minutes! Pen and paper always for me!

I keep a handwritten journal for each of my grandchildren. I write in each of their journals every few months, usually a couple of pages talking about what they are doing, the state of the world, holidays, and random thoughts I think they would enjoy when they are adults……

Yes, my to do/ have done lists at work, with a fountain pen, in a bound notebook.
I started during the pandemic at work, it was a moment of lightness to write with a nice pen.

I’m a company director and the occasional meeting has no secretary, I tend to hand write minutes in semi shorthand rather than type as it’s easier to focus compared typing. I did the same as a school governor when I stood in for the clerk, as typing requires me to look more at the screen and it’s harder to join in conversation and type.

I also note take informally, shopping lists, write notes to people, diary plan. For a few reasons I sometimes prefer it, it’s easy to note take anywhere, it’s easy to correct and write short hand versions. Also occasionally the privacy of a note is good, you have total control of where it is and who can access it! For fun I write with the kids, silly stories and story maps with pictures, less functional but more arty in purpose.

I still type well and do often. I touch type and think it’s incredibly useful. It’s just different

I hand write all the time still.
Plus, I have pretty nice penmanship that makes me obviously proud.

Today, I wrote:
a week's meal plan
my grocery list
appointments for the remainder of the week into my physical wall calendar
Notes from an online seminar I attended this morning
A journal entry
An outline on index cards for a five minute speech I need to do for a presentation at the end of the week
I write words in a book I don't encounter often into a notebook and I'm adding "contemporaneous" (thank you @FloodTheBathroom) to it so I can use it on another occasion!

I work for the Tube in London, sometimes we get safety- or time-critical messages from service control or the main control Centre. I need paper and pen at all times to note down the important details. Also use a pen to note down faults to raise.

I write birthday cards and postcards to family and friends too. I used to journal but have recently got out of the habit.

Yes, I do, frequently, virtually everything in fact as I don't really trust modern technology in the slightest. And I like to write to friends, rather than using very impersonal email, text or WhatsApp messaging.
Saunters off, whistling, hands in pockets, draws a chair up to the writing bureau, selects and sharpens a goid old fashioned goose quill pen and outrageous turquoise ink, composes a letter on best calf skin velum, seals with wax and hands to a courier on horseback who will hand deliver to its recipient. The old ways are the best...

@elp30 I had a good one the other day them at I had never heard of " cats are crepuscular" it means they are most active at dawn and dusk. Bloody love that word now 🤣

Part of my job is noting what is said in court, some people do this on laptops now, but I do it in longhand.

Taking notes at meetings in work, Christmas cards, Easter cards, birthday and thank you cards throughout the year, and the very occasional letter.

Frequently write (and also touch type). Often rough working to get my head round things but also to do lists (I tried OneNote and did not get on with it), Xmas cards (I use the opportunity to send a proper note in each one), meeting minutes, quick notes for DH, postcards, thank you letters etc etc

A cautionary tale…DH’s work network went down completely for several weeks a few months ago. They were back to paper memos being run round the site by admin staff. Modern people need both typing and handwriting.

I hand write daily but very short things, the kids reading records, shopping lists etc. I've definitely noticed that my handwriting has declined lately though. Birthday cards get more flair lol. This is actually a really good post, as one of my school age children have really nice (I think) writing for an 8 year old, but my 9 year old took a while to catch up. And I was wondering if teachers judge parents hand writing and their children in turn? Both boys also.

Never really. I do everything on my phone, computer or using alexa for reminders, can't remember when the last time I wrote anything beyond a quick signature was.

Yes for work lots. They try to get us to be 'paper free' but I find it much easier to write out my thoughts/plans on a page.

Also shopping lists and birthday cards

Cards. Notes during my hearings.

I still hand write my 'to do' lists (one for work and one for home) - I just can't get used to doing it on my phone. I make handwritten notes in meetings too. I write birthday and Christmas cards and I have a papet diary.

However I can't think of the last time I wrote an actual letter. I used to write loads when I was young!

I write meeting notes all the time. I'm in a lot of meetings as an active participant so I find it easier.

I handwrite as much as I type (MN and WhatsApp-ing friends bumps it up significantly), but I have a very non-techy job.
I visit jobs to quote and make notes/measurements by hand. I work out the pricing with pencil and paper, although then need to Whatsapp/text/email them over (kept short and sweet). My diary is paper. At work, I write down all my measurements with a pencil (usually on an offcut of wood). All shopping lists, To Do lists and meal plans etc are handwritten. DCs' reading diaries are written in daily, then obviously things like cards. I would always choose to handwrite over typing as I find reading and scanning paper easier, and even more so when handwritten rather than a block of uniformly printed text.

Lot's of notes in meetings and patient contacts - which then have to be typed up. Cards - nothing else in my personal life really.

Every day.
I'd be lost without handwriting.

I can only 2 finger type.

Did anyone else have to work their way up in primary school? we used to have to copy pages from books, the goal thinking back was pencil to the holy grail of the fountain pen! 😂

Other than greetings cards, nothing that anyone else will read.

I scribble notes for work to help work stuff out in my head the occasional shopping list and my to do list.

For those who wish to learn to type, use the program in BBC Bitesize, Touchtype Dancemat or something, its aimed at kids so a bit cheezy but gets you using all fingers.

OP I've been thinking for a while that basic typing should be taugh in primary along with handwritting. Exams are the biggest thing that people use handwritting for, in time theyll end up being typed eventually.

Lots. Work notes, attendance notes, lists, school notes and reminders, notes for cleaner/clubs/dry cleaner, rsvps, invitations, cards, good old fashioned letters once in a while.

Write in my gym training book every session, 3 x a week. It's a pain to print stuff at home so I tend to just write stuff rather than type. Cards. Always have pens and paper in my bag and in the car.

I do all my planning on my iPad with an Apple Pencil, so still hand write lots of stuff.