Handwriting unintelligible due to computer use

[JemimaPuddledock]

Has anyone lost their ability to hand write neatly due to computer use? I used to have lovely handwriting but it’s now a struggle to hold a pen correctly and the writing is a scrawl. I work on computers all day and do a lot of typing. I’m a bit gutted to be honest.
YABU - yes I now scrawl
YANBU - no I can still write beautifully

Funny you should say this. We had a school talk at the beginning of term and due to the pandemic and everything going online, primary age children have very poor handwriting. My DS8 his is unreadable!!!

They are really focussing on handwriting this year.

We really need to see your writing to vote lol.

If you are really keen may be get back to paper for no important stuff like grocery lists or to do lists, notes and so on.

Mine too, after years of computer use I now write like a junior school child

I can type quicker than I can write now. However in my 70's I do have arthritis in my hands so I think that's a contributing factor. I won't hand-wash delicate glasses as I've lost some feeling in my fingertips

My handwriting is still formed as well as it used to be, but my speed is terrible and writing for only 10 minutes or so becomes painful.

I suppose it's like any other muscle usage, use it or lose it. Some people retain muscle memory on how to dance or do cartwheels...I managed to keep how to write neatly! think cartwheels would impress my children more

I can’t even read my own writing anymore it’s so bad.

I get annoyed with myself that I can't write as quickly as I type so its all a bit of scrawl because I'm trying to get the words down before I forget my train of thought.

Definitely me too! My son asked me recently if I had actually written the shopping list myself. I used to pride myself on having nice handwritting but not any more 😔

I use shorthand every day in my job (120wpm) and that is relatively neat, but it’s wrecked my longhand. I can still write neatly but I have to consciously slow down

My handwriting is still formed as well as it used to be, but my speed is terrible and writing for only 10 minutes or so becomes painful.

I'm somewhere in the middle. I can still write well - but if I try to write at speed it becomes more and more of a scrawl, and eventually my hand gets tired of writing!

I wrote a shopping list yesterday for the first time in ages. I could hardly read it when I arrived to do my shop. Glad Im not the only one!

Buy some nice pens and get writing again

Personally I take notes at work (when employed 😭) and I write a lot of lists to stay organised

I make a lot more spelling mistakes though as I think I rely too heavily on predictive text

I still write quite a lot at work, probably about 50:50 typing and writing. But my handwriting is so much worse than it used to be. Maybe it’s arthritis.

I've never had great handwriting, but people did used to compliment it. Now it's appalling, I can barely read it.

My writing was always a mess and it still is. But I do still write a fair amount - and very quickly sometimes - as I minute meetings. I also keep a diary I write in every week, I try to do that slowly so it's readable if I decide to re-read an entry after a couple of weeks.

I did a 2 hour written exam pre-Covid and I had to retrain myself to be able to write for that long! I don't scrawl but it's very much 'script' rather than 'joined up' writing.

My writing is that bad I should start writing prescriptions.

Mine is awful and it’s actually really been bothering me that it’s so bad. I’m planning on doing some practice to see if I can get some legibility back

Taking notes in University lectures fucked up my neat writing and it has never reverted. I am way out of practice though as a result of using a keyboard 99% of the time.

I'm dyspraxic so my writing has always been illegible. The fact that practically everything can be typed is a godsend.

My son brought home the class bear this weekend and I noticed the parents hand writing from the few weeks before was awful, I always thought my writing was dreadful but compared to theirs it’s beautiful. I definitely think it’s because of computers and phones, nobody really writes anymore apart from quick notes in birthday cards.

I've worked in IT most of my life (in 50s now), my handwriting can be nice, but only if I go slowly and really think about it. It would be the same if I didn't use a keyboard often, I would slow down considerably.

No one asks me to produce handwritten work so it is not an issue or anything I dwell on.

My handwriting has probably suffered from lack of use, but on the bright side, that awful hunchback writer's bump's on the side of the middle finger has completely disappeared.

If I try hard and write very slowly I can write vaguely legibly. I quickly write notes by hand when I see patients and really struggle to decipher it.

I think working on the computer is a big reason it's so bad but I also injured my arm causing nerve damage ten years ago and it definitely went downhill after that.

I'm doing a masters and some of my exams will be by hand so I need to get practicing. Maybe I should get some children's handwriting worksheets 😂

I totally forgot about this! I still have a tiny bump but nowhere near what it was in school!