Cursive (also known as joined-up writing) is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters.


I've been under the impression that this penmanship was Standard in the Education World, it sure was in my world...Now I'm wondering about my own grandkids, they print a lot and I never gave it much thought.

My father had beautiful handwriting and that sticks out in my mind about him.

Wonder how many here do not write in cursive?????

Heard a commentary the other day from an older woman who was teaching a 10 yr old gal cursive writing....

Schools are not required to teach cursive anymore, which was a really stupid decision.

Stupd decisions are forever being made and so so many in the buildings of education. None of the bullcrap that goes on today would have never taken place in my years of schooling. Students running the teachers, that's how it is today lower and middle and high school onward....

I haven't used cursive since 4th grade. They taught us the full alphabet and had us write some papers with it but from 5th grade on they never mentioned it again.

It really is pretty when done right, and I'm glad I got a taste of how to do it. But it's a lot more time consuming to write and read than printing. I can see why they dropped it.

My handwriting is horrible. I remember receiving some barely passable grades in penmanship in grade school. I used those grips on pencils and pens. They didn't help at all. I can only sign my name in cursive.

It's a lost art form. I remember my mom and grandma would write letters to each other every week. There's little need for cursive handwriting these days with e-mails and texts.

It really is pretty when done right, and I'm glad I got a taste of how to do it. But it's a lot more time consuming to write and read than printing. I can see why they dropped it.Hmm. I write faster than I print.

My handwriting is horrible. I remember receiving some barely passable grades in penmanship in grade school. I used those grips on pencils and pens. They didn't help at all. I can only sign my name in cursive.

It's a lost art form. I remember my mom and grandma would write letters to each other every week. There's little need for cursive handwriting these days with e-mails and texts.

Totally agree !! I always wrote in cursive in Catholic grade school, but we could print in public high school and I never looked back. I always print , so much quicker and easier than cursive.

And same here TJ, my Mom, Grandma's and Aunts wrote in cursive all the time .

I haven't used cursive since 4th grade. They taught us the full alphabet and had us write some papers with it but from 5th grade on they never mentioned it again.

It really is pretty when done right, and I'm glad I got a taste of how to do it. But it's a lot more time consuming to write and read than printing. I can see why they dropped it.

Yep. I think it is totally unnecessary to teach cursive nowadays . So many other things that are much more important to learn. And esp. being that most things are typed now anyway not handwritten. ;)

And not everyone can write pretty in cursive. Some can be basically unledgeable , printing is much clearer, easier to read .

Yep. I think it is totally unnecessary to teach cursive nowadays .

I would have to disagree with you!

It is a fact that in 2010, a group of governors and school officers from around the country, removed cursive from the required "Common Core Standards" for K-12 education.
And frankly, with laptops and tablets replacing paper, the need to learn to keyboard has become more important. So the ability to read and write cursive has been fading from American society.

Until now, they have found cursive handwriting is good for your brain.
... accumulating evidence suggests that not learning cursive handwriting may hinder the brain's optimum potential to learn and remember. ...

(https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202010/why-cursive-handwriting-is-good-your-brain)

The Case for Cursive:
6 Reasons Why Cursive Handwriting is Good for Your Brain

1. Cursive provides a flow of thought as well as a flow of words.
2. Cursive helps you focus on content.
3. Cursive gets the entire brain working.
4. Cursive helps you retain more information.
5. Cursive may help improve motor control.
6. Cursive will make you a better speller.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/585138/case-cursive-6-reasons-why-cursive-handwriting-good-your-brain

25 States (and 5 others are pending legislation) requiring cursive writing and on October 13, 2023 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill making cursive handwriting instruction mandatory in 1st through 6th grades.

Hmm. I write faster than I print.

I agree, I am glad I was taught both and even Gregg Shorthand for years of secretarial work I did in my life....How many here do Shorthand????

Yep. I think it is totally unnecessary to teach cursive nowadays . So many other things that are much more important to learn. And esp. being that most things are typed now anyway not handwritten. ;)

And not everyone can write pretty in cursive. Some can be basically unledgeable , printing is much clearer, easier to read .

Yep, Bonnie, keep pushing more and more machine stuff, our kids and many of you need MORE.


What do you folks do where legal papers and other official papers require Signature and Print??????

I'm fortunate I know both and What's the Rush anyway????

My 18 year old niece just graduated from high school and can't read cursive at all! I was shocked! I had no idea that this had gone into effect.If my kids weren't taught cursive I would at least teach them how to sign their names! I feel that cursive helps develop fine motor skills . Gosh! If the world went back to cursive and stick shifts in cars the present generation would be crippled!:crazy:


icecream; I took shorthand in high school back in the 60's but I never used it and can't remember how to write it.:lol:

I have to admit that since I got my computer my handwriting has suffered. I still hand sign my Christmas cards in cursive.It seems more personal.

It is more personal, block form is cold and a finality to it. I don't write much anymore and my handwriting has gone down with aging and my cramped area where my desk is. I owe my godchild a note or call and I think I'll ask her with all the people in her life....she's back East....and she's one who sends me a christmas card every year with a picture of family or just her adult kids....

Sometimes I use cursive but I prefer this better.... (Reg printing)

What do you folks do where legal papers and other official papers require Signature and Print??????


Actually, you do not need to "sign" a legal document. You can use an e-signature or simply "X" .

https://helpx.adobe.com/legal/esignatures/regulations/united-states.html

"An acceptable, legally binding signature can be as simple as the individual putting a mark on the document."

https://signaturely.com/legal-signatures/

Actually, you do not need to "sign" a legal document. You can use an e-signature or simply "X" .

https://helpx.adobe.com/legal/esignatures/regulations/united-states.html

"An acceptable, legally binding signature can be as simple as the individual putting a mark on the document."

https://signaturely.com/legal-signatures/That is just asking for problems, too easy to forge signatures with this stupid method. :rolleyes:

That is just asking for problems, too easy to forge signatures with this stupid method. :rolleyes:

I agree! STUPID!:rolleyes:

Cursive (also known as joined-up writing) is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters.


I've been under the impression that this penmanship was Standard in the Education World, it sure was in my world...Now I'm wondering about my own grandkids, they print a lot and I never gave it much thought.

My father had beautiful handwriting and that sticks out in my mind about him.

Wonder how many here do not write in cursive?????

Heard a commentary the other day from an older woman who was teaching a 10 yr old gal cursive writing....


I usually ONLY write cursive, I just find it easier and faster

Yep. I think it is totally unnecessary to teach cursive nowadays . So many other things that are much more important to learn. And esp. being that most things are typed now anyway not handwritten. ;)

And not everyone can write pretty in cursive. Some can be basically unledgeable , printing is much clearer, easier to read .


Even though most things are typed nowdays, I still don't think we should lose the "art" of writing. I'm not so sure that EVERY SINGLE THING needs a POINT in order to be taught. Sometimes are just good to know. I remember in our Algebra 2 class our teacher literally told us, "You will only need this IF you're planning on teaching it" lol, she went on to explain it's purpose is basically to expand our thinking. Maybe cursive could be looked at that way..

Same for reading analog clock, it's just a good skill to have, and it's not THAT HARD to learn. So I don't see it clutters up curriculum

Even though most things are typed nowdays, I still don't think we should lose the "art" of writing. I'm not so sure that EVERY SINGLE THING needs a POINT in order to be taught. Sometimes are just good to know. I remember in our Algebra 2 class our teacher literally told us, "You will only need this IF you're planning on teaching it" lol, she went on to explain it's purpose is basically to expand our thinking. Maybe cursive could be looked at that way..

Same for reading analog clock, it's just a good skill to have, and it's not THAT HARD to learn. So I don't see it clutters up curriculum

I agree. That's an interesting way of looking at it.

I agree, I am glad I was taught both and even Gregg Shorthand for years of secretarial work I did in my life....How many here do Shorthand????

My mom knows shorthand. She was a secretary.

My cursive is sloppy, but I try to write cursive when writing in a card. I have to slow down and write the message, otherwise I end up misspelling a word.

oh boy, being taught handwriting (cursive) when young is a lovely gift and so "normal", I never heard of the word cursive until a few yrs ago. The public school unions have their nose in everything they want to change, they want their money's worth that the teachers are paying to them via union dues......change is always going on but nothing like the GOOD OLD STUFF we need to get thru life, like people contact too.

oh boy, being taught handwriting (cursive) when young is a lovely gift and so "normal", I never heard of the word cursive until a few yrs ago. The public school unions have their nose in everything they want to change, they want their money's worth that the teachers are paying to them via union dues......change is always going on but nothing like the GOOD OLD STUFF we need to get thru life, like people contact too.

It was definitely called cursive when I started learning it in school upwards of 30 years ago.

Oh cursive SHURSIVE !!!:D I still stand by my posts of it being unnecessary. OK a compromise , I guess just make sure children can sign their name in cursive and if anyone wants to really learn how to read and write it, offer it as a elective class, not a mandatory thing to learn .;)

well, in my learnin years it was handwriting, and I did not ever hear the word cursive, I graduated high school 1956 and writing was all a part of the curriculum, 67 yrs ago....(i've let me spelling get sloppy)

Schools are not required to teach cursive anymore, which was a really stupid decision.

Dropping cursive writing from the school curriculum is not stupid at all. Cursive feels like a waste of space on paper compared to print. I'd also imagine cursive as being "for women" and also looks "expensive". If one is terrible at writing in cursive or doesn't see too much use for it, it's perfectly okay not to even learn to use it at all. It's perfectly okay for schools not to make cursive writing mandatory.

On my commentary sandbox papers (most of which are leftovers from my grade-school days), I never use cursive. Only print.

I can write cursive but I prefer print :)