[clee1]

I grew up in Louisiana, at a time when cursive writing was still a required curriculum item.

I refused to use it.

I did the lessons, and I “know how”, but my penmanship was so atrocious that I never used it for daily purposes other than a signature. These days, 99% of my written communication is typed. My small notes are printed rather than written in cursive.

Cursive writing is as archaic and USELESS as cuneiform or hieroglyphics. Even pictogram languages like Chinese and Japanese are fading from common use.

[Scrambler Bob]

Cursive writing is as archaic and USELESS as cuneiform or hieroglyphics.
= = =

I can write cursive faster and neater than printing.

When I print that fast (and I have Mech Drawing and lettering experience), it gets messy.

[Salvation]

Cursive writing is archaic? I don’t think so. It’s very popular in the United States. Parents have had to teach their children since the schools wouldn’t.

[wintertime]

The reason your penmanship is horrible is that you were not taught how to print properly from the beginning. If the direction of the strokes for printing is properly taught then connecting the letters is seamless and automatic. Cursive doesn't need to be taught. The transition happens almost naturally.

By the way, the secret to beautiful printing or cursive is **simple**!

1) Capitals have the same height and slant.
2) Lower case letters have the same height and slant.

Last fall I took a calligraphy course as elective toward a Visual Arts degree at a nearby college. I was amazed that students with absolutely ** horrible** handwriting could rapidly produce beautiful script ( printed and cursive) by the end of the semester. It took a little effort and some practice.

Everyone occasionally needs to leave a hand printed or cursive note. Is is better or worse if that note is easy for the reader to decipher?