Are We Writing off the Art of Handwriting?

  •   Fri, Nov 12 2010
  •   By Supriya Sequeira

Nov 13, 2010

A few days back as I was gazing from the balcony of my home with a cup of tea in my hand, I was reminded of my school days and out of nowhere, I found myself thinking of handwriting. Learning to write on chalk boards and then by pen was one of the most awaited moments of those days. We were taught in school that good handwriting, neat and readable, reflects our personality and almost each one of us tried to make our handwriting look tidy.

Today, we live in a hi-tech era, where everything is computerised and programmed and everything will close down if technology fails. Yes, I feel extremely glad to say that technology has become a gigantic part of the present world.

But when it comes to actual writing, what do we prefer?

Typing our masterpiece, or sitting down old-fashioned with a paper and a pen in our hands?

Today’s world requires us to be capable keyboarders to work together and also talk to others through technology. Youngsters feel that there is no need to be tidy with the writing instrument as they rarely have to write by hand. The computer keyboard has taken over the domain of writing. I too admit that I write more with the computer than with pen and paper these days. We have the mindset that if we write on the computer, it enables us to correct spelling and grammar faults as well. Using computer, writers are not restricted to the style of writing they learn at school, as we once were. There are hundreds of fonts to select from when you want variation in your writing style.

This being the fact, the future of the art and skill of handwriting seems to be at risk.

People send e-mails or text messages rather than write a letter. Notes are written and stored effortlessly on a computer than in a file or book. Some of us might rise up and say that writing is no longer essential in this scientific age. Others will look back regretfully on the days when even the untidiest person could come up with a page of intelligible writing. We are truly in danger of forgetting how to write by hand. Very soon the marks on the page will look less stylish and outdated.

I feel writing by hand is a fundamental skill. It assists us in all the essential areas of our life. It also helps in developmental skills such as sequential memory and speed skill ability in students. Writing by hand even has an effect on the way we think and it has also been long known as a method to improve memory.
 
So let’s not completely neglect the infinite beauty of handwriting and hope that the ability and skill of writing by hand will not vanish.
By Supriya Sequeira
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Comment on this article

  • jrao,

    Wed, Nov 17 2010

    Now a days "HAND" is so useless that even to eat we use spoon. So the so called "CHAMCHA" in the hands has swaloowed the importance of hand. Ultimately technology & education in anyway punish hand.

  • S M Aijaz, Bajpe

    Sun, Nov 14 2010

    Well Said Supriya I totally agree with your comments.There is a saying "first impression is the last impression". Lets try to put this to our subject .

    Just imagine people using hand written resumes for perusing job vacancies.
    Its said that Hand writing explains one persons personality i think its true and not difficult to pick a right person.Because of this the growing kids will concentrate on their writing skills.Sorry if my comments doesn't match.I felt good while reading this article and just wanted to share my thoughts.

  • Reyan, Kuwait

    Sat, Nov 13 2010

    Nice Article Supriya. But I dont think so the handwriting is dying now a days. Yes technology has overtaken the olden days. But it is only for those who sit in office or who can afford to have techonology like mobile or keyboard. But there are more than that people who still use the pen and pencil for their daily work like manual invoices in small grocery shops, government offices, post offices, etc. And specilly the schools on rural parts.

  • Jess Miranda, Ann Arbor, USA

    Sat, Nov 13 2010

    Well said Supriya. Sometimes when I see our handwriting so bad, I think of the olden days where our teachers make us write propositions in 4 lined copy book to improve the handwriting. Since we hardly write in pen these days that beauty of handwriting is lost. When we scribble now, it looks like doctor's handwriting.
    I admire your thought on this.

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Sat, Nov 13 2010

    Nothing comes to our life without
    hard work. It used to be an
    important part of early school
    days to force the children to write, so that many had better
    handwriting, but now keyboard took
    the place. So, we have a generation with any art in writing,
    and even their own signature is
    turning like a modern artwork on
    sandpaper.

  • L N Rego, Bendur

    Sat, Nov 13 2010

    Wonderful and timely article. The subject is important no matter how advance we are unfortunately this has been neglected in the education system.
    Congratulations Supriya, come up with more relevant subjects.


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