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> Ballpoints encourage stroke forms that conflict with traditional letter shapes. Hmm. Can you point to more information on this conflict? Maybe what's needed
by webmaven 4y ago
> Ballpoints encourage stroke forms that conflict with traditional letter shapes.
Hmm. Can you point to more information on this conflict?
Maybe what's needed is a new non-traditional form of cursive that embraces the stroke forms that come naturally with a ballpoint.
- wrp 4y agoI've never seen or heard of a study of the mechanics of ballpoint pen manipulation. However, I have seen a considerable amount of handwritten correspondence from the early to mid-20th century. With the general change from fountain pens to ballpoints, there was a significant change in letter forms, particularly among female writers. The newer style is marked a reduction in straight vertical lines, a general trend to circular motions, and a slower advance along the line. This seems not surprising when you consider that quill/dip/fountain pen movement is more with the arm, while ballpoint movement is more with the fingers. So...it seems that a new form of cursive has already (informally) evolved to a degree.
- masgrimes 4y agoWhat makes you think the change in penmanship specimens over that time period are more connected to the proliferation of the ballpoint pen instead of the changes in penmanship instruction?