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The writing is "Spencerian Penmanship" and is considered a distinctly American form. Its influence is still recognizable in the Coca Cola and Ford logos. Many

The writing is "Spencerian Penmanship" and is considered a distinctly American form. Its influence is still recognizable in the Coca Cola and Ford logos. Many homeschoolers still buy reprints of the classic manual for use in their curriculum. http://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Penmanship-Theory-Book-copybooks/dp/088062096X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433664087&sr=8-1&keywords=spencerian+penmanship http://www.amazon.com/Spencerian-Penmanship-Theory-Book-copy... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerian_script http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerian_script I've been using the script for all of my handwriting for over a decade, even filling out cursive-prohibited official forms without issue. The swift transition from being notorious for "Dr.'s handwriting" to being sought after to fill out wedding and funeral cards was startling.

meesterdude 11y ago
> I've been using the script for all of my handwriting for over a decade Maybe a stupid question but, how? I have pretty horrible handwriting, certainly doctor level; how did you manage a swift transition?
- austinjp 11y ago
  Personal experience with handwriting change: My writing became stylised in my teens, as I'm sure is true with many others. It sloped backwards, and I used a Greek style e and d, purely out of aesthetic reasons. In my adult life I noticed this made my writing really slow. This became a problem when I sat some exams in adulthood: my hand cramped as I tried to scrawl as fast as possible in the time limit. I deliberately investigated faster, more comfortable writing styles. Internet consensus, which I note agree with, indicated that joined-up, forward-leaning (italic) cursive was the way to go. The saw-tooth shape that underpins most letters is easy and feels natural -- if you're right handed. It took me about 6 months of deliberate effort before the transition was fully embedded, and I'm still very pleased that I made the change.
DanBC 11y ago
Thanks for the wikipedia link. People interested in how penmanship has changed over the 20th century might be interested in this (weirdly expensive book) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handwriting-Twentieth-Century-Rosemary-Sassoon/dp/0415178827 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handwriting-Twentieth-Century-Rosema...
emmelaich 11y ago
That cursive is exactly what I was taught in school in Australia. I would say it is less ornate than Spencerian, even less ornate that its successor Palmerian. But they're all quite similar to the more modern eye. My teacher at the time, (history and French) could write perfect Copperplate on the chalkboard.
- sehugg 11y ago
  Looks also the same as I was taught in the U.S. -- though I couldn't pull it off nowadays. My grandfather grew up in the rural Midwest and wrote with a very attractive calligraphic style a bit closer to Spencerian; my dad still does too.
kbenson 11y ago
For any discussion about penmanship, I feel obliged to supply a link to the PenmanshipPorn subreddit[1] 1: http://www.reddit.com/r/PenmanshipPorn/top/ http://www.reddit.com/r/PenmanshipPorn/top/

meesterdude 11y ago

> I've been using the script for all of my handwriting for over a decade Maybe a stupid question but, how? I have pretty horrible handwriting, certainly doctor level; how did you manage a swift transition?

austinjp 11y ago
Personal experience with handwriting change: My writing became stylised in my teens, as I'm sure is true with many others. It sloped backwards, and I used a Greek style e and d, purely out of aesthetic reasons. In my adult life I noticed this made my writing really slow. This became a problem when I sat some exams in adulthood: my hand cramped as I tried to scrawl as fast as possible in the time limit. I deliberately investigated faster, more comfortable writing styles. Internet consensus, which I note agree with, indicated that joined-up, forward-leaning (italic) cursive was the way to go. The saw-tooth shape that underpins most letters is easy and feels natural -- if you're right handed. It took me about 6 months of deliberate effort before the transition was fully embedded, and I'm still very pleased that I made the change.

DanBC 11y ago

Thanks for the wikipedia link. People interested in how penmanship has changed over the 20th century might be interested in this (weirdly expensive book) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handwriting-Twentieth-Century-Rosemary-Sassoon/dp/0415178827 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handwriting-Twentieth-Century-Rosema...

emmelaich 11y ago

That cursive is exactly what I was taught in school in Australia. I would say it is less ornate than Spencerian, even less ornate that its successor Palmerian. But they're all quite similar to the more modern eye. My teacher at the time, (history and French) could write perfect Copperplate on the chalkboard.

sehugg 11y ago
Looks also the same as I was taught in the U.S. -- though I couldn't pull it off nowadays. My grandfather grew up in the rural Midwest and wrote with a very attractive calligraphic style a bit closer to Spencerian; my dad still does too.

kbenson 11y ago

For any discussion about penmanship, I feel obliged to supply a link to the PenmanshipPorn subreddit[1] 1: http://www.reddit.com/r/PenmanshipPorn/top/ http://www.reddit.com/r/PenmanshipPorn/top/