Cursive Penmanship In Decline & How We Save It!

[@willeel3750]

As a 71 year old writer, I've been writing my books in cursive for decades and it is a big part of my thought and creative process. There is something about the connection between hand and mind, my subconscious kicks in and I just pop the clutch on my hand and the words flow. It is almost like automatic writing. Later, I put the words in the manuscript via a keyboard, but they were born of cursive writing. Thank you for your very thoughtful treatise on "the art" of cursive.

[@gihanzohdy3284]

Excellent analysis!

[@JMaxwell1000]

I agree completely. The only time I feel I absolutely must grab a keyboard (the Alphasmart Neo2) is when I'm lying in bed and suddenly have a train of thought I don't want to lose. You can turn on the keyboard and start typing away in the dark and it will save all your work. Writing in total darkness allows the thoughts to flow more freely, uninterrupted by visual distractions, and is clearly only possible for touch-typists. Handwriting in the dark would be a very unique skill indeed.

[@Julian-bq9qv]

@@JMaxwell1000 - I, too, used to have important questions or thoughts arise as I was ready to fall asleep, and so began to keep a notebook and pen by the bed to record my mental insights- and the next morning, invariably, I would read, "Fgnn grp, dnddlk breen glihh!?"

[@JMaxwell1000]

@@Julian-bq9qv Try the Alphasmart Neo2 for that purpose. It stays right next to me on the nightstand. Since I never want to disturb my husband's sleep, I just grab the AS Neo, hit the ON button, wait 3 seconds, and start writing away in total darkness. Try it. It really helps.

[@eduardoleva9842]

Creo que la escritura a mano ofrece la posibilidad de "frenar" la corriente del pensamiento, ordenarla, sentirla. En mi caso me produce un cierto efecto sedante.

[@lizpilgrim1]

I'm all for keeping cursive alive!

[@Rgmekanic]

The desire to "re-learn" cursive is what got me into fountain pens a couple months ago. I am 41, and learned cursive in school, but had not _really_ used it since middle school. I bought a Platinum Preppy, as I knew from past experience a fountain pen would force my attention and form. I actually had to youtube how write a lowercase B, that knowledge had completely left me. Since then I have nearly filled 3 notebooks. I journal multiple times and pages per day. Looking back on a notebook from a month and a half ago looks like it was written by someone else. Journaling has become my favorite activity. Sitting with my fountain pens and just pouring my thoughts onto paper, in ... mostly legible cursive.

[@Ketheld]

I've had almost the exact same experience only I got into fountain pens starting with the Platinum Preppy first and recently started to "re-learn" cursive. I had to look up a chart to remember how to write a lower case Z otherwise I've been amazed to see how much of it just came back. In just a few days, writing a few pages a day, the change has been pretty dramatic going from toddler with crayon to something that looks respectable. I just turned 41 myself so maybe there's something to that.

[@Schein1307]

29 and still writing in cursive. I still prefer writing notes, reminders, quotes more than typing.

[@SusanneMBarrett]

California has added cursive back into the state curriculum starting this fall. I homeschooled my kids partly to be sure that they learned cursive along with other subjects not covered in our schools in California. I keep a commonplace book of quotations (I'm filling my third journal) and take notes in cursive (sermon notes, Zoom sessions, videos, etc.). I've learned copperplate calligraphy which is slow yet lovely.

[@johnlopez3996]

California's new cursive handwriting implementation began on January 1, 2024, but I have been teaching it since I started teaching elementary school in 1992. I was at a school supply store several months ago, and one of the clerks told me that cursive handwriting helped him with dyslexia. It is wonderful to see a student's handwriting change over the academic year, and my students who meet my cursive handwriting expectations receive fountain pens from me at the end of the academic year. Thank you for this video presentation. Long live the analog warmth that cursive handwriting carries with it.

[@michellek649]

Thank you for teaching this! It's so important for children to learn this. I can see how it helps with people's mind. I write by longhand every day and it definitely helps me when I'm anxious or feel a lot of stress.

[@cherylclough4309]

⁠We should absolutely teach cursive in schools. I can’t believe anyone ever thought it was a good idea to get rid of it. But art has gone out of many schools and that is scary. Let’s keep writing! Great video, as usual.

[@carolanna0613]

Thank You for teaching this!! I love it that you give the kids that do well a fountain pen at the end of the year. I just started using fountain pens about a year ago and I love them! I wish I could have been introduced to them as a child (I am 50 now)..

[@Alliejay-C]

Thank you for another wonderful video, Hemingway! I grew up with cursive and then moved (partially) to computers. But I noticed that the ideas I compose on pen and paper are so much better thought out and require less rework. Also agree 100%. Nobody will save people’s emails, but recipes on index cards will live forever. ❤

[@Michelt007]

Each time I come to this channel, I am just so amazed at how professional it looks! To me, this entire channel is cursive!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! I try so hard to make it pro level, but I am just one guy making it up as I go along. Thank you!

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Good video. Funny that you should post it today. I'm 73 and hadn't written in cursive in so long I can't remember ever doing it. My handwriting (printing, actually) is atrocious - even I can't read it. My wife and I have been together for almost 50 years, and she could rarely read anything I wrote. Back in April, I decided to play with fountain pens, and thought I'd try my hand (pun intended) at cursive. Ironically, I had to look on-line for the alphabet and started to practice. It took me over a month, practicing every day, but this morning, for my wife's birthday, I was able to give her a card with some appropriate song lyrics that I had handwritten in cursive. It was a "wow" moment for both of us.

[@lynnodonnell4764]

@@Pauley_in_GP incredible comment Sir!

[@martinjohnson4405]

When I found this video in my feed I had a copy of the Michael R. Sull book "The Art of Penmanship" next to me on my desk. I took a quick look in KZbin while taking a break from studying. Perfect timing. For me writing with a fountain pen and writing in cursive is not a hobby, rather just a part of my everyday life. I even hand write my grocery list -- I use a waterproof carbon ink I found in China ["!NK" brand] for that bit of writing.

[@gypsyfroggie]

My grand is excited to learn cursive because I told her it was going to be a "secret language"! She giggled and got excited! Cursive is my favorite way to write, especially with Fountain Pens.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love this! Such a charming way to get them excited.

[@jbkerns]

Cursive is my counter culture rebellion.

[@MichaelR-kl6hk]

Awesome ☠️☠️☠️

[@ferguslimhm8311]

apa khabar, greetings from Malaysia, i 2nd the thought.

[@melaniecrounse5222]

Mine too! I write my notes in cursive on the board in my classroom for my literature students!

[@AtomicElf1]

I also learned either Palmer or D'Nealian Cursive in second grade. I have not been in the habit of writing in complete cursive. Instead, I typically use what is sometimes called "print script," which is an intuitive personalized combination of cursive and print. Generally, this suits me for getting ideas down quickly, but lately I've been practicing some calligraphy. Im considering writing more in full cursive as for me it's just so much more pleasant to read.

[@lynnodonnell4764]

Cedar Rapids Iowa here. University of Iowa recently documented the benefits of CURSIVE. I was so excited to see that on the front page of the Sunday paper. ...Hoping it renters the classroom. I'm 70. I WUD LOVE TO TEACH CURSIVE !!!!@

[@debbypodgorski4144]

Great video! Yes, cursive should be taught. I think it helped me to learn and remember lessons in a way typing never could. Plus I treasure my mother’s handwriting that I still have.

[@JRDiaz-tn5kb]

Wonderful video and necessary! Yes, I believe cursive should be taught in schools. As a Left-handed fountain pen user, I manage to find time to write every day- though I have had to work hard on my legibility. Kudos to your daughter’s appearance writing her name with a fountain pen - it’s the picture of that which we all need to carry forward and promote!

[@margiekraftkindt4208]

Cursive handwriting is as individual as a fingerprint--when I look at a personal letter, written in cursive by my grandmother to me in the 1960s, I can see her as clearly as if it were her photograph . . . and so revealing of her personality. Whether cursive survives or not is undecided, but what is known is that as it wanes, we are losing something irreplaceable.

[@michaelfourie345]

Every time I watch one of your posts (this one is especially moving) I am inspired to spend a couple (more) hours practicing. I find practicing penmanship even better than math - both have the effect (on me at least) of helping me to slip away into a time of utter, and joyous focus - a world of my own. Thank you for being an inspiration to so many - long may it continue.

[@richardzak2140]

Hello HJ. Cursive is an artful means of expression and should be passed down for generations to come. I understand the need for keyboarding skills but it shouldn't be the replacement. We might as well remove learning a second language from the classroom. When I was in high school, computers were not a thing but the option to learn keyboarding was there, and I took it never knowing how powerful this skill would be. Cursive can be just as powerful just like a second language. My youngest son was the last to have cursive as a requirement in the classroom and I'm happy that all of my sons have learned this expression of writing. Great video my friend. Keep them coming.

[@pamscala3579]

Glad to see Cursive brought forward for discussion, We should teach cursive in school again. Many positive benefits throughout our lives. Keep spreading the positive message!

[@vicentegregorio6476]

Fully agree! Cursive should be taught in every school. Nice video!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for watching!

[@Julian-bq9qv]

Excellent video!!!! I was taught by the use of the clear plastic templates of the Palmer Method, which we used to place over our letters to develop a consistent - and lovely - style of cursive writing! I think that one of the points of driving young people to rely almost exclusively on keyboards, smart phones and computers, is to develop a class of worker drones, who can be programmed to perform tasks by rote, without question or critical thinking. Cursive writing is of incomparable value in improving the mind-body connection. And btw- your child is so precious!!!! My beloved and I never had children, but I can still recognize the radiance that shines from such exceptional children. You are blessed!

[@oldladywcamera]

You're an inspiration. Will teach my granddaughter to write at least her name in cursive!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much!

[@gihanzohdy3284]

Hemingway a big bravo for your choice of topic. I hope and pray that this magnificent human achievement will not vanish. State propaganda via schools, meant to produce morons and not citizens, are banning cursive and writing in general with this end in view. So in other western nations too, this will be the slow death of the west. I hope this detestable policy will be revised, in the Scandinavian world, if I correctly remember, adolescent children were tested after a few years of this policy and it was proven that their "intelligence" decreased through the years rather than increase with schooling and age. I ardently hope that both state run schools and private initiative such as yours will contribute to saving this beautiful and creative aspect of human existence, handwriting is of enormous benefit to the brain, it has been abundantly proven, language helped this extraordinary organ develop! Lucky are the youngsters who come from a cultured home!

[@roxiesossa3210]

Excellent video. I can't imagine a day without writing. Even with a career in technology, I hand write [in cursive] meeting notes and other data that perhaps may be easier to type but writing it by hand really cements the knowledge for me. Let's keep cursive alive. Well done, Tim! 😊

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much!

[@FabioBarahona]

I started writing in cursive with a pen since the beginning of 3rd grade in 1976. It started my love for pens and writing. I was bedazzled by my teachers ' Cross, Parker and Papermate metal shiny ballpoints.

[@scribe_samples2309]

Awesome inspiring unique video-making a difference-thank you again! I love the uniqueness of a signature in cursive and a handwritten letter. Plus agree we must be able to read for ourselves original founding documents. Grateful my grands learned cursive in their charter school. Public schools in Oregon did not teach cursive 😢😢😢

[@johnwood9232]

Learning cursive improves "image-recognition" skills. It is really important.

[@richardzak2140]

Hello HJ. Forgot to tell you that I enjoyed the matching polo shirts, too. Great job.

[@robinpennell1594]

It is so true that students have lost out on valuable information when not learning cursive. Studies show that writing down information, such as notes during a lecture, helps make connections to the material in the brain. While cursive doesn't have to be used, it is faster than printing and the ability to create small designs also helps develop dexterity. Writing is crucial to academic success. Writing on a laptop or typewriter is very difficult for students who have not become comfortable with handwriting. My students almost always prefer hand printing to typing I think because they feel intimidated by word processing. Or maybe because they are watching their mistakes pop up as they make them. My students cannot read or write cursive but they want to learn to sign their name. I really think they feel they missed out! Ohio schools are trying to reintroduce cursive since writing is an integral part of learning to read. Im glad they are coming back around to it!

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I was started kindergarten in '66, graduate high school in '79. My recollection is that we learned cursive in third grade, started using pens instead of pencils in fourth grade. I noticed that I and other students in my age group, when a ballpoint pen would quit writing, we would shake the pen up and down as it to get the "paste" ink to flow. Of course it wouldn't, but years later I finally realized we were imitating our parents who had grown up with fountain pens and who would shake them to get a few more drops of ink. --- Also: I love to look at the copy of the Declaration of Independence that is at my post office. Too my grandmother had a unique Art Deco handwriting, a work of art in itself.

[@JMaxwell1000]

Excellent presentation! I agree wholeheartedly. Frankly, I simply cannot print well and rely on cursive to write as fast as possible. Keyboard proficiency - blind touch-typing - is also very useful, but they should not preclude cursive handwriting as an even more useful skill. This was your best presentation yet. Thank you!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is literally the nicest thing you could say!

[@sruckel]

HJ, I love the depth of research and classy presentations. See you soon in DC

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks Man! See you soon!

[@CorvusNumber6]

I've never written in anything other than cursive - printing was far too slow to keep up with the teachers in school and lecturers at uni. I did recently however, resurrect some of the more stylistic letter forms that I was taught (in primary school). I'm in my mid 50s now and no longer need to rush when note-taking :) Cursive is far from dead, at least here in Northern Ireland. My kids were both taught it in primary school as a lot of employers here make judgments about your intelligence based on whether or not you write cursively. Thank you for the content!

[@johnlopez3996]

@CorvusNumber6 Sending tons of love to Bushmills, Coleraine and Ballymena. I was in Northern Ireland back in 1988 to meet my pen pal for the first time.

[@CorvusNumber6]

@@johnlopez3996 Thanks buddy, love received with thanks! Hope you had a good visit to your pen-pal, you may have even visited Portstewart on your travels! (my home town). Atb!

[@49jbrash]

I'm totally on your side, dear Hemingway. And I also hope the woorld will not "disolve into a white void with a blinking cursor". SadlyI had to write this on a coputer board! Better to add tools to the writing experience. Greetings in cursive writing!✍

[@JRDiaz-tn5kb]

While we are waiting for the blinking or hour-glass icon to give us what we want, anyone use a pen to write a note, or put some thoughts on paper- no electricity needed. You’re so correct.

[@michellek649]

This is so interesting. Thank you for posting. I didn't know a lot of this information. I do know I am thankful to have learned cursive in school and can't imagine not using it.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@tce4159]

Cursive needs to be brought back into our schools, this beautiful expression of words should’ve never been dropped.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much!

[@irishaven4632]

I like how cursive is faster than print. I've always been a tactile learner, so memorizing things has always been difficult. I have to write it over and over again until I remember it. Thus, cursive has always been my default over print. I like how you mentioned that your own individual cursive style is like a fingerprint. It reminded me of what one of my friends said. I'm the only person in my friend group that can write in cursive, so they always tell me I have really great handwriting. I showed them the writing of a master penman, and they said they still liked mine more because of the imperfections it had. They said it felt more human to see my writing and that made it more romantic to read.

[@SpringNotes]

You have great friends !

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

At an antique shop down the way just got 3 Sheaffer bottles with the ink pocket, and a box set of Stravinsky Ballets, on vinyl!

[@themisterchristie]

Cursive writing as a required skill was brought back into the schools in Ontario. My son just missed that as he is almost done secondary school and I know he can't read cursive. His printing is very poor and probably would have been better if he had been taught cursive. While my cursive is not great, slowly improving, learning cursive in school helped my print lettering and knowing how letters are formed smoothly. Watching my son and some co-workers try to print, they have trouble forming the letters properly. I have been trying to improve my cursive slowly snd doing it more since starting with fountain pens, thanks to the encouragement of yourself and other KZbin creators.

[@darrinyhearm4240]

Great video HJ. I have always wrote cursive and prefer it to printing. My keyboard are terrible as stab two fingers into my Laptop. My dad had beautiful writing while my Mam said her writing was like a spider running over the page. keep up the good work.

[@5t4n5]

I firmly sit in both worlds. I love writing the best looking cursive i can manage with a fountain pen, especially for journalling, and i'm always trying to make my cursive nicer and neater. It makes me slow down and think about what i'm writing and gives me a range of disciplines that i wouldn't otherwise get -- good enough is never good enough, it can always be a little tiny bit better. So i can understand fully how it makes one learn information a lot better, it makes us pay attention. At the same time, i love typing so much that i design and build my own keyboards, tailored to fit my hands and fingers perfectly for pure touch typing. And i'm always trying to improve my keyboards to make my typing skills better. So when i just need to spew words quickly typing works great, but it doesn't give me time to think about what i'm writing and i don't really pay that much attention to what i'm writing. The sad thing that i've noticed, is that most people can't write neatly, let alone make any attempt at cursive, and they can't type competently either. Neither do they read books any more. They just want to watch videos and television and allow their brains to atrophy into gloop. The good news, IMHO, is that there will always be people who do care about what their written communications say about them, and nice handwriting, cursive or otherwise, will never be a thing of the past.

[@vcrouch6041]

Thank you! What wonderful journeys you takes us on!

[@karenholden4740]

Put cursive writing back in school! This is a great video again sir. Thanks

[@ichirofakename]

The only cursive I have used since 8th grade is when signng my name. Sometime in my sixties I started struggling to get the number of humps right. Now in my 70's I just sign my initials. So use that cursive while you still can!

[@HemingwayJones]

I’m not sure my “Ms” are correct! People have heaped hump-criticism my way! Thanks!

[@dhoward8816]

I love writing in cursive and am still trying to improve. There's a Bob Proctor quote that "Hand writing causes thinking..." You are so right in what you say about cursive in this video! Thanks. 🖊️

[@crouserm]

I believe there are more speakers of Cornish now than there were a century ago; so I'm not going to despair about cursive. Not that I actually speak Cornish. But, I send a minimum of four letters in cursive to loved ones each week. And, come to think of it, Latin still speaks. So, my lovely 17 moth old granddaughter might yet be doing what your lovely 7 year old is now. Good for her! Good for them! Good for you! Keep on writing on, friend!

[@HemingwayJones]

Ah, Cornwall. One of my favorite places on this great Earth. I’m hungry for pasty Now. Thanks My Friend!

[@curious_416]

On top of primary sources, the more new generations see writing in terms of fonts and technology, the more writing will be saddled with the expectation of inhuman uniformity and perfection. Not only will cursive be a struggle, but any handwriting rushed with a mix of separate and combined forms. You can see it now as people post handwritten pages and ask for translations online. Often there are “illegible” words that have letters formed very similarly to print, but the slight embellishments through the reader off. (Even though outside of the most ornate texts, about 80% of cursive letters are just like their print counterparts.) There’s something chilling about being unable to communicate in writing unless you mimic a machine. And there are sure to be wider repercussions if people can’t, as a general society, understand minor human deviations. With current tech advancements, I can’t help but wonder what that show Revolution would look like today. What would people do if they were suddenly forced to communicate with voice, pen, and paper?

[@StacySchulze-cg1he]

I’m chuckling a bit. Most of the family recipes I have are typed onto index cards (my paternal grandmother was quite the typist). Luckily, a few are handwritten, especially ones that came from other family members and family friends. As for enjoying the sound of typewriters, someday I’d love to be the performer for The Typewriter by Leroy Anderson, but I will most likely only ever be in the background band because others can play up the part so much better. Edited to add: No, cursive is not all dead, it is only mostly dead. I think of it much like several of the textile techniques I've taught, many of which people say they think are dead. With those techniques, fewer people now need them or use them as much as in the past, but those who learn and use them now do so more for fun and pleasure instead of need. I continue to use cursive to write to people, even my lovely 7 year-old penpal (a friend's niece) who is starting to try to learn herself.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Many good points. Thank you for bringing this up.

[@kcoxx691]

Great video 👍👍👍

[@ColossalNewborn]

Excellent video as always! I'm thankful I rediscovered my love for writing in general which in turn led to me rediscovering cursive. I am proud to say that at the age of 24, cursive is one of my favorite ways of writing, using a form of modern Roundhand called CJ Roundhand. Back when I was still in primary school, we were taught cursive but now, I'm not so sure what they teach kids nowadays in the Philippines. Cursive is important as well since it allows you to jot down notes quicker so in a sense there's both a practical and artistic reason for why I believe cursive should be brought back into a modern curriculum. I would love to see a video from you regarding the topic of iron-gall inks and your thoughts on them, if ever. Again, thank you for the wonderful video and I look forward to the next one!

[@craft-o-matic399]

I have noticed how resurrecting my cursive handwriting that it has helped me in ways I could not have imagined, and it's fun. When you write, you must think, and thinking is also a dying art, sadly...

[@rrmqs]

Back in the 90s, our English teacher at school in Spain gave us a lesson on the difference between traditional English and Spanish calligraphy. I found it fascinating. It was mainly about f's and z's.

[@HemingwayJones]

Interesting. Share it with us sometime if you still have it. [e-mail]

[@MrRufusjax]

Wow, brings back memories. I remember the ink stained desks with the inkwell when I was in elementary school. And yes, we simply used cheap Bic ballpoints and wrote cursive with them. I got a D in handwriting back then so in college I simply printed. Now I want to start with using cursive again.

[@charolettebeard3657]

My nephew graduated from Basic Training, and during mail call, the drill sergeants couldn't read my handwriting. Good thing my stationary had my return address imprinted. Bring cursive writing back!

[@Sunny_Blue_]

What a splendid, thoughtful and beautiful video! I’ve often wondered over the years many of these questions you raised about cursive handwriting, particularly its place in today’s technological advanced world, to hear you ask and care about such things, well, I derive a measure of comfort and resolve. That’s why I subscribed after watching a video of yours nearly a year ago, and now, nearly coming to a year, Im so delighted to share in and proud to be a member of the channel. Here’s to you, Hemingway, and, of course, one and all!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you, Sunny! That means the world to me! Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.

[@SpringNotes]

Love your childhood memories of the ink stained desk 🥰 And yes, there's something special about the sound of manual typewriters. May I ask, what is the name of this fountain pen at 7:54 and 8:08 ? Are they the same pen ? Thank you in advance.

[@K_rye]

I learned cursive in the 60's and never stopped using it. It's much easier to write faster (note taking in class or meetings) when using it. I've read many studies that show that you retain more information when you physically write it down. I know this is true for me.

[@HemingwayJones]

I agree completely. Thanks for watching.

[@AndyHullMcPenguin]

The notion that you can have Keyboard skills or Cursive writing but not both is a false dichotomy. You need both. The keyboard skills give you access to the highly ephemeral virtual world, but cursive writing exists in the real world. The battery never goes flat on my paper notebook. Ink doesn't vanish in a blue screen of death. Paper and ink will still contain my ideas in a week, a month, a year or for as long as the paper and ink survives. I don't need to click "I agree" to an impenetrable soup of terms and conditions to keep it hanging around in some anonymous server farm in some unknown location, accessible by who knows what prying eyes for what ever length of time it is "profitable", but for not a second longer. All those thoughts and ideas you trusted to Friends Reunited (remember them?) Netscape, Altavista, the things you typed on your PDA or Palm pilot... are now long vanished. Paper and ink, beautiful writing, is the ultimate archive medium. Tangible, elegant, inspiring, funny, personal.

[@HemingwayJones]

Perfectly stated! Wonderful comment. Thank you!

[@Volkmannx]

“Style is what gives value and currency to thoughts.” - Arthur Schopenhauer

[@justanotherdropwmatt1290]

In 2003, my high school would not let me join a caligraphy clas b.c my block was not that great. More ledgible than some but not perfect. iIn 2007 I had moved to my final public school and in honors english i had a single introductory lesson in cursive b.c it would be a faster way to write in college. (My block is so slow i fell behind bc of.it) This is where I began looking up and learning to write cursive. Started I still had mostly ball point but only wrote in 1/4 cursive. Couldn't always remember letters. Some 15 years later I only write in script now. And back in school career change.

[@ShawnMT111]

Fantastic video! Let's hope we can all keep talking about it and make a difference.

[@HemingwayJones]

I hope so too! Thanks for watching!

[@lossinsauce]

I love your reflections and thoughts on this matter! The only thing I want to note is that these articles don't exactly show the whole picture of this debate. I am actually working with some of my professors on the research of different teaching methods that best benefit students. One of them was the whole cursive, print, and typed notes debate! The study that most of these articles point to are with a cohort of non-cursive writers taking notes in cursive. It was theorized that the reason they performed better (and that a different part of their brain was working) is due to the fact they took much more time writing in a style they were not familiar with, thus they were learning things at a more digestible rate (i.e. they were focused on making the shapes of the letters, which results in other neurons working). For those in the sample that did normally write in cursive, they had results very similar to the ones that wrote in print. Ultimately, these studies showed that it was less a debate of whether cursive or print is better for comprehension and recall, but rather the ineffectiveness of typed notes! Still, I adore writing in cursive and it was your cursive capitals video that led me to your channel! Probably am still going to continue taking handwritten notes in class haha

[@eduardoleva9842]

La cursiva sobrevivirá! Por supuesto! Excelente reflexión.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you for watching!

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

To any who think his or her handwriting is beyond repair, take heart. Mine was hopeless. Even though it remains brutish and inartistic, my handwriting is much improved and it didn't really take that much work. I know that when I write notes in longhand, I write in words. "The" is "the," not "t-h-e" as it is when I print. I think there is something to that. There is yet more to handwritten symbology, extending beyond prose. Pencil - and in my case, eraser - and paper is the most flexible computational system yet devised. Math is typeset in LaTex, it is discovered and understood on paper. Besides, a writer has a mystic relationship with his tools. Would Gandalf have been as powerful if he attacked the Balrog with a cell phone and 911? Would I ever be the writer I want to become without my staff, my pen?

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Cursive will prevail!!

[@ericwelch6842]

28 and only write in cursive! Very cool video Timothy

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!!!

[@dailycharmaddict]

🖤🖤🖤

[@ChrisGVE]

I could not agree more that writing (cursive or not by the way) is extremely important as part of the learning process. In my experience I have never remembered anything that I had typed on a computer and I use them for more than 40 years now, when working, or studying (with the exception of learning a new computer program) I always take notes and during my academic studies I've always handwritten summary of my courses and I am convinced this is how I was able to succeed because writing was giving me another way to remember things. I am by far not against computers, I have worked with them for too long, and learning these new skills will be critical for our youths but hand writing will I believe always benefit them more than just using computers to learn. The matter of cursive or not I think is a bit secondary, like you Tim I am a bit of a romantic and cursive is important to me, but practically as long as someone handwrites it will help memorizing by using muscles along with the brain. But that's my two cents, maybe I am just an old guy living in the past :)

[@HemingwayJones]

You and me both, My Friend and I am happy that way! Thanks very much!

[@paulherman5822]

In my opinion, there is still a need for script. Not necessarily cursive. Cursive is just the most recent version of script. I dropped using cursive in I think around 9th grade, because of an interest in generally Speedball type calligraphy. Because of the Speedball Textbook of around 1980, I'd discovered copperplate (round hand, in penmanship.) I don't use a textbook perfect version, but it's still legible.😁 Yes, Palmer Method was my first script, as well. (Kindergarten in 1973.) But Palmer swiftly became the cursive that's better known (it's really similar. ) Was "business script" (the origin of Spencerian) and your personal hand, in the past. It's really been since Palmer Method and cursive that they became blurred. Look at accounts ledgers and receipts of the 19th century, and letters from the people who wrote those things. They are significantly different. Penmanship is still important. Whether cursive, or another form of script, even printing, in my humble opinion. It's repeatedly been linked to better memory and retention of things taught. "Why printing?" Well, that's the root of written language. Uncials, both miniscule and majescule, were THE writing for centuries. Written classical Latin is somewhat different from the stuff chiseled in stone. Written Koine Greek is different from typeset Greek found in textbooks. Since the beginning, handwriting has been invaluable. There's been several sci-fi stories I've read in which reading (because of electronic media) remains, but people have difficulty recording their own thoughts because they couldn't write. Some have went further, and postulate it'll just get to audio. No reading or writing. Earlier authors said that started the downfall of civilization... Yes, penmanship is very important!

[@Caramelgreeneyes]

Cursive is not over!!! I’ve been a teacher for 27 years and I’m still teaching my first graders to write cursive. Dyslexic children find it so much easier to use cursive than block letters.

[@SpringNotes]

Interesting, why do you think that is ? Maybe because print looks similar ?

[@Caramelgreeneyes]

@@SpringNotes Print can be reduced to sticks and circles, left and right… with cursive there is a connection between letters, all the letters in a word are like a ‘family’ and hold each other’s hands and every member has it’s own personality and features. Some have a big butt 😂, others a huge tummy, or a big tail, some are skinny or round… it’s easier to remember.

[@ScottyCan-t]

The school system in my hometown is bringing cursive back this year!🎉

[@HemingwayJones]

Awesome!

[@davidottman9501]

Thought provoking... Most of us have heard a lot about the improved link between thoughts and words when we write by hand, but the ability to directly read historical documents is a connection I hadn't made. Now that you say it, this is obvious! Thanks so much, this has been enlightening. For what it's worth, my two kids learned cursive in school. It's good that they know how and use this skill, even if they don't yet realize its importance.

[@karlgarnett7445]

Personally, my handwriting IS BAD "BUT" When Technology fails, and it will, Handwriting is always your backup. Should be taught in schools doesn't matter if your teachers can't count/read etc. I like many others still use Pen/Pencil to paper and just started using Fountain pen, also trying to improve my script to readable standard.

[@servandopatlan6150]

Dear Hemingway Jones, I have really enjoyed your KZbin Videos. I rember watching my mother write letters to her sisters using a Schaeffer bulb9 syringe fill fountain pen with a 14 K gold nib in the 1950s. I later inherited that pen and used it in the 1980s, until one day I put it down on my desk and it rolled near a candle on my desk and the lacquered pen burst into flames, I had no idea this could happen, something you should warn your viewers about, that was the end of my fountain pen journey until 2024 when I purchased a Kindle Sribe and started taking notes using the stylis and glass screen in fountain pen mode. Well my cursive writing needed improvement and that lead me to your KZbin videos and from those videos I was inspired to purchase a Pilot 823 Medium Nib fountain pen to resume my fountain pen journey. I encourage you to try the Kindle Scribe and do a review of the stylis in fountain pen mode and use that video as an invitation to Kindle Scribe Users to visit your website to improve their cursive writing and to begin or resume a fountain pen journey with you and your followers. Sincerely, Senvando Patlan

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you, Senvando, for the kind words and for watching the Channel! I wonder if that pen was celluloid. They are definitely flammable. So sorry. I am glad you have rediscovered these amazing pens. The PC823 is a wonderful pen. Thanks for the comment and kind suggestion.

[@JG3Reviews]

Texas reinstated the teaching of cursive, but the challenge for teachers is that standardized testing prep is squeezing cursive (and some other important skills) back out of the scheduling priorities.

[@pamelasorrells2187]

Yes it should be taught in schools!

[@TheStockwell]

Recent studies from Harvard and Oxford prove that cursive writing with a fountain pen - or simply owning a fountain pen - increases intelligence, extends human life, prevents aging and disease, and gives a person a sultry, potent sexuality that James Bond would be in awe of. It also makes a person healthy, wealthy, and wise. Who are we to argue with proven scientific facts? 🤔 Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@texasmom8827]

Recently I took a cursive written address to Fedex and the attendee admitted that he couldn't read cursive very well. I write very clearly so I found that a bit shocking.

[@cam2351]

I was told my class was the last public school class in Florida to learn cursive as part of the curriculum. I use solely cursive because my print sucks. My cursive is very clear, but even people as much as twice my age can't read it sometimes. Wild.

[@HemingwayJones]

I am so glad you picked up the skill.

[@mambokurtz]

Excellent and informative video on a fascinating topic. Thanks a lot

[@HemingwayJones]

So nice of you! Thanks for watching.

[@thomasmorrison675]

Still use cursive everyday for my notes at the office and for my journal, plus my datebook.

[@HemingwayJones]

Wonderful.

[@barrettwbenton]

Funny you should mention those ink-stained school desks of your youth, since they were of mine as well: like you, I missed by a few years the era when those ink-bottle holes were actually in use, and my curiosity about them is what started my exploration of fountain pens entirely on my own in the mid-1960s, even when inundated with television commercials showing those 19-cent Bic pens being shot into archery targets and such. My enthusiasm came and went over the decades, until it came - and stayed - in the mid-1990s. Penpersonship in general, meaning cursive in particular, has long been important to me, and I think the key is to just *keep writing* , which can be a bit challenging when I have a nice desktop *and* laptop at hand, not to mention a smartphone. But I also have a nice combo notebook/journal, and a pocket-size version of same, that are in regular use. (And, since, alas, I can't live writing by fountain-pen alone, but detest ballpoints, I now have a pair of Retro 51 Tornado rollers, which are quite nice.) Great to see your daughter wielding that Safari so well!

[@HemingwayJones]

I am glad you knew what I was speaking about. Thanks so much for watching and I am glad you liked seeing Imogen with that giant, for her, Safari.

[@hawkinscsa]

I really enjoyed this one! I would like to see more on the styles of cursive and how they changed over time.

[@Harrinoz]

They still teach cursive in schools here in Australia although it’s a little different to what I was taught when I was in school. ‘Modern cursive’ is not as rounded, has less loops and flourishes, and the capital letters are pretty much like the printing versions, but it’s still cursive. Or running writing as we used to call it.

[@jujingelion]

Great video, thanks a lot!❤ Even in Germany cursive handwriting is becoming less important in schools. Often you learn it in one school year (around grade 2 or 3), but not as strictly as it still was in the 90s, and then everthing switches back to print writing, so you miss the everyday practice. That's sadly the case for my daughter who is a 7th grader now. She learned cursive enough to write it but feels unsure as she doesn't have to use it daily and reading, especially when you have individual written letters, can be very difficult for her. My everyday writing is a mix of cursive and print, depending on what looks better for me or is more efficient when writing fast (without disturbing the flow).

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much for watching this and for the excellent comment.

[@stationery.shenanigans]

Great video! I teach college English classes and am requiring some things to be handwritten this semester to see how it helps them engaging with the topic and critical thinking. These students really don't write, even in print! Should be an interest experiment.

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds amazing! If you think of it, circle back and let me know how it went. Thanks!

[@SandandInk]

I have a 22 year old and a 15 year old who cannot read or write cursive - both boys - they cannot read a letter from their grandmother, much less historical documents, they cannot sign a signature on forms - they cannot write quick notes much less journal Stupidity and short sighted that they eliminated teaching this skill in the school system My kids feel that learning to write and read cursive now is just too difficult

[@frankmarek9921]

A great video,they should teach it again,Germany teaches it,frank in Oswego,ill

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks!

[@steventhomas7292]

Bring back the quill i say...

[@HemingwayJones]

Hear hear!

[@HemingwayJones]

Or hear ye, hear ye!

[@matthewross1756]

Just for clarification. The CCSS were developed by a consortium of states (SBAC). There were no national standards prior to SBAC or PARC. Those standards are merely a minimum set of standards for the states in the consortium as a way to ensure a common assessment within the consortium. States still had the authority to add to the list of standards, but those standards would not be included in the assessment. In California our 3rd grade students are expected to learn cursive and then use cursive beyond….

[@53minerva]

Thank you.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@ImprovingAbility]

Members of the workforce need to be able to follow instructions, perform tasks efficiently and fit into a hierarchical, production-oriented environment. They don't need to be able to write by hand too well, and if you identify as such you certainly don't need cursive writing. If you, on the other hand, identify as a member of modern society who cherishes advanced literacy, critical thinking, creativity and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments, very likely you'll find joy in writing by hand in Zaner & Bloser or both D'Nealian styles, amongst many others!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for the comment and thanks so much for watching!

[@FredericRodrigues]

It still blows my mind that a child can go through its entire student life without writing cursive. Where I grew up, we started learning cursive between 5 and 6 with a minimum of 2.5 hours of writing every single day. By the end of the year we were already proficient at it and were prepared for the next year to deep dive into grammar and specifics of the language itself and not be held back by not being able to write down our lessons. Not sure cursive will be around in a few generations ; probably as a relic of the past for a few connoisseurs, like mechanical watches today.

[@HemingwayJones]

Excellent points! Thanks for watching!

[@pmichael73]

When all the EVs consume every bit of electricity and households can only afford electricity for lights and the refrigerator, the computer will return to being a tool of the rich, and handwriting will again flourish. (Well, who could predict the current proliferation of fountain pens and inks?)

[@HemingwayJones]

I see the roots of a fantastic dystopian novel in this comment! Love it! Thanks so much as always for being here.

[@nope8535]

I switched back full time to cursive about a year ago. It is difficult to print now, my brain keeps wanting to go back to cursive. My print though is much nicer looking though and I still use capital cursive letters in my print.

[@barryporter6993]

I don't understand why they do not teach writing in school. How are the younger children going to sign their name? I have seen that banks are doing away with checks, bur will everyone digitally sign contracts? or will we sign with X's?

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hi HJ! Hope you are in D.C. safe and sound for the big pen show! Cursive SHOULD be taught in schools. If you can't sign your name and have to print, that is darn embarrassing! I don't think we should be training kids to be little drones that just sit in their cubicles and feed info into machines. I wish that we had had MORE cursive and penmanship classes all throughout high school. It seems that there is almost an agenda in education that wants to take away all the creative pursuits from school. School systems POUR money into athletic programs and want to take away music and art. How can young people be creative then??? I enjoyed music more than anything else in both grade, middle, and high-school. Not EVERY child is an athlete. They need an outlet too. Perhaps in school systems where art is not been excised from the curriculum, penmanship and calligraphy could be part of an art department's offerings. Creative writing, which should be part of any English program is another place where cursive could be included. I can write creatively with a pen or a typewriter, but I, for some reason CANNOT compose on a computer! Anyway, cursive seems to be on its way back. Thank goodness if it is!

[@HemingwayJones]

Yes! I am here, thanks! Thanks for watching!

[@Hellanoise1]

✒️ - 👍🏽 💻 - 👎🏽…..

[@HemingwayJones]

Love it!