I know you are here today to find out how to improve handwriting. If you are the one for whom most solutions didn’t work out, then I promise you today that after applying the researched methods you will get to know here, it will work 100% for you. Improving your handwriting is not a ‘herculean task’, yes it is very simple and I assure you that you will have neat and clean handwriting after 7 days if you follow the strategy properly. Teachers usually prefer an answer written in good handwriting rather than a bad or messy one. It’s a very common incident that teachers cannot decipher the written answer and thus chances of getting good marks decrease almost by 45% even if the answer is correct.
Now you may have these questions in your mind:
- Why the previous tips on how to improve handwriting didn’t work for you?
- Why and how do the tips you will get here today work for you to improve your handwriting?
Okay! So let’s answer your questions.
Firstly, the previous tips didn’t work for you because most of the tips were too general, and not personalized. You need to understand that every person writes differently and has different problems, thus will have different answers to how to improve handwriting. One solution cannot satisfy all problems, right?
Secondly, the methods you will get here today will work for you because they are more personalized and science-backed, you will learn to analyze your problem from a different perspective that you have never done before. Since all the solutions are well-researched, you can fully rely on them to improve your handwriting.
First, we will discuss the problems & mistakes and then find the 100% working science-backed logical solutions.
Now you will get to know something that no one has told you before.
Four Most Common Problems
1. You have bad handwriting
Bad handwriting is often called ‘illegible’ which simply means the writing is indecipherable. There may be 3 reasons behind your bad handwriting:
- Poor hand-brain coordination due to which the brain takes a longer time to process the information.
- Lack of daily practice.
- You may have a neurological or muscular problem (consult a doctor in this case).
2. You write very slow
This happens because:
- You are not habituated to writing.
- Hand-brain coordinate is not established properly.
- You are tired.
3. Messy Class Notes
Your handwriting gets messy while writing class notes. This happens because you have a poor writing speed.
4. Good To Bad Writing
During exams you start to write with beautiful handwriting but gradually it becomes messy and unreadable. Sounds relatable right?
How To Improve Handwriting?
We will not discuss any theory here. We will move on straight into activities that provide results.
1. Warm Up
Initially, you need to do some warm-up exercises to improve your handwriting. Well, the term ‘warm up’ here does mean exercises like jogging or yoga, here ‘warm up’ means some simple activities using pen and paper that will improve your hand-brain coordination. Practice simple strokes like vertical lines, horizontal lines, slanting lines, inward and outward curves, zig-zag, waves, and some doodling. Just use 10 seconds for each one, approximately it will take 1 minute. You can try our Handwriting Practice Worksheets.
Now you may have a doubt, ‘How will you do this warm-up in the exam hall’. Don’t worry there’s also an answer to it. Carry a rough copy in your bag, reach before time, and before leaving the belongings outside the exam hall practice the basic strokes that we discussed now for 1 minute. If you are given a rough sheet during your exam, you can use it as well to do the warm-up exercise. You can try both of them or anyone depending upon the situation.
2. Find the Problem(s)
Analyze your handwriting
Take a copy of yours where you usually write like your school copy or notes copy and open it. Now observe and analyze the following points:
- Gaps: Do you write with irregular gaps? Like sometimes with a bigger gap and sometimes smaller.
- Big or Small-Sized Letters: Do you write in big or small-size letters? This happens usually because of unusual hand movement.
- Thick Writing: Is your writing thick and sometimes letters get overlapped?
- Tilted Alphabets: When you write, do the alphabets become tilted or slanted?
- Problem with Certain Alphabets: Do you often face problems while writing identical alphabets like b-d, n-h, g-j, m-n, f-t, etc.?
- Parallel Line: While writing on a white copy does it happen that you start writing in a straight horizontal line and gradually your writing line either goes upward or downward?
See your copy and try to answer the above questions. You will see that you have found out the problem.
Solutions To The Problems
Once you have addressed the problem(s), it becomes easy to find the solution.
1. Write Slowly
If you can’t maintain equal gaps between words, write slowly but steadily. Don’t worry this doesn’t make you a slow writer. This actually links your brain with your handwriting activity. This is how you can initially improve your hand-brain coordination. Once you develop good coordination you can gradually speed up.
2. Resize Your Words
If your writing is bigger or smaller than usual then follow these steps:
a) Do the writing warm-up that we discussed earlier.
b) Use lined paper, preferably a 3-line or 4-line one.
c) Focus consistently how you are writing each alphabet.
3. Pen Grip & Hand Position
If your writing is thick this means you put more pressure than required. You need to check this. Follow these steps to improve:
a) Use a ballpoint pen, avoid using gel pens
b) Write with a well-sharpened pencil
c) Don’t become conscious, go with the flow
d) Practice strokes daily
4. Maintain Good Posture
If your alphabet becomes tilted while writing, this is because you don’t maintain a good posture while writing. Before understanding good posture, let’s know what are commonly considered bad postures while writing.
a) Leaning too much towards the paper
b) Keeping head on the desk
c) Twisting the body or the paper too much (alignment problem)
d) Lying down
If you write in any of these postures, immediately change it. Sit straight and comfortably, hold your sheet with one hand, and write with the other. Don’t hold the pen too tight or too loose, have a firm grip. For a smooth experience use a rubber grip pen.
5. Aligned Writing
If you are unable to write in a straight line use a lined copy. Don’t try to write on a white copy. Write 10 lines daily on a lined copy.
6. Practice & Practice
Most importantly – practice, practice, and practice. Practice writing daily. Use the following handwriting improvement FREE resources:
Correct Way to Hold a Pen or Pencil
This is the primary and one of the most important factors. Firstly let’s know 2 types of simple grips:
1. Dynamic Tripod Grip
This grip involves 3 fingers – thumb, index finger, and middle finger forming a triangle. Place the pen/pencil between your thumb and index finger, now rest it over your middle finger. This forms a 45° angle.
2. Lateral Tripod Grip
This grip also involves 3 fingers – thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Here the pen/pencil is held on the lateral side of the thumb with the index finger and the middle finger supporting below.
3. Dynamic Quadrupod Grip
This grip involves 4 fingers – thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger. Place the pen/pencil between the tip of your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, now rest it over your ring finger.
4. Lateral Quadrupod Grip
This grip also involves 4 fingers – thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger. Here the pen/pencil is held on the lateral side of the thumb with the index finger, middle finger, and the ring finger supporting below.
Now hold your pen/pencil and identify your grip. If your grip is not identical to any of these grips then improvise your grip. Try all 4 grips one by one and opt for the one which you feel comfortable. Start writing using the grip that you opted for and practice daily.
How to improve handwriting in 7 days?
Let’s take up a 7-day challenge to improve your handwriting. Just follow these basic steps and see the change.
Day 1
Sit in a straight and comfortable position on your desk. Hold your pencil in any of the 4 writing grips. Take a lined copy. Start with the warm-up exercise that we discussed earlier. Now open the alphabet tracing book and start tracing. After you complete tracing write the alphabets in a 3-line or 4-line copy. If you struggle to write a particular alphabet, then write it 10 times for clarity. This is the fundamental step towards good handwriting. Don’t rush, take your time.
Day 2
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Once you have mastered writing each alphabet individually, it’s time to write the words. Open the word tracing book and start tracing CVC and CVCC words. Once you finish tracing, write the words in a 3-line or 4-line copy. Try to write each word in a motion and pay attention to each alphabet while writing. Use a pencil for writing.
Day 3
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Take a look at the activities you did on Days 1 & 2. Open your handwriting worksheet/workbook and start tracing the sentences. Complete at least 4-5 pages. Use a pencil for writing.
Day 4
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Revise your previous activities. Now it’s time to write on a 2 line copy. Take a topic and write 10 lines about it. Start using a pen from now onwards.
Day 5
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Take a cursive writing worksheet/workbook and practice tracing cursive sentences.
Day 6
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Write 10 sentences in cursive in a 2-line copy.
Day 7
Start with the warm-up exercises in the correct sitting posture with proper writing grip. Write an essay of 200-300 words maintaining the handwriting you achieved in these 7 days.
Note: If you want to write at a good speed, complete the tasks using a timer. You can start using the timer from Day 4, but not before that.
Don’t forget to give your feedback after 7 days in the comment section.
Importance of Writing by Hand for Memory and Learning in this Digital Age
Typing cannot replace handwriting. When you write by hand, your motor skills are refined and involve multiple regions of the brain that typing does not. Handwriting is an active method while typing is passive. This helps in memory retention and contributes to the in-depth learning process. Handwriting enhances reading fluency which further helps in better understanding. When you form the letters with your pen/pencil, your brain can connect easily resulting in better processing and recognition. The activity that involves all of your senses, activates your brain that gives you fruitful and expected results. Thus, writing by hand is better for memory and learning and that’s why handwriting still matters in this digital age.
Conclusion
How to improve handwriting may seem challenging in the beginning but it’s highly achievable and becomes easy when you apply the methods we have discussed further. Remember, it’s not a 1-day task, it’s a gradual process that takes time. If you are dedicated and practice consistently, I assure you that you will have beautiful handwriting in the upcoming days. To speed up you need to slow down first, be mindful, have patience, and track your progress every day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are the 5 S’s of handwriting?
A: The 5 S’s of handwriting are size, shape, slant, spacing, and smoothness.
Q: What are the 4 P’s of handwriting?
A: The 4 P’s of handwriting represent posture, pencil grip, paper position, and pressure while writing.
Q: What is handwriting pattern?
A: Zig zags, curves, waves, tracing line patterns, swirls, etc. are different handwriting patterns.
Q: Is every handwriting unique?
A: Yes, every handwriting is unique. Every individual has unique handwriting, thus handwriting should not be compared.
Q: Can bad handwriting be corrected?
A: Yes bad handwriting can be corrected by following the methods we discussed in this blog. Keep practicing and have patience.
I hope this article was helpful.
If you have any query, contact us or comment below.
Thank you,
Simran Mondal.
