Does Handwriting Really Matter?

Throughout history, civilizations have devised some way to mark their ideas down for posterity. Cave paintings dating to prehistoric times provide early evidence of man’s desire to visualize his surroundings. More than oral history, writing has provided us a much better understanding of a society’s past. 

With all of our on-the-go smart devices, electronic signatures and document exchange, we are living in times in which we type more than we write. Do you recall the last time you communicated with somebody on a sheet of paper bigger than a post-it note?

Has handwriting become a thing of the past? What place, if any, does handwriting have in our current culture? 

As an educator who works with young adults, I count my blessings if I get a decent, legibly written essay. Forget beautiful penmanship. 

Writing is an integral part of how we learn. Research reveals that writing by hand activates parts of our brain associated with language development, something keyboarding does not. Writing not only reinforces our reading comprehension skills, but also allows us to learn to communicate more effectively. 

Writing also is a reflection of who we are as a person, literally. Our penmanship conveys our state of mind—the slant, the curve, the size and the style we use indicate how our brain is functioning. Sandra Grimes, a handwriting expert, told me that many corporations use handwriting analysis as a hiring tool when selecting candidates for key positions. Government and law enforcement units even use it to develop personality profiles. To a discerning eye, how you “dot your Is and cross your Ts” is more than just an expression—it reveals a great deal about you.

If handwriting reflects who we are, can the reverse be true? Can we use handwriting to bring about changes in our personality?

According to Sandra Grimes, “You absolutely can. Notice how your handwriting changes as you mature. That is because you have evolved. Handwriting can be used as a vehicle to retrain the brain.” 

So here is a thought I want to leave you with: 

Beyond calligraphy and just the sheer beauty of good penmanship, let us emphasize the importance of handwriting for stronger learning skills and, in the process, perhaps we can bring about changes in our own lives and who we are as individuals.