How I would have loved to have neat handwriting!

At school, neat handwriting always implied orderliness and discipline and we knew instinctively that this type of student would be first in line to win the prize for efficiency.

But I was not that student.

My ambition was to write like Mona

When I was at school I sat next to a girl called Mona. She was shy and didn’t talk very much but she had the most beautiful handwriting.  She had the tidiest, loveliest handwriting I’d ever seen.

Each middle zone letter was perfectly rounded and exactly the same size. All the lines were equidistant and as I watched her producing line after line of perfection, I was consumed with envy.

I remember how I felt to this very day. Because when I glanced back at my own scrawny penmanship I knew that no matter how hard I tried I would never write like Mona.

To me her handwriting was a picture of perfection.

And even though I didn’t fully understand the implications at the time, thinking back,  I realize that Mona was the type of person who would have had colour-coded files and carefully labelled documents at work while at home even the spices in her pantry would be neatly labelled and categorized.

Little did I know then what an important discovery I had made. I was to  learn that handwriting does indeed reflect personality – traits and quirks included because it’s the insignia of one’s uniqueness.

But all that is water under the bridge.

At any rate, if like Mona you are the lucky possessor of a neat handwriting, here are some of the things that your handwriting could suggest.

What Neat Handwriting reveals

Neat handwriting is a sign of organization and discipline. Furthermore, people who write neatly tend to be reliable and dedicated. They are conscientious and take a pride in their work. They have a strong work ethic and are meticulous about following instructions and procedures.

In addition, neat handwriting shows emotional stability and an even temper which is why neat writers tend to be comfortable about expressing themselves on paper.

On the whole, neat handwriting is a sign of quiet confidence and level-headedness.

But that, as they say in the  classics, is not all!

The Downside of Neat Handwriting

As with everything in life there are both advantages and disadvantages. And that is exactly what we find with neat handwriting.

While neat handwriting is mostly associated with positive personality traits there are some qualities that may not be quite as desirable.

For example the neat writer may be a perfectionist who sets too high a standard for herself. And although this may be admirable in some cases, demanding too much of yourself and setting too high a bar can lead to frustration and anxiety.

People with neat handwriting tend to put form before function. They are inclined to value appearances and like structure in their lives. They can also be inflexible.

These individuals also tend to be conformists and are inclined to follow rules and conventions.They would prefer to use a practical or scientific approach rather than a more imaginative way of solving problems.

Neat writers tend to be more set in their ways and as a result they may be wary of change and struggle to adapt to new situations and challenges. They could show some resistance to adopting new ideas.

So when we combine these traits we see that neat handwriting shows more complexity than we would at first anticipate.

Handwriting deteriorates without Practice

Handwriting is a complex motor skill. It involves coordination between the hand, eye, and brain. It is influenced by a variety of factors such as physical dexterity, education and practice.

In fact practice plays a very important part. Some research has suggested that children who practice  handwriting show an improvement in their fine motor skills which helps them to carry out activities that demand more precision.

As you will probably know from experience, the less you write, the more unattractive your handwriting becomes.

People who only type are often amazed at how their handwriting  has deteriorated.

Is Neat Handwriting a Sign of Intelligence?

While neat handwriting shows a tendency towards precision and control  it does not necessarily indicate superior intelligence.

I have seen several doctors’ handwriting with a wild unruly look. On the other hand, I have seen carpenters and manual labourers with neat, sculptured handwritings that are a testament to their precision and artistry

Does this mean that the carpenter is more intelligent than the doctor?

Of course it’s possible. But it’s more likely that in this case, the carpenter has the advantage of finer motor skills that support his manual dexterity.

While it is true that someone who writes neatly may present information in a better way, it does not suggest that he or she is any more intelligent than a friend who writes in a sloppier way.

Neat handwriting may be seen as a sign of attention to detail, discipline, and professionalism but the fact is that there is no direct correlation between neat handwriting and intelligence.

So what is neat handwriting?

There really are no rules.

Megan Markle has a neat, elegant style of handwriting but as she has studied calligraphy she doesn’t really fit into our category of neat handwriters. Calligraphic handwriting is not spontaneous. For handwriting to be indicative of certain personality traits, it has to be natural and spontaneous.

So what exactly is neat handwriting apart from calligraphic handwriting ? Is it writing with large spaces between the lines or is it writing that consistently slants in the same direction? Or is it writing with an even middle zone?

It could be all or only some of these things. There is no specific rule that says this is neat handwriting.

So as with art, we may have to conclude that our concept of neat handwriting is often in the eye of the beholder!

Now read –

Is Messy handwriting a sign of intelligence?

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