Q&A for How to Have Better Handwriting

Relax. A tight grip makes for messy writing. Breathe slowly and slow down, grip the pen more lightly and even from doing that, your writing will look nicer.

You can take your time, relax, and ignore people around you.

Not really. It doesn't matter what pencil or pen you use.

Sometimes it’s helpful, but it is a different skill so it may not necessarily help your handwriting.

Yes. They are helpful because they strengthen them muscles in your fingers. The musculoskeletal system is an important key to better handwriting.

Go gradually. Choose one thing you don’t like about your handwriting and fix it. For example, there are many different ways to do a Y. If you don’t like the way you do them, you can change it. For the next couple of times you write your y you’ll need to remember, but soon it’ll become muscle memory and you won’t have to think. Then, go onto something else you’d like to change. Soon enough, you’ll have the handwriting you want.

Depending on how broken the pen is, it would be very difficult but not impossible. You'd need to have very good handwriting with a normal pen, and write slowly so that you'd have more control over the motions. Pens don't cost a lot, however, so consider buying a new one. Or, borrow one from a friend.

If the background noise is distracting you, consider going somewhere else to write. If you can't, try headphones or earbuds, especially noise-cancelling ones. Facing away from the source of the noise might also help you tune it out.

Yes. Gel pens can smear, which is really annoying. Ballpoint pens have a cleaner, stronger stroke in general.

There is no single correct way to hold a pencil. Choose a grip that feels comfortable for you and practice different methods.

Black or blue ink looks professional. However, while red and green look just as great, writing with them on official documents is frowned upon because they can't be read as they pass through scanners. However, you can write in any color; there isn't a best color.

Start by focusing on having neat handwriting. Once you get used to writing neatly, your speed will naturally increase, as you won't need to correct each letter. Keep practicing!

Writing quickly can often make your handwriting sloppy or messy, so writing slower and paying more attention to how you write can be helpful.

Yes, you can practice calligraphy with a pencil. Pencils are great for calligraphy because you can easily erase mistakes.

Yes, long lowercase letters should reach the top line. These include h, l, k, b, d, and f.