Why don't Americans use cursive?

Question

I'm an Australian, and it's quite common for everyone when writing to use cursive. We learn it from primary school onwards, and is the default writing style. It's quite rare to find someone that uses "print" writing only.

Is it a cultural thing that Americans don't use cursive, or lack of training / education in it, or something else?

lifes_curve_ball · Accepted Answer

I use cursive when I am writing notes down or writing down anything that I know I'll be the one to read and not someone else, if I'm writing something down for someone else to read I'll use print or at least try to use print but it always turns into a hybrid of print and cursive. The reason being is that my handwriting is trash and if I write in cursive for someone else to read they'll have a difficult time trying to follow it. I typically prefer to type something out when I'm giving it to someone else but if that's not an option I know that with the way my handwriting is I'm better off trying to write it in print. The thing is that I'm so used to always writing in cursive that it takes a concentrated effort to stick with just print, so if I'm writing something in just print while explaining things to others I tend to keep switching back and forth between cursive and print especially because I write a lot faster in cursive so without thinking about it I tend to go back to that.

Although to be fair, from what I've seen most Americans tend to use some form or another of a print/cursive hybrid.

TimePhantom · Accepted Answer

I have no idea why they still teach cursive.  Print is just as fast to write.  Print is just more common to see and easier to read.  Think about it, every sign, or book, or text on the internet is in print, not cursive. Most people are just a lot more accustomed to seeing print, and therefore choose to write in print.

sweet_18 · Accepted Answer

I practice cursive when I write in my journal. Otherwise, when I'm taking notes, I tend to use a hybrid of cursive and print.

So why do we not use cursive? Because it was introduced to use in elementary school and then they never reinforced it and made us practice it in grades following. So people went back to doing what was easiest for them...print

cun7n1nja · Accepted Answer

Generally we all learn it in elementary school, but most schools don't seem to enforce continued use of it after that. They just let us write however comes more naturally to us. My handwriting is a mix of print and cursive, more cursive-looking when I'm writing really fast because it's quicker when I don't have to pick up the pen as often.

courtniX · Accepted Answer

I learned cursive in elementary school, but I just like writing in print better and since our teachers don't force us to write in cursive, I just write in print in general.

Brando · Answer

Because we don't use it besides with a signature. I learned it in elementary school, but can't remember the last time I really had to use it (outside of school).

I did figure out though that it's suuuuper beneficial if you want to pee your crush's/girlfriend's/wife's name into the snow. Continuous letters make it so much easier than clamping and starting a new, printed letter.

JohnnyBlaze · Answer

I'm Canadian, which makes me half Aussie and half American.  I use cursive if I'm writing notes for myself, but will print if it's something intended for another person.  I have very messy cursive, to the point that people joke I should be a doctor.  Obviously, I can read my own writing, but very few others can.  So, for their sake, I print for them.

BeerME · Answer

Generally, we learn cursive in grade school but by the time we're in junior high school no one really cares what we use anymore so we just write whatever comes most naturally to us. In my experience, most Americans seem to use some form of print/cursive hybrid. I don't know that there's a particular reason for it.

actricalian · Answer

My printing is marginally more legible than my cursive. I usually just stick to typing.

tex151 · Answer

I wrote in  cursive all the time, once you learned cursive in school it was mandatory to write in cursive.  Now a days no one writes, everything is done on the computer.

NerdLover1432 · Answer

We only learned cursive in my school in 3rd grade, and from then on it was either or, and last year it was printing only. I don't have much practice, I guess. We only need to know how to sign our name.

ambermarie · Answer

In all the schools I went to it was manditory to write in cursive. Lol I don't really write since iv been out of school but if I do its  usually cursive

Anonymous · Answer

Because it requires a little work and possibly some thinking. Judging by our track record it's clear we like to do neither.

dIO_oIb · Answer

I personally write in cursive because I have nice cursive writing. The only time I don't is when I'm in a hurry, I think that might be the case for most.

What-do-I-know · Answer

I print because you wouldn't be able to read my writing.

HaveNoName · Answer

Screw cursive. Have you ever seen Americans hold a pen? 90% of them do not even know how to hold a pen properly when writing.

Ezmotts · Answer

I learned it in India and when I moved to America, I made myself learn print because it was easier for people to read my writing.

StormyTiger · Answer

when I need to take notes in class I will use cursive but if I'm passing notes to friends or something then I will print :)

Anonymous · Answer

To quote Kanye: 'Sophisticated ignorance, I write my curses in cursive'

yagurlnira768 · Answer

I use Cursive.  Only Cursive.

Dom163 · Answer

Cause I can't scribble as fast

stillagoodgirl · Answer

We did for the SAT

dudeman · Answer

i use cursive

Why don't Americans use cursive?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Should cursive still be taught in schools?

Why don't Americans use cursive?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Should cursive still be taught in schools?

We're glad to see you liked this post.