handwriting
/ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhand-ˌrī-tiŋ/ (ame, mw)
handwriting — noun
1. the process of putting words onto paper with a pencil or pen, rather than typing
the process of putting words onto paper with a pencil or pen, rather than typing them on a keyboard
Many schools still teach handwriting alongside typing skills for young children.
uncountable noun referring to the general activity
Élise prefers handwriting her first draft before typing it on the computer.
Studies suggest that handwriting can improve memory and learning in children.
Nala took a handwriting class to learn cursive writing over the summer.
- penmanship
more formal and old-fashioned; often used in the context of school lessons on handwriting skills
- typing
the activity of producing text on a keyboard
用法筆記
Uncountable — do not pair with 'a' ('✗ a handwriting is a useful skill'). Use 'handwriting' without an article when referring to the general activity.
常見錯誤
2. the particular way that a person shapes letters when writing by hand, which is u
the particular way that a person shapes letters when writing by hand, which is usually unique to that person and can be recognised by others
Jiwoo's handwriting is so elegant that her friends ask her to address their envelopes.
possesive determiner + uncountable noun for a person's style
The teacher could tell whose handwriting it was just by looking at the letter shapes.
My grandmother's handwriting grew smaller and shakier as she got older.
The love letter was special because it was in Christopher's own handwriting.
- script
can refer to handwriting style but also to printed typefaces; broader than 'handwriting'
- penmanship
more formal; focuses on the skill and beauty of letter formation, especially as taught in schools
- calligraphy
the artistic practice of beautiful handwriting, not everyday personal style
用法筆記
Uncountable — although it describes a specific person's style, it still takes no article. Use possessive determiners: 'her handwriting', 'the author's handwriting'. Not '✗ a beautiful handwriting' but '✓ beautiful handwriting'.
常見錯誤
3. a document, letter, note, or piece of text that has been produced by hand rather
a document, letter, note, or piece of text that has been produced by hand rather than typed or printed
The museum displayed a collection of the poet's original handwriting.
uncountable — refers to the poet's handwritten output as a body of work
Nora found some old handwriting in her grandfather's desk drawer while cleaning the house.
uncountable — 'some old handwriting' = a physical handwritten document
The auction house sold the composer's original handwriting to a collector for over ten thousand pounds.
The archive contains several handwritings from the nineteenth century.
- manuscript
a handwritten document, especially an old one or the original of an author's work; more formal and narrower
- holograph
a document written entirely in the author's own hand; very formal, mostly used in historical or legal contexts
- printout
a document produced by a printer
- typescript
a typed or printed version of a text
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when referring to handwritten material in general ('a page of handwriting'). Can be countable ('handwritings') when meaning multiple separate handwritten items, though this is relatively rare.