longhand

IPA/ˈlɒŋhænd/
KK[lˈɔŋhˌænd]IPA/ˈlɔːŋhænd/

longhand — noun

1. letters, notes, or other text set down with a pen or pencil in full words rather

1.nounB2
Definition

letters, notes, or other text set down with a pen or pencil in full words rather than on a keyboard or in shorthand signs.

Example

Defne copied the recipe in longhand because her laptop battery had died.

copy something in longhand

The reporter took the witness statement in longhand during the power cut.

Common collocations
  • in longhand
  • write in longhand
  • copy in longhand
  • set down in longhand
Synonyms
  • handwriting

    the everyday broad term for writing by hand, without the strong contrast to shorthand

  • script

    more formal and often used for a style or system of written letters

Antonyms
  • shorthand

    uses shortened signs or symbols instead of writing every word in full

Grammar Patterns

in longhand

write/copy something in longhand

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in longhand'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about writing words out fully, often as the opposite of typing or shorthand, not about whether the letters join together.

Common Mistakes

Please send the note by longhand.
Please send the note in longhand.
the usual fixed phrase is 'in longhand', not 'by longhand'.

2. a flowing style of handwriting in which the letters of a word are joined togethe

2.nounC1
Definition

a flowing style of handwriting in which the letters of a word are joined together.

Example

Sumin's longhand was so looped that the clerk asked her to print the form.

possessive + longhand for handwriting style

The old diary was in longhand, with each word running into the next.

Common collocations
  • neat longhand
  • elegant longhand
  • read somebody's longhand
  • switch from print to longhand
Synonyms
  • cursive

    the most direct modern term for joined handwriting

  • script

    broader term that can refer to a handwriting style, not only joined writing

Antonyms
  • print

    letters are formed separately rather than joined

  • block letters

    emphasizes separate upright letter shapes, often used on forms

Grammar Patterns

somebody's longhand

write in longhand

Usage Note

Usually refers to joined, flowing handwriting that looks closer to cursive than to print. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is the look of the letters themselves, not simply the fact that something was written by hand.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Longhand is narrower than handwriting. Handwriting is the everyday general word for anything written by hand, while longhand often appears when you want to stress that the words were written out fully rather than typed or reduced to shorthand. Script is broader and can mean a style or system of letters, so it is less tied to the idea of writing something out word by word. Cursive is narrower in the other direction: it refers specifically to joined writing, which matches sense 2 better than sense 1. For example, a clerk may ask you to copy an address in longhand, a teacher may comment on your handwriting, and a school worksheet may ask children to practise cursive.

handwriting ↗script ↗cursive ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • in longhand
  • write in longhand
  • copy out in longhand

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Longhand is a plain English compound built from long and hand. It first referred to writing words out at full length by hand, especially as the opposite of shorthand. From that contrast, it also came to mean ordinary handwritten text and, in some contexts, a flowing cursive style of handwriting.