Cursive English: The Beauty of English in Cursive

The Future of Cursive: Is Cursive English Endangered?

Cursive writing once held an important place in classrooms. Today, fewer students learn how to write in cursive English, raising the question: is cursive an endangered skill in the digital age?

This article explores the history, differences, and benefits of cursive writing. We also discuss its current status and why it still matters for young learners.

What Is Cursive English?

Cursive English is a writing style where the letters connect to each other in a flowing manner. The main goal is speed and smoothness. It is different from print English, which uses separated, unconnected letters much like what you read on a screen right now.

Main Features of Cursive English

• All letters in a word usually connect
• Includes loops and curves
• Allows faster writing due to continuous motion
• Often used for signatures and personal notes

Print English vs. Cursive English

• Print English uses individual, disconnected letters
• Cursive emphasizes joined, flowing letters
• Print writing is taught first, cursive used to be taught later
• Cursive can show personality, emotion, and sometimes maturity

Benefits of Cursive Writing

Writing by hand offers unique benefits for the brain and body. Studies support the value of both print and cursive handwriting, but cursive may offer some special advantages.

Brain Development

• Handwriting boosts overall brain activity, especially for memory tasks (Neuroscience News, 2021)
• Cursive writing helps children develop thinking, language, and working memory skills (New York Times, 2013)
• Writing in cursive activates connections between both sides of the brain

Speed and Learning

• Cursive can be written faster than print because letters flow together (Scholastic, 2018)
• Students using cursive had higher scores on the written portion of the SAT because they finished essays more quickly (College Board study)

Other Educational Gains

• Cursive learners tend to spell better because of the connected nature of words
• Children become better at writing complex sentences and understanding syntax
• Develops motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination
• Helps students read historical documents, many of which are written in cursive

A Brief History of Cursive Writing

Cursive writing dates back to Ancient Rome. The need for quick, efficient recording of information led to letter forms that joined together for speed. After the fall of Rome, European monasteries refined cursive to copy religious and classical texts for centuries.

• By the 8th century, Charlemagne ordered the creation of a standard script with both upper and lower case letters
• In the 1400s, Italian humanists developed Italic cursive
• In colonial America, skilled penmen were hired to write legal documents like the Declaration of Independence
• Different handwriting styles became linked to professions and social classes
• European countries continue to teach penmanship strictly; in the United States, most schools teach typing instead

Is Cursive Writing Endangered?

Cursive writing is not extinct, but it faces decline in some regions—especially the United States.

• Many American schools have removed cursive from the curriculum (NPR, 2019)
• Some teachers still introduce cursive, but students are not required to master it
• Most children today learn print and focus on typing for digital communication
• In Europe and some other countries, cursive remains a core skill

Why Does This Matter?

• If children do not learn cursive, they may struggle to read important historical texts
• Signatures are often in cursive, which is needed for legal and professional documents
• The loss of cursive could mean a loss of personal expression and creativity in writing

Reasons to Keep Teaching Cursive

Here are key reasons why cursive writing should stay in the classroom:

• Boosts fine motor skills and dexterity
• Improves focus and attention to detail
• Helps students read old documents, like family letters or historical declarations
• Prepares children for writing signatures on official paperwork
• Enhances learning by maximizing brain activity (Neuroscience News, 2021)
• Encourages creativity and individuality in written work

Can Technology Help Revive Cursive?

Technology can support learning and preserving cursive writing. Services like transcription and automated transcription help convert handwritten cursive or historical documents into digital text for easier reading and study. AI transcription subscriptions can handle large volumes of handwritten material or notes.

For those who need help with accuracy, proofreading services check and correct transcriptions of cursive documents. This ensures valuable handwritten records remain accessible to future generations.

Conclusion

Cursive writing is more than an old-fashioned skill. Research shows it helps children develop their minds, express emotions, and handle many practical tasks like signing contracts. While its use in schools may be fading in some places, its benefits are too valuable to ignore.

If you have handwritten documents in cursive—or want to make sure your notes and files can be used and understood in the future—GoTranscript offers complete transcription services, automated transcription options, proofreading for accuracy, and more. These solutions keep the value of cursive writing alive.