longhand

Longhand is the practice of writing by hand with a writing instrument, producing text without the aid of shorthand or typing. It encompasses both manuscript (printed) letters and cursive writing, and is often contrasted with typed or printed text as well as with shorthand systems used to speed transcription.

Historically, longhand was the primary method of recording language. Penmanship was taught in many school curricula, and various styles and scripts developed over time, including roundhand, copperplate, and Spencerian. The rise of typewriters and, later, computers reduced the routine need for lengthy handwriting in daily work, but legible longhand remains important for personal notes, signatures, forms, and documents that require an authentic handwritten mark.

Common tools include pens (ballpoint, fountain, gel), pencils, and paper of suitable quality. Legibility, consistent letter shapes, and spacing are central to good longhand, and many people pursue it through practice or, in some cases, through calligraphy, which emphasizes form and ornamentation.

In modern contexts, longhand persists alongside digital input. It is often valued for personal expression and for legal or ceremonial uses such as signatures. Education and workplace norms vary on how much emphasis is placed on handwriting versus keyboard skills, but many systems still preserve handwriting as a fundamental skill and a historical artifact of literacy.