A lot of people, students and adults alike, struggle with handwriting. Not everyone learned to write in somewhat of a neat manner, so skills never improved, and typing is not always an option. While it takes time and effort, learning how to write neatly can make life easier for you, your teachers, and anyone who has to read what you write by hand.

The first thing to learn is what you do not like about your handwriting. Is it big or small, sharp or rounded, or just flat out illegible? Knowing what you do not like will help you to fix it; since you will have something to focus on. Along with this, learning the correct, or most effective, way to hold your writing utensil is a huge step that can lead to legible handwriting.

The next thing to do is find a handwriting style that you like. This could be your teacher’s, your friend’s, or even from a picture you Googled. Since everyone’s handwriting is different, it might take some time to find the one you really like and want to adapt.

Once you find something you like, practice everything in this style. You should practice the alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase letters. If you have any homework that requires writing, use the model handwriting you chose. Everything that you write should be in this new style. The only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice.

Though it might seem rather “elementary” to practice your handwriting, it is honestly never too late.  Many people practice calligraphy, which is a type of decorative handwriting. Said people practice their lettering by using a method called “drills.” By doing this, they are basically using that elementary-type worksheet to continuously write out different letters in the alphabet.

The best way to practice efficiently is to use lined paper. Using lined paper helps to keep the sizes of the letters consistent and prevents the words from angling up or down. While practicing the letters, you should not try to write fast. Leave that for the future, when your ability to use the handwriting you like has improved vastly. Speed is not as important as legibility in most cases.

Having legible handwriting is a skill that makes written communication more efficient. This skill can even get you a job, as many jobs require employees to have neat handwriting, unless you plan to be a doctor.