Cursive vs. Longhand — What's the Difference?

Cursive writing is characterized by flowing, connected letters, designed to improve writing speed and efficiency. This style is often taught in schools as a way to develop fine motor skills and a personal writing style. In contrast, longhand is a broader term that encompasses any form of handwriting, including both cursive and print styles. Longhand simply refers to the act of writing by hand as opposed to typing or printing text with a machine.

While cursive writing aims for speed and fluidity, allowing writers to lift their pens less frequently, longhand focuses on clarity and legibility, without specific emphasis on the connections between letters. Cursive can be seen as a subset of longhand writing, where the main goal is to produce text through manual means.

The use of cursive versus print styles in longhand writing often depends on personal preference, the context in which the writing is being done, and the intended reader. For example, formal documents or situations may call for clear, printed longhand to ensure readability, while personal notes or faster writing may utilize cursive.

Learning cursive is also associated with cognitive benefits, such as improved hand-eye coordination and enhanced comprehension and creativity. However, in the digital age, the emphasis on learning and using cursive writing has declined, with more focus on typing and digital literacy skills. Nonetheless, both forms of longhand writing, cursive and print, remain important for personal expression and communication.

Cursive is a specific style of longhand writing known for its connected letters and speed, while longhand encompasses all forms of handwriting, serving as a fundamental skill for written communication and expression.