Skip to main content

Cursive Joined-up Writing is Probably the Best Skill for the New Millenia

AI Cannot Read Cursive? 

There is a quiet irony in our time. Artificial intelligence can summarize books, generate essays, detect patterns in medical scans, and recommend what you should watch tonight. Yet many AI systems still struggle to reliably read human cursive handwriting, especially when it is informal, personal, or stylistically unique. 

That is not a flaw. It is a clue. And perhaps, a warning.

1. Why AI Struggles With Cursive

AI reads best when text is:

  • Typed

  • Standardized

  • Predictable

  • High contrast

Cursive is the opposite.

It is:

  • Fluid

  • Personal

  • Inconsistent

  • Expressive

Each person’s cursive develops quirks over time. Letters connect differently. Loops vary. Spacing shifts. What looks elegant to you may look like abstract art to a machine. Printed text is uniform. Cursive is human. That difference matters.

2. The Dying Practice of Cursive

Many schools have reduced or eliminated cursive instruction. The reasons are practical:

  • Keyboard proficiency is prioritized.

  • Standardized testing is typed.

  • Digital communication dominates.

So children grow up printing slowly, typing quickly, and rarely writing in a flowing script. Something subtle disappears. Cursive is not merely decorative writing. It trains:

  • Fine motor control

  • Hand–eye coordination

  • Memory retention

  • Neural connections between language and movement

Research has shown that writing by hand activates different brain areas than typing. The physical act of shaping letters strengthens recall and comprehension. When cursive fades, a small but meaningful cognitive exercise fades with it.

3. A Quiet Benefit: Limited Machine Readability

Here is where things become interesting.

In a world where:

  • Emails are scanned

  • Documents are indexed

  • Messages are analyzed

  • Data is mined

Typed words are easy to process. Handwritten cursive journals? Not so much.

This does not make cursive a security system. It is not encryption. But it does introduce friction. Friction slows automation.

If AI could flawlessly read every handwritten note ever written, every old letter, every margin scribble, every personal journal, the scale of data extraction would expand dramatically. When machines can read everything, nothing remains analog.

We should ask ourselves: Do we want a world where every written word is easily scraped, indexed, and analyzed? 

Convenience has a cost.

4. The Danger of AI Reading Everything

The more text becomes machine-readable, the more it becomes:

  • Trainable data

  • Behavioral insight

  • Predictive material

Typed communication leaves a clean trail. Handwritten cursive leaves texture. Total readability means:

  • More surveillance potential

  • More automated profiling

  • Less private reflection

The danger is not that AI understands your grocery list. The danger is that the boundary between private thought and analyzable data keeps shrinking. Cursive introduces resistance. And resistance, in moderation, is healthy.

5. Why Cursive Should Be Brought Back

Bringing cursive back is not nostalgia. It is balance.

It teaches:

  • Patience

  • Precision

  • Physical engagement with language

  • A slower, reflective pace

When you write in cursive, you cannot rush the same way you rush typing. Your thoughts move at the speed of your hand. That speed encourages depth. Children who learn cursive gain another expressive tool. Adults who maintain it preserve cognitive flexibility.

It is not about replacing technology. It is about not surrendering entirely to it.

6. A Practical Way to Relearn It

If someone wants to rebuild the skill, structure helps.

Workbooks designed specifically for joined-up writing provide guided practice, spacing support, and consistent repetition. A resource like Cursive Writing Workbook: Joined Up Writing Practice (https://www.amazon.com/Cursive-Writing-Workbook-Joined-up-Practice/dp/B0CH2MFCRB) offers step-by-step exercises that gradually rebuild muscle memory.

It is straightforward. No grand claims. Just practice. And practice is what cursive requires.

AI is powerful. It will grow more powerful.

But not everything needs to be optimized for machine readability. Some skills should remain human-first. Cursive is not merely handwriting. It is:

  • A cognitive exercise

  • A personal signature

  • A quiet form of resistance

  • A slower way to think

If we allow every form of expression to become instantly machine-readable, we remove one more layer of friction between human life and automated systems. And friction, inconvenient as it may be, protects depth.

Perhaps the future does not require abandoning technology. Perhaps it requires keeping a pen nearby. 

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

A Librarian’s Method for Organizing a Wardrobe: Current, Non-current, or Archive?

I did not set out to fix my wardrobe. I was just tired of negotiating with it every morning. My closet was full, but I wore the same few things. The rest stared back at me like a group project I never agreed to join. I had already tried the usual advice: declutter, be ruthless, imagine an ideal self who attends brunch more often than I do.  None of it stuck. Then I realized the problem was not the clothes. It was the lack of a system.  I am a librarian. When something does not work, I do not add more space. I reclassify. Again, I remind myself that I am a librarian. When something is chaotic, my first thought is NOT “buy more storage.” It is “this needs a system.” My closet did not need more hangers. It needed cataloging. Librarians do not panic about having too many books. They decide where each book belongs:  current , non-current , or archive .  So I tried the same method on my wardrobe. The Library Method, Explained Without the Jargon In libraries: Current ...
Read more

3 Easy Ways to Instantly Improve Your Handwriting

Handwriting doesn’t have to be a lost art, even in today’s digital world. Whether you’re taking notes, writing a letter, or just doodling in your journal, legible handwriting is a skill worth mastering. Let’s start with three quick tips to make your writing more readable: 1. Pay Attention to Spacing Spacing is one of the most overlooked aspects of legibility. It’s tempting to let your letters and words run together, but that’s the quickest way to turn your notes into an indecipherable mess. Make a conscious effort to leave some space between each letter and word. This breathing room allows the reader to clearly distinguish one word from the next. Slow down, and you’ll find your spacing naturally improves. 2. Hold the Pen Correctly You might not think much about how you hold your pen, but it plays a big role in your handwriting. Too tight a grip, and your hand tires quickly, causing shaky lines. Too loose, and you’ll struggle to control the pen. Aim for a relaxed but steady grip that le...
Read more

10 Occult Books That Can Be Classified Under LCC G

If you hear the word “occult,” you might imagine dark rooms, candles, and someone whispering Latin badly. But in library science, the occult often sits quietly under LCC Class G — the section for Geography, Anthropology, and Folklore . Why? Because many occult works deal with myth, symbolism, ritual, cultural belief systems, and human attempts to understand the unseen. In other words, they are less about flying broomsticks and more about how people make meaning. Here are ten notable occult books that can reasonably fall under LCC G , especially within folklore (GR), customs (GT), or cultural anthropology. 1. The Golden Bough – James George Frazer Frazer’s massive comparative study of myth and religion explores magic, ritual sacrifice, fertility rites, and sacred kings. It is not a spell book. It is anthropology with a dramatic flair. Why LCC G? Because it analyzes myth and ritual across cultures. This comfortably sits in folklore and anthropology (GR). 2. The Hero with a Thousand Face...
Read more

5 Books That Make You Better at Getting Things Done

1. The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz This book says energy is more important than time. Weird, right? But it makes sense. The authors say we should work like athletes — focus hard for a bit, then take real breaks to rest and recharge. Instead of running on empty all week, you learn to build routines that give you energy, not drain it. Basically, it’s saying: stop acting like a robot and start acting like a human who takes naps. 2. Getting Things Done by David Allen If your brain feels like a messy desk full of sticky notes, this book is your cleaning guide. David Allen teaches you how to put every task, idea, or reminder somewhere safe — so your mind can finally relax. Once you’ve written everything down, you can actually focus on what’s in front of you instead of wondering what you forgot. It’s for people who want to feel calm, in control, and slightly smug about their tidy to-do lists. 3. The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker Peter Drucker is...
Read more

Why Misclassification Happens in Library Classification Systems

Libraries are designed to create order. Knowledge, however, is not.  Misclassification does not always mean someone made a mistake. Often, it reveals deeper structural tensions in how information is organized. Below are four core reasons it happens. 1. Interdisciplinary Content The book genuinely belongs in more than one class. Modern scholarship does not respect neat boundaries. A single book might combine: Psychology and economics Technology and ethics History and sociology Health and philosophy Library classification systems, including LCC, require one primary location. A physical book cannot sit in three places at once. So the cataloger must decide which subject dominates. That choice reduces complexity. Interdisciplinary books are not rare exceptions anymore. They are increasingly the norm. Classification systems, however, were built in a time when disciplines were more clearly separated. The system expects tidy categories. Authors often deliver intellectual hybrids. 2. Select...
Read more

Weekly Facebook Reel Plan 008: Pretending to be Tourists for a Day

Creating a one-week reel plan around the theme "Pretending to be Tourists for a Day" sounds like a fun and engaging way to connect with your audience. Here's a table that outlines the plan: Day of the Week Concept Execution Monday Local Landmarks Visit local landmarks and take photos as if you're seeing them for the first time. Tuesday Food Tour Sample local cuisine from various eateries and discuss the flavors and textures. Wednesday Public Transport Adventure Ride the local public transport and show the experience, including buying tickets. Thursday Street Performers Find street performers and capture their acts, maybe even join in for a collaborative moment. Friday Souvenir Shopping Visit local souvenir shops and showcase unique items, discussing their cultural significance. Saturday Museum Hopping Go to a local museum and take photos of interesting exhibits, discussing their history. Sunday Scenic Spots Visit a local park or beach and capture the natural beauty, p...
Read more

The Importance of Monitoring Access to Organizational Archives

In any organization, the preservation and management of archives is a task that requires meticulous attention and responsibility, particularly when it comes to monitoring who accesses these valuable records. As a record manager, one of the crucial aspects of the role is ensuring that the access to archives is both controlled and recorded. This blog post explores why it's essential for record managers to keep track of who accesses organizational archives and the benefits this control brings. By the way, I designed an Archives Log Book that can help record keepers monitor who accesses their archives, especially the ones stored on-site in boxes or file cabinets:  https://www.amazon.com/Archives-Log-Book-Organizational-Unauthorized/dp/B0B35H8P6L  Protecting Sensitive Information Organizational archives often contain sensitive information, which could include personal data, confidential business strategies, legal documents, and financial records. Unauthorized access to such informa...
Read more

A Library Can Help Remove Bias and Prejudice in the Community

  Human library as a concept for your makerspace? Here are some information about this kind of library and what can be achieved by organizing something like it. We are not Alone In This Advocacy The Human Library Project is actually a world-wide advocacy made up of various organizations. So, check out what has been done and what the future holds for this project at www.humanlibrary.org . What is a Human Library It is a safe space for interesting characters and those interested in them to learn and interact. Simply put, readers read a person rather than a book. Thus, a reader initiates the question and answer session under the watchful eye of a marshall, who monitors the interaction to ensure the human book’s safety and security. What is the Goal of a Human Library? It transforms a book library into a safe place for healthy discussion about controversial topics with the ultimate goal of unjudging someone. Readers can read more than one book per session, depending on the availabili...
Read more

Understanding Archives in an Organizational Context

Archives are like treasure chests for any organization, holding the key to its history and memory through various documents and records. These are not just any documents but are specifically preserved because they hold value for understanding the organization's operations, history, and culture. In this blog post, we will explore what archives are in an organizational context and why they are essential for maintaining a connection to the past and a guide for the future. What Are Archives? In an organizational setting, archives are collections of records that are preserved because of their historical, legal, or administrative significance. These records can be anything from official correspondence and meeting minutes to photographs, videos, and even emails that document the activities and decisions of the organization.  If you are a records manager and you want a stress-free way to keep tabs on your organization's archives, here is a good log book especially designed for you:  h...
Read more

Many Kinds of Librarian Jobs

  What are the types of librarians? Are there more than one type? It may seem like a one-size-fits-all profession, but many kinds exist. Each kind has responsibilities unique to it. Academic librarians These types of librarians are those who are in charge of college and university libraries. It is rare for academic librarians to work alone because the workload is just too much. Library aides, internet staff, catalogers, book binders, and even abstractors and indexers are often found in tertiary education libraries. Usually, there is a hierarchy in an academic library; there is a head librarian and one or several other librarians. Academic librarians may also enjoy benefit of having student assistants. Public librarians These types of librarians are those who are in charge of public libraries (city, municipal, provincial, and congressional libraries). They’re considered elite in the profession because snagging a job in a public library means enjoying the benefits of working for the ...
Read more