I had a teacher once remark that the fountain pen itself was a tool to improve penmanship because it forces you to be more deliberate with your cursive. I wouldn't be surprised that if you just slow down - a lot - and get used to your new pen, your handwriting will immediately begin to improve.

I only use fountain pens, which at times is a real committment much like typewriters, especially when one pukes up its ink in your pant pocket while you're on an international flight. I can't imagine writing with a ball point on a regular basis as it would be a similar experience to using a computer instead of a typewriter.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the public schools in my area have stopped with even writing in script, let alone fountain pens. I have never used a fountain pen before, and I have only seen in in episodes of Tom and Jerry that air on television from time to time. I do, however, have horrific handwriting. Even I am unable to read it sometimes. (perhaps this is why my teachers never questioned me when I started using a typewriter). So is it true that fountain pens improve handwriting? If it does, I'll definitely take a look.

Have a look at another forum that I use; you will find acres of information and experience from other members there.
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&mid=49531

Last edited by beak (28-1-2015 07:32:28)

My handwriting has deteriorated with the passing of time. Laziness really I suppose and using a ball point pen. I have always used a fountain pen for personal letters but it's not often that I write those now and it seemed rather ill mannered to use a typewriter. We were taught handwriting at school and only fountain pens were allowed. For short notes to myself I have always used shorthand but recently I found it more difficult to read them written with a ball point pen so I dug out my Esterbrook fountain pen with a shorthand nib which I used at school and my old pens. I have found that just writing more slowly and concentrating on what I was doing improved my handwriting. It's not the copper plate writing of my youth but after a bit of practice it's not too bad. I am tempted to collect a few fountain pens, always liked Conway Stewart pens but after clearing out the writing desk it seems I already have.

My handwriting is so bad medical schools use models of it for Prescription Writing Class.  If computers had a name for a font modeled from my script, it would either be "Pothooks and Hangers #10," or "Henscratch #12."  For a long time, my teachers would get this pained look in their eye when it came to turning in book reports.  And then I took up typing, and the pained looks somewhat went away.  Somewhat--at least they could read around the strikeovers and liquid paper lumps and get a fairly accurate idea that I knew something about the lesson.  Well, it was better than handwriting.