Rediscovering Handwriting in a Digital Age- From Pen to Keyboard
Being a 90’s kid, I grew up studying almost entirely by writing. All of my notes, homework, and copying from the teacher’s whiteboard were done by hand. Because of this, the task itself wasn’t difficult, but it reminded me of something I had forgotten- I miss seeing my own handwriting. I used to take pride in how neat and beautiful it looked. People often complimented me on my penmanship, but now I feel I’ve lost the touch. My letters no longer look as polished as they once did, which made me a little nostalgic.
When I wrote my diary entry, I noticed mistakes in grammar and probably some spelling too. But I let the words flow naturally instead of overthinking. It felt like I was simply writing from the heart, the way I did as a teenager in my private diary. When I made mistakes, I just crossed them out and kept going. Since I used a pen, I couldn’t erase or “backspace” like on a computer, so I accepted the errors as part of the process. This experience highlighted the metatextuality of handwriting- the way the act of writing makes me reflect on the process itself.
The most significant difference between handwriting and typing is how they shape my pace and mindset. Writing by hand feels slower, more reflective, and more personal, while typing is faster and more efficient. In terms of multiliteracies and multimodality (New London Group, 1996), both practices represent different literacies that I navigate daily. Digital writing often reinforces normalized ideologies of speed and productivity, while handwriting creates space for reflection and authenticity. I don’t have a strict preference anymore- it depends on the context. For example: reminders and scheduling, I rely on digital tools, but for reflection or creativity, handwriting feels more meaningful.
This assignment reminded me that both forms of writing have value, but in different ways. Handwriting connects me back to my younger self and makes me slow down, while digital tools keep me organized and efficient in my busy daily life. Having the chance to revisit manual writing felt like rediscovering a part of myself I had almost forgotten, and it showed me how important it is to balance both practices in order to grow as a learner and a professional.
Reflection:
When I take notes online for work or study, I notice that many of my sentences get auto-corrected. This makes the process faster, but it also means I don’t always pay close attention to grammar or spelling because the system does it for me. Writing by hand is very different. If I make a mistake, I have to cross it out or rewrite it, which forces me to slow down, reread, and make sure what I wrote makes sense. In this way, handwriting feels more mindful, while online note-taking feels more efficient but less reflective.
Using AI auto-correct tools for writing emails or even quick notes has also changed my habits. On one hand, it saves time and helps me write more professionally. On the other hand, I’ve realized it has made me lazy when it comes to grammar and spelling. I rely on AI so much that I don’t think as carefully about the correct way of writing or what proper English should look like. Handwriting made me notice just how much I’ve lost touch with those skills. While I value AI auto-correct for convenience, writing by hand reminded me of the importance of practicing my own language abilities.
References and Disclaimer:
New London Group. (1996). A pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures. Harvard Educational Review, 66(1), 60–92. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.66.1.17370n67v22j160u
OpenAI. (n.d.). ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/
The content of this work has been refined with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model, to improve sentence structure and clarity. The ideas, research, and analysis presented are based on my own knowledge and skills.