Handwriting is the writing done with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, in the hand. Handwriting includes both block and cursive styles and is separate from formal calligraphy or typeface. Because each person's handwriting is unique and different, it can be used to verify a document's writer. The deterioration of a person's handwriting is also a symptom or result of several different diseases. The inability to produce clear and coherent handwriting is also known as dysgraphia.
Signature of country star Tex Williams
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Image: Donauwörth Unlined notation breviary
Image: Pausanias Description of Greece (2)
Cursive is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters. It varies in functionality and modern-day usage across languages and regions; being used both publicly in artistic and formal documents as well as in private communication. Formal cursive is generally joined, but casual cursive is a combination of joins and pen lifts. The writing style can be further divided as "looped", "italic", or "connected".
Example of classic American business cursive handwriting known as Spencerian script, from 1884
Looped cursive, as taught in Britain in the mid-20th century
Half of the National Anthem of Bangladesh, written in cursive Bengali
An English letter from 1894, written in Continuous Cursive