Old School Handwriting or Digital New Tech?
Typing can be an easy way to put notes down fast, but handwriting can be easier to express yourself or for uniqueness.
Sometimes I love typing, like when I make slideshows or presentations with seamless and neat templates. But sometimes, it can be painful, like when I took a 45-minute typing test nonstop. On the other hand, handwriting brings me a lot of joy, such as when I write an authentic birthday card for one of my close friends. Yet, it’s not always the most efficient or comfortable, which was evident when we had to do a two-paragraph essay for a long, complicated prompt in just two 1-hour periods.
Writing is a creative way to express yourself and convey messages. But is it better to use digital or paper notes? Lately, digital notes have been gaining popularity, especially in some schools. But some others still prefer the old-fashioned way of paper. They can both be used efficiently and easily, so let’s weigh the goods and bads.
Handwriting
Pros
Handwriting is used by many schools, and is still used to grade assignments, making it a popular choice with teachers. Here are by far the most common pros:
Improves fine-motor skills
Scientifically proven that writing things out instead of typing helps your brain to absorb information faster
When started at a young age, improves recognition of basic letters (compared to when typing at a young age)
Taking notes by hand during a lecture can lead to better understanding of the material (in adults)
Gripping a pen is one of the hardest fine-motor skills your brain can develop, making other fine-motor skills easier to learn
Cons
Although handwriting is valued for many teachers, it can be notoriously infamous among students, harvesting dislikes and falling grades. A few prominent cons, among the many present:
It can cause aches in the hand and bumps or swelling of one point is pressed on too hard (which has happened to me; I have a permanent bump on my right ring finger)
Less convenient than typing
Cannot be shared simultaneously; copies must be printed
May be hard to carry around; pencils are lost very easily in classrooms (and it’s annoying when someone asks you to borrow your pencil all the time)
Typing
Pros
Typing is an efficient, quick way to get your ideas down and is used almost everywhere, from business meetings to school essays. Here are some popular pros:
Quick and efficient; easy to use on the go
Only a simple PC is required (Macbook, Dell, etc.)
Less hand cramps
Has autocorrect and spellcheck
Has a variety of different and neat fonts and tools
Cons
Although typing may seem like a perfect choice to some, on the other hand, many think that it’s not all that great. Some cons that are most emphasized are:
Staring at a screen creates detrimental health problems with your eyes
Relying on internet/battery may be a mistake; if there’s no internet or battery, then there’s nothing to write with
Many develop poor posture for life
Too many distractions present (Social media, games, etc.)
Devices and various software are typically expensive
As for me, I think that a healthy balance between both typing and writing is better. As with almost everything else in life, balance is important in writing too. Typing can be an easy way to put notes down in terms of speed, but handwriting can be easier to express yourself or for uniqueness. My experience with digital notes has been very pleasant, since these days, many tools online allow us to download templates, making for a seamless, smooth look. But even though I use a computer often (as I write this), handwriting is still my go-to for a friendly card or thank-you.
Works Cited
Lambert, Jonathan. “Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning.” NPR
Photo Credits:
Arthur. “Handwriting VS Typing: Which is Better for Effective Learning?” Word Count Tool
https://www.wordcounttool.com/blog/writing/handwriting-vs-typing-for-effective-writing