Handwriting is the unique way each person forms letters and words when writing by hand with a pen, pencil, or other tool. Your handwriting is like your personal signature style: the loops in your ys, the slant of your letters, the spaces between words, all combine to create something distinctly yours. Teachers can often identify which student wrote an assignment just by recognizing their handwriting.

Good handwriting means forming letters clearly enough that others can read what you've written. Some people develop elegant, flowing handwriting through practice, while others write in a quick, functional style. Before typewriters and computers existed, handwriting was the primary way people communicated in writing, so students spent hours practicing penmanship (another word for the art of handwriting) to develop a clear, attractive style.

Today, many people type more than they write by hand, but handwriting still matters: you'll write notes, fill out forms, take tests, and sign important documents throughout your life. Plus, researchers have found that writing by hand helps you remember information better than typing, because the physical act of forming each letter engages your brain differently.

The word can also describe the general appearance of someone's written text, as in “Her handwriting is so neat” or “His handwriting is practically illegible.”