Why Simple Cursive Might Be the Only Style You Ever Need

You might not remember the last time you wrote something by hand, like really wrote, not just scribbled a grocery list or signed a receipt. But there’s something about cursive that pulls people back in. Not the fancy, swirly kind that looks like a wedding invitation. I’m talking about something a little more low-key. 

The kind that’s smooth enough that doesn’t require hours of practice. In fact, Simple Cursive, the style we’re talking about here, is probably the most beginner-friendly version out there.

Let’s break it down.

Cursive has been around for centuries. Its roots actually goes all the way back to ancient Roman scripts. But the form we’re more familiar with today really started to take shape in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Back then, people wrote everything by hand, letters, records and more. So cursive evolved to make writing quicker and more efficient.

They were trying to speed things up without making a mess.

Over time, cursive evolved into a full-on handwriting system. By the 18th and 19th centuries, it was the standard. Every student learned it. Every adult used it. And then… it kind of disappeared.

Think of Simple Cursive as the more relaxed version of traditional cursive styles like Spencerian or Copperplate. It keeps the joined letters to a degree, the letters aren’t really slanted and it skips the over-the-top flourishes.

It’s clean, easy to read, and you don’t need a lot of effort to learn it. You don’t need to be a calligraphy artist, just someone who wants their handwriting to look a little more polished.

Fast forward to the 1970s and ’80s. Classrooms started replacing notebooks with keyboards and typing took the spotlight.

Cursive’s story took a dramatic turn in 2010, and something happened that would change American education forever. The Common Core standards dropped cursive instruction, and suddenly, an entire generation was cut off from this centuries-old tradition. It wasn’t intentional – it was practical. Computers were taking over, and time was limited.

Again! Blame it on the Common Core. As I said, in 2010, the new national education standards dropped cursive instruction from the curriculum. By 2011, 41 states had followed suit. So unless kids were taught at home or in private schools, most of them never learned it.

So if you’ve ever met someone from Gen Z who couldn’t read cursive… it’s not their fault. They literally weren’t taught it. According to The Atlantic, it’s become a “lost language” for an entire generation.

Honestly? Yeah. More than people realize.

Studies have shown that cursive can actually help with things like spelling, reading, and even storytelling. It activates different parts of the brain compared to typing or print. And if you’re a parent teaching your kid to write, cursive has been linked to better motor skills and mental focus, especially for kids around 5 to 7 years old.

Also, we can’t ignore the fact that cursive is just so satisfying . There’s something calming about the rhythm of cursive.

What sets simple cursive apart is its minimalist design. There are no fancy loops, no complicated capital letters, just smooth connections and consistent letter shapes. It’s the kind of handwriting that feels natural once you get into the rhythm. Plus, it suits modern tools like tablets and styluses, especially now that we’ve added it to Writey! You literally have no excuse not to learn it.

You’d think so, right? Since you’re not lifting your pen every two seconds?

Turns out, studies say cursive isn’t always faster than printing. The real winner? A hybrid. The fastest writers tend to use a mix of print and cursive, joining some letters, breaking others apart, whatever feels comfortable. By now you probably know what handwriting has these features, right?
Yes, it’s Simple Cursive!

As you can see, cursive does seem faster than print, but sometimes the cursves and the flourishes make the writing takes a little longer, again here the soloution is something in the middle neither print nor pure cursive, it’s simple cursive.

• It’s easy to learn: Great for kids or adults picking up cursive for the first time.
• It’s functional: Perfect for everyday notes, journaling, or even fancying up your to-do list.
• It’s legible: You won’t end up with a bunch of squiggles no one can read.
• It’s stylish without trying too hard: Let’s be honest, it just looks nicer than messy print.

Scientists have discovered something fascinating about cursive writing. When you write in cursive, your brain activates differently than when you type or even print.

The continuous flow of connected letters creates neural pathways that improve spelling, storytelling, and even reading comprehension.

Most experts say around 5 to 7 years old is ideal. That’s when kids are developing fine motor skills, and learning cursive can really boost that development. But honestly, it’s never too late. Whether you’re 8 or 80, it’s a skill you can pick up with a little practice.

• Keep letters the same height

• Start lowercase letters at the top

• Downstrokes should be parallel

• Capital letters shouldn’t tower over everything

Think of them as guidelines more than strict rules, consistency is what really matters.

First let me give you the short and simple answer It’s Simple Cursive.

Here’s the thing: not all cursive styles are created equal. Traditional ones like Spencerian or Copperplate are gorgeous but time-consuming. Simple cursive? It keeps the best parts, like joined letters and a gentle slant, but ditches the complexity.

What you get is a style that’s easy to read, easy to write, and easy to love. It’s modern without feeling cold. And it works just as well on paper as it does with a stylus on an iPad.

Simple cursive is probably the easiest. It skips all the decorative extras and focuses on basic letter shapes and connections. D’Nealian is another popular “easy entry” style, it’s actually a bridge between print and cursive, and many schools used it to teach kids the transition.

Wanna learn simple cursive without getting confused or tired? You’re in the right place! Writey has make it simple for you to learn it from the basci trainings to writing complete sentences. We’re with you every step of the way. You can try no just simple cursive, but all the handwriting in Writey for THREE days and figure out if you wanna continue or not.

Over the past few years, a surprising number of states have started adding cursive writing back into the curriculum. Some are even making it mandatory.

Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, California, and New York have all passed legislation requiring cursive instruction in elementary schools. Others are following close behind. And it’s not just a quirky trend, it’s a shift in how we think about learning.

There’s a growing understanding that cursive isn’t just about penmanship, it’s about brain development, literacy, and identity. It turns out, writing by hand (and especially in cursive) activates different parts of the brain than typing. It helps kids remember what they write, improves reading comprehension, and even strengthens their ability to focus.

It’s not old-fashioned. It’s neuroscience.

After decades of focusing almost entirely on tech and typing, educators are starting to realize something: kids need balance. typinf are great, but so is knowing how to write your own name in cursive, or read historical documents without needing a typed translation. What’s even better is blending the old fashioned method with the new technology, exactly what we’re doing at Writey!

There’s also the benefits of learning different handwritings and specially cursive as I mentioned previously.

It’s easy to dismiss cursive as a passing thing, but the movement to bring it back has been building steadily. The more research we see, the more it makes sense. And schools are paying attention.

They’re not ditching keyboards, they’re just making room for both. Because knowing how to type is important. But knowing how to write? That’s something else entirely.

All signs point to yes! From legislative bills to passionate teachers, cursive is getting a second life—and this time, it’s rooted in purpose, not just tradition.

It might not look exactly like the cursive you learned in third grade. It’s simpler now. Smoother. More accessible. But it still carries that same sense of pride and presence—the idea that your handwriting is yours, and no one else’s.

So next time someone says cursive is dead, you can tell them:

It’s not dead. It’s just getting started again.

And this time, it’s sticking around.