handwriting

handwriting — noun

1. the process of putting words onto paper with a pencil or pen, rather than typing

1.名詞A2
釋義

the process of putting words onto paper with a pencil or pen, rather than typing them on a keyboard

例句

Many schools still teach handwriting alongside typing skills for young children.

uncountable noun referring to the general activity

Élise prefers handwriting her first draft before typing it on the computer.

同義詞
  • penmanship

    more formal and old-fashioned; often used in the context of school lessons on handwriting skills

反義詞
  • typing

    the activity of producing text on a keyboard

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not pair with 'a' ('✗ a handwriting is a useful skill'). Use 'handwriting' without an article when referring to the general activity.

常見錯誤

❌I practised a handwriting every day.
✅I practised handwriting every day.
💡handwriting is uncountable when referring to the activity; use no article.

2. the particular way that a person shapes letters when writing by hand, which is u

2.名詞A2
釋義

the particular way that a person shapes letters when writing by hand, which is usually unique to that person and can be recognised by others

例句

Jiwoo's handwriting is so elegant that her friends ask her to address their envelopes.

possesive determiner + uncountable noun for a person's style

The teacher could tell whose handwriting it was just by looking at the letter shapes.

同義詞
  • script

    can refer to handwriting style but also to printed typefaces; broader than 'handwriting'

  • penmanship

    more formal; focuses on the skill and beauty of letter formation, especially as taught in schools

  • calligraphy

    the artistic practice of beautiful handwriting, not everyday personal style

用法筆記

Uncountable — although it describes a specific person's style, it still takes no article. Use possessive determiners: 'her handwriting', 'the author's handwriting'. Not '✗ a beautiful handwriting' but '✓ beautiful handwriting'.

常見錯誤

❌She has a very neat handwriting.
✅She has very neat handwriting.
💡handwriting is uncountable even when describing one person's style.
❌His handwritings are different from mine.
✅His handwriting is different from mine.
💡a person has one handwriting style (uncountable).

3. a document, letter, note, or piece of text that has been produced by hand rather

3.名詞B1
釋義

a document, letter, note, or piece of text that has been produced by hand rather than typed or printed

例句

The museum displayed a collection of the poet's original handwriting.

uncountable — refers to the poet's handwritten output as a body of work

Nora found some old handwriting in her grandfather's desk drawer while cleaning the house.

uncountable — 'some old handwriting' = a physical handwritten document

同義詞
  • manuscript

    a handwritten document, especially an old one or the original of an author's work; more formal and narrower

  • holograph

    a document written entirely in the author's own hand; very formal, mostly used in historical or legal contexts

反義詞

用法筆記

Usually uncountable when referring to handwritten material in general ('a page of handwriting'). Can be countable ('handwritings') when meaning multiple separate handwritten items, though this is relatively rare.