Proper writing

It's great to hear so many people still use a fountain pen or similar; I always feel special when someone writes to me in real ink ..... just one of those things I suppose. :)
 
yep, got my fountain pen write here ... (get it ? get it? ''write'' here? im such a genius..)

my hand writing is terrible enough without adding insult to injury in the form of a biro!
 
Being left-handed, fountain pens are a total PITA. I used to use one at school, but every day I ended up with ink on the sides of my fingers and lots of smudged and illegible writing, so I gave up.
 
Zip said:
Is a fountain pen one of those weird pens with the sharmp metal pointy bit? :confused:
Click to expand...

It's OK zip, you can still use your pencil ...... now, back to the dictionary with you! .................. and don't forget that spell checker eh? ;)
 
Can't go wrong with a good old biro!.. Which is what I use mainly, but have a few 'nicer' ball points lying around.

Fountain pens arrghh.. I remember using them and you'd only end up with blotchy paper and ink everywhere! :p

;)
 
singist said:
It's OK zip, you can still use your pencil ...... now, back to the dictionary with you! .................. and don't forget that spell checker eh? ;)
Click to expand...

Damm my 5:17am spelling.

Im not the sharmpest person at this time of day :p
 
Just Googled them and i was right in what i was thinking.

I cant use them because im too heavy handed when i write :o
 
Mattus said:
Being left-handed, fountain pens are a total PITA.
Click to expand...
Ever try a left-handed nib?

And yes, I'm serious. There are such things.

I still use fountain pens for "proper" writing. And I also agree that to many people, though perhaps more so the older generation than you kids, an actual hand-written letter is far more personal than an email.

Fountain pens do certainly require a bit more effort, control and technique to use, because writing pressure affects result. And without a shadow of a doubt, this is also an area where a bit more expenditure buys quality, because the quality of the nib (and the choice of style and size) has a direct affect on the written result. Too thin a nib will produce a spider's walk writing, and probably feel scratchy. Too thick a nib produces a very heavy style. A good nib will be 14 or 18 carat gold, with a rhodium or iridium tip. The gold provides flexibility in movement and resistance to corrosion from the ink. The hard-metal tip provides longevity and resistance to wear, and after it's worn in properly, both a smooth feel and a nib 'shaped' to the 'hand' (i.e. writing style) of the user.

I'd hazard a guess that most people's bad experiences with fountain pens date from their schooldays, where not only were the pens likely to receive fairly rough handling, but were likely to be on the cheaper side of the market anyway. Don't get me wrong - the really expensive pens add nothing to quality. They're status symbols usually made of precious metals. But the nib does vary a LOT in quality and style, and cost.

A lot of people have also commented about ink blotches from fountain pens. That's nearly always either a sign of a cheap (probably stainless stell nib) pen, or incorrect use, or both. And it certainly wouldn't be a world first to get ink blotches from a cheap biro-type pen either. In fact, having had a $3000 suit ruined by one that leaked, I won't use the horrid things any more.
 
I'm another who was forced to use a fountain pen at primary school, but being a lefty I used to smudge it terribly and got special dispensation to use a biro instead.

My writing has always been awful though. At school it was joined up but untidy but since then it's really deteriorated. I only ever write in block capitals these days and even then I really have to force myself to take my time with anything that is intended to be read by other people.
 
Andelusion said:
I WILL be using a fountain pen for Uni!1
Click to expand...

bet you wont! In lectures you cant put your hand up and say "miss, my nib broke, can you wait until i put a new one on"

well you could but you might get a right beating for it. In my lectures biros were used but mainly to fill out crosswords and other puzzles in newspapers :o
 
Mispost. Delete please.




EDIT - Flippin 'eck, you lot are quick. It was only here about three seconds. :D
 
Last edited:
Kerplunk said:
I was reading that, hit F5 and it had gone! :(
Click to expand...
I had two windows open, and like a total plonker, stuck it in the wrong one.

For your edification, in it's full glory .... and the right place (:o ) .... here
 
in my primary school you were only allowed to use fountain pens, same in secondary school, though this was relaxed in later years. I prefer them to ball point pens, though they are useless for exams.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom