What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
handwriting
Example
Her handwriting was so elegant that it looked like calligraphy. [handwriting: noun]
Example
I need to work on improving my handwriting so that it's more legible. [handwriting: noun]
penmanship
Example
His penmanship was so precise that it looked like printed text. [penmanship: noun]
Example
The teacher praised her students' penmanship, noting their improvement over the semester. [penmanship: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Handwriting is more commonly used than penmanship in everyday language, as it is a more general term that covers a wider range of contexts. Penmanship is more formal and often used in educational or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between handwriting and penmanship?
Penmanship is a more formal term than handwriting, and is often used in educational or professional settings to describe the quality and style of someone's writing. Handwriting is a more neutral term that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
