Like Joe in NH and Dale, I also use something of a 'mechanical drawing' style of 'semi itallic' lettering when I write anything other than my signature. I only use cursive writing when I am taking notes in a hurry. It is reasonably legible but nothing to show off. Like Dale, I remember the penmanship 'sample cursive letters' around the classroom over the blackboards and under the portrait of George Washington (who was set under the PA speaker, and that was under the American Flag). I also remember some penmanship book we got in third grade when we were supposed to be learning cursive writing. At that time, we were all using pencils. Ballpoint pens were a relatively new thing, and our old school desks still had brass 'trapdoors' with glass inkwells in place. We were not allowed to use ballpoint pens until our cursive writing passed muster with our teacher. Since I had fine and gross motor skill delays (something I did not find out until many years later), my cursive writing efforts were the worst in the class. As a result, I was the last in the class to be given clearance to use a ballpoint pen. Funny how that was a big deal in 1958.
At Brooklyn Technical HS, they were sticklers on everyone using the 'graphic standards of the mechanical drawing department'. Things like math homework had to be done using neat figures and linework as per those standards. English compositions and other papers and exams were a bit more relaxed and a student could use cursive writing if it were legible. Lab reports and similar were done using mechanical drawing lettering and linework.
As an undergraduate, one summer I worked at the old Rheingold Brewery in Brooklyn, NY. I was in the engineering department, so kind of floated and worked where needed. In the drafting room, I discovered the original drawings for the brewery's buildings, some dating to the mid 1800's. The architect or architectural office which seemed to do all the work for the brewery was named something like "Englehardt". Their drawings had a kind of semi-itallic script, possibly derived from Germanic style of writing. All of those old drawin gs had been traced in ink and we had the original tracings as well as prints. I adopted that style of lettering for my own drawings and day-to-day writing needs. I use it on anything and everything, including greeting cards, notes to friends and family, or on sketches of work whether engineering or machine shop jobs. I also adopted a kind of 'double line' lettering with a bit of flourishes, which I use in title blocks and when I make out checks and the like.
I had four years of mechanical drawing and machine design while a HS student, and having perfected my 'lettering and line work' to the point where I could get decent grades, I am not about to give up using it. Another course everyone had to take a 'Tech was two semesters of technical freehand drawing, in their freshman year. We learned to 'strike in' the borders on our 'plates' (drawings on paper were called 'plates') using pencil and freehand, no straightedges. We learned to sketch in perspective and to shade things in. It is a great skill to have if a person has to explain work to people who either do not speak the same language, may not be literate in any language, have no familiarity with the work, or can't read a 3 view mechanical drawing. I've used freehand sketching countless times to bridge all of these gaps.
I also letter any notes that go with the sketches so the people using those sketches can read the notes easily.
My late father used to tell me that anything you handed another person, such as a sketch, working drawing, specification or written notes, had better 'look right', and to hand someone a scrawl was a sign of disrespect, if not reflecting an 'I don't give a s-t attitude'. So, I continue to use that adaptation of the old Englehardt architectural drawing lettering, or the 'double line' lettering for headers, people's names on hand-written notes and envelope addresses, and enjoy lettering all these years later. I still do my engineering drawings, when not in the form of sketches, on a regular drawing table with a 'drafting machine'. The table dates to about 1900, the drafting machine probably to the 60's. I get asked by clients and governmental agencies (such as when I file plans for construction jobs or septic systems) if I can 'transmit a CAD file'. I tell everyone that I do not use CAD, refuse to learn to use it, and they can scan my drawings if they need to send them electronically. I show up for some construction or septic field jobs with my Brunson engineer transit, 200 ft tape, rod and a 'field book'. I get asked by younger inspectors and similar: "Where's your laser.... how are you going to get the grade line and elevations ?" No "total station", just a classic engineer transit (and yes, I can set the instrument up level and plumb it over a 'center tack' driven into a 'hub' or over a prick punch mark on a monument), and a field book and fine-point pens. I tell everyone I am a 'stubborn dinosaur' and proud of it. When we learn something the hard way and work hard to develop a skill set, at last I am reluctant to let go of it. At least for me, there is a certain satisfaction that comes from using a skill which requires my hands and mind to do what happens effortlessly when a printer or plotter is used.
Another skill we had to learn all those years ago was 'letter writing'. Starting in 'grammar school' (primary school), we learned to write two kinds of letters:
a social letter (known as a 'bread and butter letter' in the terminology of our teacher); and, business letters. Format of a letter was stressed heavily. To this day, I have a hard time with emails as there is often no 'salutation' (such as 'dear Mr. -----') and no proper ending such as: 'respectfully, -------- (signature and printed name below). Texting has reduced written (if you could call it that) communication to a new low standard with abbreviations and new idioms. I've never had a Facebook account, never been on Facebook and have never texted and do not plan on it. I have an old 'flip' type cell phone which is OK, considering we do not have cell service in our immediate area.
Dale's kidding about his signature reminds me of an old joke, immigrant humor. Seems a man came over from the 'old country' and was illiterate in any language. By dint of grit and hard work, he succeeded in some line of business. Any documents or correspondence had to be read to him and he would give his reply, which was duly typed up for his signature. He signed his papers with an 'X' until someone told him that in the USA, a person has to sign their first and last names. So, the man signed with two 'X's". One fine day, his secretary noted the boss was now signing with three "X's" and asked him about it. His reply was: "My wife said in the USA, successful men sign with a middle initial. You know how wives are, so I took a middle initial".
Another piece of immigrant humor concerning literacy: A poor man came over from the old country, illiterate in any language, no special trade of skill. Someone suggested he get a wood tray and an old leather belt and hang the tray around his neck, stocked with items people might need on their way to work, and stand near a subway entrance. The man stocked his tray with shoelaces, bowties, matches, loose cigarettes, aspirins, chewing gum, and other small odds and ends people in a hurry to get to work might need. No need to read, write or speak much English. The greenhorn stood out in the rain and snow with his tray of items and not surprisingly, was hoping something better would come along for his livelihood. Word reached him that a building needed a janitor and a free apartment came with the job. The man went to apply for the job, visions of a warm snug apartment and not having to sell shoelaces and whatnot in the rain, cold wind, and snow dancing in his head.
At the apartment building, the landlord explained the job. The man said he would have no problem doing any of it. Then, the landlord asked the man if he could read and write English and said he'd have to speak a better English. The man said he could not read nor write and learned only enough English to get by. The landlord explained there'd be coal deliveries to be signed for and other day-to-day business associated with the building requiring being literate and able to speak and understand English. The landlord told the man he could not hire him because he was illiterate and his English was insufficient. Sadly, the man returned to his location at the subway entrance with his tray of goods.
One day, the man noted a small storefront near the subway entrance was vacant and made inquiry. He arranged to rent it and opened a small store selling the same line of goods he'd sold off his tray. Business took off. The man soon opened a second store, and business continued to prosper and grow. The man needed a loan to open a much larger store and went to a bank to apply for the loan. The banker handed the man the paperwork for the loan, telling him they knew his business and he was approved for the loan. The banker noticed the man was holding the paperwork upside down and apparently not reading any of it. The banker asked the man about that, and the man turned red and finally said: "I am ashamed to say I can't read and write in any language and know only a little English..." The banker then said: "You have made quite a success of yourself in spite of it... Imagine where you'd be if you spoke better English and could read and write ?" The man replied: "I'd be unclogging tenant's toilets, hauling out garbage and ashes, scrubbing hallway floors, shoveling coal and snow and living in a basement apartment..."