Cursive! Foiled Again! – IOTW Report

Cursive! Foiled Again!

USA Today

If you can read cursive, the National Archives would like a word.

Or a few million. More than 200 years worth of U.S. documents are in need of transcribing (or at least classifying) and the vast majority of them are handwritten in cursive – requiring people who know the flowing, looped form of penmanship.

“Reading cursive is a superpower,” said Suzanne Issacs, a community manager with the National Archives Catalog in Washington D.C. More

15 Comments on Cursive! Foiled Again!

  1. What, nobody uses cursive when writing checks???
    Oh that’s right, they just use the automated deductions so it becomes easier for accounts being hacked.

    And then he said, “Are there any manual transmissions in cars anymore? Think I might google that one…

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  2. Here ya go…

    Acura Integra
    Aston Martin Valour
    BMW M2
    BMW M3
    BMW M4
    BMW Z4
    Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
    Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
    Chevrolet Camaro
    Ford Mustang
    Honda Civic
    Hyundai Elantra N
    Kia Forte
    Lotus Emira
    Mazda 3
    Mazda MX-5 Miata
    Mini Hardtop and Convertible
    Nissan Versa
    Nissan Z
    Porsche 718
    Porsche 911
    Subaru BRZ
    Subaru WRX
    Toyota GR86
    Toyota GR Corolla
    Toyota GR Supra
    Volkswagen Golf
    Volkswagen Jetta

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  3. Bought a manual transmission Camry in 2005. Actually had a coupon from a local dealership that made it only $5000 more than our 10 year old Corolla. Fully made in Japan. Not a SINGLE RECALL on the car while millions of automatics made in Tennessee have been recalled for everything under the sun. Better than The Club at keeping the jackers, etc away.

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  4. I had a “coworker” who complained about teaching cursive, asking why bother. I not only learned cursive, but I had to practice it over and over and over in school.

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  5. My first truck- a 1956 Chevy panel, 265″ V8 and Hydramatic 4spd (!).
    Drove that truck across the country. Twice.
    But when that trans died, we bolted in an SM 420.
    It was still going strong years later when I sold it.

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  6. I’ve been writing in cursive since at least the early 60’s, so what’s their excuse. And if I put hand and mind to it, I am good at calligraphy as well. It’s been a while, but I can probably still do it. I used to write letters home when I was in the Navy with a fountain pen (I love fountain pens) and took notes in college in the late 70’s and early 80’s and tests with a fountain pen, all in cursive.

  7. @geoff and Beachmom, your post got me thinking and I believe I have hit upon an novel solution for the National Archive. Why don’t they team up with schools to reintroduce cursive into basic education by providing the text they need help transcribing to classes and give awards / recognition to those students who have learned cursive enough to do the work. I’m going to try to send them an email tomorrow suggesting just that.

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