penmanship

[pen-muhn-ship]

noun

1. the art of handwriting; the use of the pen in writing.

2. a person's style or manner of handwriting.

   clear penmanship; poor penmanship.

penmanship

/ ˈpɛnmənʃɪp /

noun

1. Also called: calligraphy. style or technique of writing by hand

Word History and Origins

Origin of penmanship¹

First recorded in 1685–95; penman + -ship

Example Sentences

“My dad’s handwriting was terrible. He looked like he should have been a doctor. You can hardly read anything he wrote. My mother had perfect penmanship,” she continued.

From Salon

Before she could assign me penmanship drills, I went to find Klawde.

From Literature

The process might have felt impersonal to an adult, but as a child, receiving dozens of little envelopes that were addressed to me, in the individual penmanship of each of my classmates, felt heavenly.

From New York Times

Lousy penmanship didn’t stop me from becoming someone whose profession depends on shaping letters.

From Los Angeles Times

His collection became a private conceit, scrupulously named and dated in the penmanship of a monk, stored in boxes and metal bins like a man in a film hiding riches in the shadows.

From Los Angeles Times