London, June 24 (IANS) The art of handwriting seems to be dying a slow but sure death, thanks to our overwhelming reliance on computers and mobile phones for sending messages.
The research, commissioned by online stationer Docmail, revealed that the average time since an adult last scribbled was 41 days. But it also found that one in three of us has not had cause to write anything "properly" for more than six months.
Two-thirds of the 2,000 respondents said if they do write by hand, it's usually something for their eyes only with hastily scribbled reminders or notes most common.
More than half of those polled admitted their handwriting had noticeably declined, with one in seven declaring they were "ashamed" of their written word, the Daily Mail reports.
Four in 10 Britons rely on predictive text and increasingly rely on it for their spelling, with one in four regularly using abbreviations or 'text talk'. LOL (laughing out loud), U (you) and FYI (for your information) are the most regularly used abbreviations.
Today, creating a shopping list, taking notes in a meeting or even wishing someone a happy birthday are more often done via electronic means.
One-third said when they do write something down, they often struggle to read their own writing when coming back to it later on.
And nearly half (44 percent) said that their scribing is neither nice nor easy to read. One-sixth of Brits don't even think handwriting should still be taught in schools.
Dave Broadway, managing director for Docmail, said: "It's a shame handwriting is in general decline, but that's come about from the need for convenience and communication that is clear and quick. People by habit will always look for shortcuts or to make their life easier, and that's the reason technology is so prominent in our everyday lives."
