Synonyms of penmanship

penmanship

noun

ˈpen-mən-ˌship 

1

as in handwriting

the form or style of a particular person's writing

doctors are famous for their illegible penmanship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handwriting
• script
• hand
• scribble
• scrawl
• cursive
• copperplate
• print
• signature
• scratch
• autograph
• backhand
• cacography
• hen scratch
• hen track
• John Hancock
• John Henry
• running hand

2

as in calligraphy

writing done by hand

the students spend far more time honing their computer skills than they do improving their penmanship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handwriting
• calligraphy
• manuscript
• longhand
• lettering
• script
• stenography
• shorthand
• steno
• phonography

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• type
• print
• typewriting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of penmanship

Cursive Academy, founded by husband and wife Terrell and Chelsea Whittington, earned its nonprofit status in November 2025 and partners with organizations, companies and individuals to resurrect the art of penmanship. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

The penmanship alone—careful and deliberate—signals the intentionality behind every detail. — Essence, 25 Jan. 2026

These handwritten letters, which lend a quaint quality to the storytelling, are a delightful throwback to an era when penmanship was celebrated. — Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026

The phonograph didn’t suffer from poor penmanship. — IEEE Spectrum, 6 Jan. 2026