D'Nealian

D'Nealian is a style of handwriting developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by Donald Neal Thurber. It is a modified form of cursive handwriting intended to bridge the gap between manuscript (printing) and traditional cursive, making the transition easier for young learners.

Key characteristics of D'Nealian include:

• Slant: Letters are typically written with a slight slant, similar to traditional cursive but less pronounced.
• Continuous Strokes: D'Nealian emphasizes a continuous flow between letters, even in the manuscript form, to prepare students for cursive connections. The lowercase letters generally connect, even in the initial manuscript version.
• Simplified Forms: Some letter shapes are simplified compared to traditional cursive, making them easier for children to learn and remember. For example, the lowercase "a" starts similarly in both manuscript and cursive, with a straight line up before connecting.
• Gradual Transition: The D'Nealian method encourages a gradual transition from the manuscript form to the cursive form, building upon the foundation of familiar letter shapes and connections.
• Accessibility: Its design aimed to provide a more accessible and intuitive handwriting style for young students.

While D'Nealian was widely adopted in the United States, its prevalence has decreased as other handwriting styles and methods have emerged and as digital technology has become more prominent in education.