how can i prevent smudging while writing?

Question

outside of changing my handwriting style.

im left handed and its almost impossible for me to lift my hand

well, my problem is that its read by some scantron copy machine. everything comes out blurry because i smudge my writing and i dont want to get a zero on my essay on the SATs

Answer 1

My son, who is a leftie, had the same problem...we found two things that worked...
First, a little talcum applied to the bottom edge of his hand.
Second, a little talcum rubbed over a piece of blank paper...no lines on it.... He'd put the paper under his hand and sort of "scoot" it along as he wrote.
He couldn't get the hang of lifting his hand off the paper, and these seemed to work well for him.

Answer 2

This is a common problem for people that are left-handed. The fact that we write from left to right, rather from right to left forces someone who is left-handed to drag their hand over their words. I don't know if that is the particular case here, but you can correct the "smudging" either way.

You say you don't want to change your handwriting style, so I don't know if correcting your posture or "stance" of how you old your pen or pencil is out the question but it could help. On the other hand, you could try using a pen or pencil that doesn't smudge. Try using a pen that dries quickly. Or if you're using a pencil try not to use a #2 if you can help it. The darker the pencil writes the more smudging you'll get. Hope I helped!

Answer 3

It is more of a problem for those lucky left-handers. I've seen some people write so the part of their hand they rest on the paper is always above the line of text just written (works with ink but not so well with graphite).

What we did in art school so when you're drawing with pastels or pencils is we'd get a ruler wide enough to rest the part of your hand that usually rests on the paper (whole thing doesn't have to be on the ruler but enough so you can easily use your pencil without a lot of calisthenics or cramping) and either put a bunch of layers of masking tape on the back of the ruler so it gets slightly built up (so the ruler itself never touches the paper so won't leave drag marks). Then you place your hand on the ruler and write as usual, moving the ruler down as you need more space to write on the paper. The best way for me was to buy a ruler that was a bit wider then the paper, put the "lifts" on only the ends that extended beyond the paper. Then no part of the ruler ever touched the paper so nothing could ever get smudged.

Answer 4

when I do pencle drawings I keep a piece of paper under my hand so it doesn't smudge. Also you could try to experiment with different pens, Gel pens are a definate no -no. if your using a pencle you could try an F I find it doesn't smudge too much when I'm cleaning my drawings, but it's a matter of trial and error for each person really.

Answer 5

try writing with out your hand touching the paper to prevent smudging. another idea is to buy a quick drying pen so that the time your hand gets to the witing its already dry.

Answer 6

Try putting some scrap paper over where you've got pencil so you're not resting your hand on it.

Answer 7

Avoid fountain pens or gel pens which have ink that usually takes longer to dry.

Answer 8

try raising your hand a little bit off the page. May take a little getting used to but it may help.

Answer 9

You must be left handed.I am and my writing and drawing still smears.

Answer 10

dont put ur hand in the words so like dont slouch down when you write