How come when we print or handwrite anything, we don't write things, the same way twice?

Question

What I mean is, why when writing down on paper, an "a" or "k" or "d" for example via printing or script in our own hand, we can't write it, the same way a second or third time?

I've always wondered that.

Maybe if there are any who are reading this, a couple 3 handwriting experts, can share, an answer to my question.

Thanks

Answer 1

Simply because we were not the same individuals (pscho-somatically) who were some time ago.

Answer 2

Well, I am not an expert. However, as an experiment when I was in junior high school, my English class learned to write with the opposite hand. I was surprised at how short a time was required to actually write cursive with my left hand. I am right handed. As I recall in a few days (about 20 minutes a day to practice) I was doing relatively neat printing and at the end of 2 weeks was doing reasonable cursive and at the end of a month when we ended the experiment, I was able to comfortably write with my left hand without concentrating on exactly what I was doing, but it lacked a bit in neatness. I was about average in my results. Some never got very good. Some were writing cursive very neatly in 2 weeks. Today, about 45 years later, I can still write in a jerky, yet passable manner even though I do not practice. I just tried it again when I read your question. It has been years since I tried writing left handed. The last time I wrote with my left hand was because I had to, when I broke a bone in my right hand, about 20 years ago. Now, for the answer as I understand things, muscle control. Your control of your muscles is not absolute. A machine has absolute control which is why automatic control of machines can reproduce parts that are identical. No two muscle contractions are exactly the same which is where all of the small variations come from, no matter how hard you try to repeat the exact same sequence of moves. The reason for this is the chemical reactions happening in the muscles, from lactic acid. The buildup of lactic acid is what causes your muscles to work less efficiently. It takes a bit of time for the body to recover and reduce the levels. The variable amount of time it takes between movements changes how the lactic acid is processed which is why the muscle can not respond twice in exactly the same manner. Think a bucket with a stream of water coming in which varies and a hole which varies in size, both at the same time. It is almost impossible to maintain a constant level. The constant level of lactic acid production and removal would allow you to repeat exactly the same move again, but since the rates are always changing, the level is always changing. At age 59, I've written my signature so many times it is second nature to me and compare one from years ago to today is remarkable in similarity, so much so that my signature from years ago and today can not be told apart, but from way back, high school, they are quite different. The closest we come to with repeating exact moves would probably be your heartbeat, but even there, the wave forms of the electrical impulses which though quite similar in general appearance are quite different when placed side by side Forging signatures would much easier if we COULD accurately repeat moves.

Answer 3

Because we're not perfect. Although when I write, it's usually pretty similar to how I've already written it. I can tell my handwriting from other people's.

Printers and such a more precise, because they are machines. Humans don't have that kind of accuracy.

Answer 4

Not an expert either, but I think people get bored. If we wrote the same way twice we'd fall asleep writing, which would not be a good thing. So we always write differently.

Answer 5

Wonderful question! I'm no expert; but my hunch is that when writing, ones whole being - psychological, physical, temperamental and circumstantial, is concentrated on the point of ones pen. Discomfort in any of those areas can impart leverage and distortion.

Answer 6

Mine would say that I'm unique and I care about things haha.