<p>When I am writing (pen and paper) I  sometimes write the second letter of a word first. I write it like the first letter, so capitalized if that applies. I notice this problem the second I put it on paper, but that somehow doesn't change the fact that it is still happening. I tried to monitor this behaviour to see how and when it is happening, and found out these few things:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>it always happens when I start to write  something after I stopped. So when I writing something continuously it doesn't happen, but when I stop my writing to take a sip of tea for example, it does happen  with the first word I write.</p></li>
<li><p>it is always the second letter. Never the third letter, or another, always the first. </p></li>
<li><p>a few other people I told about this problem said they also experienced it the same way.</p></li>
<li><p>it doesn't happen when I am copying something directly out of a book etc. Only when I have the word or sentence in my head and want to write it down. But, when I read a sentence in a book, memorize it and then write it down without looking at the book again, it does happen sometimes.</p></li>
<li><p>there doesnt seem to be a pattern as to when it happens. Everytime it happened I wrote some keywords, and there is no logical pattern. A few of them were tired/not tired, boring/fun, school/free time, dutch/english (dutch is my first language). They all seem to appear in every possible combination completely random.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-12T07:10:02.723Z
I often have this problem. It seems like a mismatch between thinking speed and (physical) writing speed. Like I am thinking the second letter at the time my hand starts writing what should be the first letter. Usually this happens when I am writing in a hurry or not paying attention. My only solution is to slow down and consciously think of the letters as I write them. But I don't know if there is an official condition that describes this.
user3169
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-01T04:55:26.803Z
Can somebody explain why this is off topic? I am not asking about the behaviour of an individual person. I am asking about a behaviour, and giving a specific case as an example. I don't want 'help' with a problem, I am interested in this behaviour and curious as to where it comes from and how it can be explained. I think that is ontopic here?
Noralie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-04T19:51:15.620Z
Can I get an explanation as to why it is closed please? See my previous comment for my reaction.
Noralie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-10T03:51:15.463Z
I can see see where you are coming from. I think there is a more general scientific question in there. But it is framed in a fairly personal way and it is somewhat specific to your circumstances. Perhaps try to edit the question to frame it as a more general scientific question.
Jeromy Anglim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-03T05:32:34.270Z
I face the same problem. I am a programmer by profession. I never face this problem while typing. But when I am writing on paper, I face this problem quite frequently. And its not something I have been facing since childhood. It developed recently during last few years when I started typing more on keyboard and writing less on paper. One possible explanation I can think of is that I can type much faster than I can write and I feel it could be related to that. Slowing down does help
Mandeep Singh
<psychology><behavior><writing>
Is there a name or explanation for the behaviour of writing the second letter first?
Noralie
# Is there a name or explanation for the behaviour of writing the second letter first?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-11)

When I am writing (pen and paper) I sometimes write the second letter of a word first. I write it like the first letter, so capitalized if that applies. I notice this problem the second I put it on paper, but that somehow doesn't change the fact that it is still happening. I tried to monitor this behaviour to see how and when it is happening, and found out these few things:

* it always happens when I start to write something after I stopped. So when I writing something continuously it doesn't happen, but when I stop my writing to take a sip of tea for example, it does happen with the first word I write.
* it is always the second letter. Never the third letter, or another, always the first.
* a few other people I told about this problem said they also experienced it the same way.
* it doesn't happen when I am copying something directly out of a book etc. Only when I have the word or sentence in my head and want to write it down. But, when I read a sentence in a book, memorize it and then write it down without looking at the book again, it does happen sometimes.
* there doesnt seem to be a pattern as to when it happens. Everytime it happened I wrote some keywords, and there is no logical pattern. A few of them were tired/not tired, boring/fun, school/free time, dutch/english (dutch is my first language). They all seem to appear in every possible combination completely random.

**Tags:** psychology, behavior, writing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I often have this problem. It seems like a mismatch between thinking speed and (physical) writing speed. Like I am thinking the second letter at the time my hand starts writing what should be the first letter. Usually this happens when I am writing in a hurry or not paying attention. My only solution is to slow down and consciously think of the letters as I write them. But I don't know if there is an official condition that describes this.  
> **username_0**: Can somebody explain why this is off topic? I am not asking about the behaviour of an individual person. I am asking about a behaviour, and giving a specific case as an example. I don't want 'help' with a problem, I am interested in this behaviour and curious as to where it comes from and how it can be explained. I think that is ontopic here?  
> **username_0**: Can I get an explanation as to why it is closed please? See my previous comment for my reaction.  
> **username_2**: I can see see where you are coming from. I think there is a more general scientific question in there. But it is framed in a fairly personal way and it is somewhat specific to your circumstances. Perhaps try to edit the question to frame it as a more general scientific question.  
> **username_3**: I face the same problem. I am a programmer by profession. I never face this problem while typing. But when I am writing on paper, I face this problem quite frequently. And its not something I have been facing since childhood. It developed recently during last few years when I started typing more on keyboard and writing less on paper. One possible explanation I can think of is that I can type much faster than I can write and I feel it could be related to that. Slowing down does help  

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## 0 answers

