<p>Thing is, when we look at something for a while, it influences us to, in some ways, follow it. If I am not mistaken, a similar principle works for yawning and how a person can yawn just by looking at someone else who does. I wish to elucidate with a personal experience. In my high school, there was this girl with amazing handwriting. I got down with the pox so I used her notes to study. And soon, I realized I have started writing a bit like her. My letter were slightly tilted (hers was at a precise 80 degrees and was consistent across the page) and more cursive. My work became more neat like hers and far more presentable. And I wasn't making a conscious effort to mimic her handwriting at all. It just happens. </p>

<hr>

<p>This might help to explain what I am trying to say a bit better, although it is not about writing, I think it can be extrapolated: 
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NpG4F9yq00" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NpG4F9yq00</a></p>

<hr>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-11T02:30:45.167Z
2014-01-11T02:30:45.167Z
Artemisia
<p>I don't know of any particular research that's looked at this, but based on general principles, I'd conjecture:</p>

<ul>
<li>If a mother teaches their child to write, then it makes sense that they could share a handwriting style.</li>
<li>Within a society, there may be shared educational practices about how handwriting is taught, which could lead to similar writing styles. That said, such practices appear to change over generations.</li>
<li>I imagine that writing style is culturally specific. That said, some traits that are heritable might be relevant to writing style. For example, various abilities often have a genetic component. In particular, various forms of fine motor control might be relevant to writing ability and style.</li>
<li>Why any two people have similar handwriting could just be a coincidence.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-13T01:24:40.567Z
2014-01-13T01:24:40.567Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>My daughter (11), wife, and mother in-law all have extremely similar handwriting.</p>

<p>Why is this? Is handwriting a inheritable trait?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-12T21:40:54.123Z
It would probably be easier to answer the question if you made it more general and less personal: "Is handwriting heritable?" could be an alternative.
Keegan Keplinger
<parenting><writing><nature-nurture>
Is handwriting style heritable?
iambriansreed
# Is handwriting style heritable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-10)

My daughter (11), wife, and mother in-law all have extremely similar handwriting.

Why is this? Is handwriting a inheritable trait?

**Tags:** parenting, writing, nature-nurture

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It would probably be easier to answer the question if you made it more general and less personal: "Is handwriting heritable?" could be an alternative.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-11. Score: 2

Thing is, when we look at something for a while, it influences us to, in some ways, follow it. If I am not mistaken, a similar principle works for yawning and how a person can yawn just by looking at someone else who does. I wish to elucidate with a personal experience. In my high school, there was this girl with amazing handwriting. I got down with the pox so I used her notes to study. And soon, I realized I have started writing a bit like her. My letter were slightly tilted (hers was at a precise 80 degrees and was consistent across the page) and more cursive. My work became more neat like hers and far more presentable. And I wasn't making a conscious effort to mimic her handwriting at all. It just happens.

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This might help to explain what I am trying to say a bit better, although it is not about writing, I think it can be extrapolated:
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NpG4F9yq00>

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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-13. Score: 2

I don't know of any particular research that's looked at this, but based on general principles, I'd conjecture:

* If a mother teaches their child to write, then it makes sense that they could share a handwriting style.
* Within a society, there may be shared educational practices about how handwriting is taught, which could lead to similar writing styles. That said, such practices appear to change over generations.
* I imagine that writing style is culturally specific. That said, some traits that are heritable might be relevant to writing style. For example, various abilities often have a genetic component. In particular, various forms of fine motor control might be relevant to writing ability and style.
* Why any two people have similar handwriting could just be a coincidence.


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