Handwritten Letters VS Typed Letters: Which is Better?

On average, the US Postal Service sends over 173 million pieces of mail every day – and that’s just First Class! There’s no doubt that we’re a nation that loves sending snail mail. However, if you’re not used to writing letters, you might be unsure of how to go about it.

One of the biggest problems you’ll run into is how to write your letters efficiently. More precisely, should you be creating typed or handwritten letters?

If you’re struggling to decide between the two, here’s a guide from our team at Handywrytten to help you choose!

It All Starts With the Purpose

The purpose of your letter can dictate whether you should send a handwritten note or typed letter. It doesn’t always help, but there are some situations that will call for typed letters exclusively. These include letters that are more formal in nature, such as when contacting a company (especially to inquire about something or complain), applying for a job via mail, or sending a letter concerning a legal matter.

For example, if you’re fighting a legal fine, it’s not really a good idea to send something that’s handwritten. Formal topics and organizations will prefer typed letters. If what you’re saying is super important, then it may be best to save a copy and type your letter to avoid any mistakes. You don’t want an important word misread when it comes to a legal matter or when applying for a job! It could affect your whole case!

However, if you’re writing an informal letter, you don’t have to type it. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, but it allows you to create traditional and beautiful handwritten letters that create a lasting impression.

To help answer your question, let’s start by looking at the benefits of opting for handwritten letters.

Why Send Handwritten Letters?

Lots of people still enjoy writing handwritten letters, although it’s definitely an art form that’s become a lot less popular since the dawn of the computer (and even the typewriter!). But that’s not to say it’s obsolete. There are still plenty of reasons to write with a good old-fashioned pen and paper, and we’ve got some of the best right here:

Add a Personal Touch

There’s no denying that a typed letter removes a little bit of the personal touch that a handwritten letter carries. By writing your words down directly, the recipient can imagine you sitting down and drawing out each letter carefully. Your sincere words will shine through your handwriting. You’re crafting something unique, and if that’s not personal, we don’t know what is!

Send Something to Save

Of course, typed letters can also be saved by the reciever, but there’s often not the same sentimental attachment. People are much more inclined to save something you handwrote yourself. They can trace the ink with their finger, see the little mistakes you made, and that uniqueness can be worth saving.

Look into the endless times people have chosen to turn handwritten letters into a book, just to prove how special they are! From love letters to “thinking of you” letters, people will keep them as treasured keepsakes.

Show the Extra Effort

There’s something about a handwritten note that stands out. Perhaps it’s that it took longer than simply typing up a message, or that putting pen to paper takes more effort. Regardless, it will show your passion and care towards the recipient.

Reduce Your Screen Time

We’re all guilty of spending too much time staring a screen now and again! Not to mention the effects that the blue light of a computer can have on your skin and eyes. By handwriting your letters, you can take time away from the digital world and get back to reality for a moment. 

Things to Remember When Handwriting Letters

There are definite pros to writing a letter by hand, but it also has its fair share of disadvantages. For example, if you make a mistake in pen then you can’t just erase it; it’s there forever! So if you do choose to write by hand it can be a good idea to make a first draft, or at least mentally plan what you want to say before you start writing. 

It can also be tough to read other peoples handwriting. If yours isn’t very legible or your recipient has issues with their sight, a handwritten letter may not be the best choice. If you have to send out a lot of letters, that’s also going to become a greater task and could put a strain on your writing hand. 

That’s where Handwrytten comes in.

Send handwritten cards from the comfort of our smartphone app or website. Simply type your message and our robots will create your authentic, handwritten letters with ballpoint pen! We’ll even mail them for you!

What About Typed Letters?

We’ve reviewed the benefits of handwriting your notes, so now let’s look at the pros of typed letters.

You Don’t Have to Worry About Handwriting

Not everyone has the best handwriting, and if yours isn’t top notch, then you might be better off typing your thoughts out. (Or using Handwrytten’s readily available handwritten fonts!) Handwriting has to be legible to be read, and you might spend time worrying over yours when you don’t necessarily need to! 

It’s Quicker to Type

As long as you’re used to typing on a keyboard, the chances are it’s going to be quicker than writing by hand. You don’t have to be a super speedy typist to outrun the speed of handwritten notes – it does take a long time when working with a pen and paper! If you’re busy, this could make typing the better option.

Spell-Check Is a Lifesaver

Even the greatest spellers make mistakes sometimes. If you’re writing to a friend you can probably excuse a mistake here or there. However, if you’re writing to someone you don’t know as well (or at all), or you really don’t have a good grasp of spelling and grammar, typing can help. There are tons of programs out there that will check your spelling as you write, allowing you edit out all of those little mistakes to create a flawless note.

You Can Create Multiple Drafts Easily

Not every letter can be done properly the first time. If you’re writing something important, it might take a few drafts for you to get the words exactly as you’d like them. Luckily when you’re typing on a computer, this is a breeze. Rather than starting from scratch like you’d have to with a handwritten letter, you can simply edit the areas you’re not happy with and move sections around until you’ve got it just right. If you’re a perfectionist, that’s going to save a lot of time and stress.

Things to Remember When Typing

Just like handwritten notes, typing has a whole lot of good attributes. But it does lack the personal touch that handwritingis full of and can seem a little too formal (not personal enough) for certain letters. Thank you notes or congratulatory letters, for example, will come across much better if they’re written by hand!

What About the Best of Both?

It’s no secret that both handwritten and typed notes have their downfalls! The great thing about handwritten notes is that they come across as personal, thoughtful, and are filled with more care. However, if you don’t have the handwriting or the time to craft them, they can be a nightmare!

On the other hand, typing isn’t always appropriate and can come across as a little strange for certain letters. So, why not combine the best of both?

At Handwrytten, we provide a handwritten note service, allowing your heartfelt messages to be transformed from text to gorgeous handwritten letters. The idea is simple; you type up the words you want to say, and our robots write them for you.

Okay, so it’s not actually us. It’s our amazing robots that can be programmed to write in a whole range of different handwriting styles. They actually put ballpoint pen to paper and quickly – but precisely – write out your words. It’s an amazing system that can be used for a whole range of purposes!

From gorgeous thank you for purchasing cards to letters for faraway friends, we cover all of your handwriting needs.

Start Creating Your Own Handwritten Letters

Handwritten letters are a thoughtful way to send your words across the globe, and they’re a lot more unique and special than typed notes. But if you can’t handwrite your own, it’s time to look into Handwrytten.

Start learning more about the features of Handwrytten and make sure to get your letters sent to allow for time to get them delivered, or get in touch with our team today to find out more!