Re: Please print clearly

Donna Richoux wrote:
Mark Brader <msb@xxxxxxx> wrote:

We are asked:
Guys what does it mean "Please print clearly"?
Do I need to write in all capital letter,
or it needs to be "readable"?

Both of those.


Do I need to write in all capital letter,

Donna Richoux answers:

No. that would probably be said "in block letters."

I disagree. On forms that say "please print", it is intended that
you should print in all capital letters (block capitals).

I'm surprised you say that. Was your primary-school education in
Canada? Did they teach you to print as well as do cursive writing?

As I said, this varies, but in the US, nearly everyone is taught that
"printing" is one sort of hand-lettering and "writing" (handwriting,
cursive writing, script) is another sort. When our forms tell you to
print, they mean don't "write" -- don't use handwriting, don't make
joined letters.

In the US, a form has to say "capital letters" or "block letters" if
that is what is wanted. I don't know how to prove that, though.

I can Google up forms that say "Please print clearly" and also specify
block letters or capitals.

I can Google up more that say "Please print clearly" and don't say
anything about capitals or block letters, and that don't provide
little grids, merely straight lines to write on. I can't prove what
such form-makers wanted, but, in my view, they expected what we would
call regular upper- & lowercase "printing," and that's what they'll
get. Except from people who space out, and "write" anyway.

I can't find very many images of forms filled out by hand, at all.
Some pre-20th century stuff, which doesn't help.

I'd always take "print" to mean "use block capitals" (though I confess I
find it an irritating usage), and that seems to be implied in all of
OED's examples:
<1837 DICKENS Pickwick Papers xxxvi. 392 'Mr. Weller..here's a letter
for you.'..'It can't be from the gov'ner,' said Sam, looking at the
direction. 'He always prints, I know, 'cos he learnt writin' from the
large bills in the bookin' offices.' 1911 F. H. BURNETT Secret Garden
ix. 85 'Does tha' know how to print letters?'..'I know how to write.'
1960 H. LEE To kill Mockingbird (1963) I. ii. 24 We don't write in the
first grade, we print. 1980 G. LORD Fortress xvii. 133 The word that
Derek had printed in large capitals on the board was 'Fortress'.>

(Good Lord! I've just learned from R3 that Canada --or, rather, CBC --is
a member of the European Broadcasting Union. That's more surprising than
Israel being in Eurovision. They're relaying a jazz concert.)

--
Mike.



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