Are there any cursive writing styles designed for ease of use and legibility?

Not that I have ever seen. But when I am writing, I write for speed and legibility. So my handwriting is sort of a mix of script and print – some elision between letters but some separation as well.

My issue with ‘traditional’ cursive is that it’s way too idiosyncratic—you are dependent on the skills of the writer—which makes it hard to read. My mother uses cursive almost exclusively (and she learned to write in the 1940s) – but it’s hard to make out letters sometimes because there are connectors that don’t make sense.

What works for me is ‘prursive’.

I was also taught the “right” way to write cursive, but I think it died out with my Mom’s generation (she also learned in the 40s @elbanditoroso. In fact, that whole generation o f women has handwriting that is almost identical!) When I actually write with pen and paper I use a combination of cursive and printing. I read some where that the further your handwriting gets away from what you were taught, the more independent you are.

I think cursive, in and by itself, is a writing style. When done by a multitude of people, you get multiple variations, but none that are taught with that particular, personal, flair/variance.

My sister who is a retired art teacher but runs a large studio with 20 different teachers was approached by the local superintendent of schools about having a class for calligraphy given at the schools, since the state stopped cursive. She is setting up an art teacher and classes at the schools for all third graders.

I was taught calligraphy in art class in High School. It was pretty neat. I don’t really have a use for it, but it’s still pretty neat to know.