I Prefer Hand-Written Letters

by Susan W
(United Kingdom)

I prefer a handwritten letter from a penpal, if at all possible, as it seems so much more 'personal' that way. I was brought up to believe that personal letters should always be handwritten, anyway.

But as I have some penpals who've said they have difficulty in handwriting a letter due to age or arthritis etc., I've come to realize that what matters is not whether you write or type, but to some people that you take the time to write to them at all.

It's surely only basic good manners to make your letter legible by the person receiving it at the other end and if this means a typed letter then so be it.

But if a penpal's writing is a bit difficult to read and they don't have a computer (not everyone does, even in this day and age!) then it's polite to just grin and bear it, and try your best to read what's been written to you.