Here at Eldo, we write exactly zero things by hand. Not because we’re lazy. Not because we don’t know how to hold a pen. But because… well, we live on screens. Everything we create – every website, proposal, sitemap, or silly internal note about biscuits – is typed, clicked, tapped, and tracked. Pens? Lovely objects. Mostly used for signing birthday cards (though do pick up an Eldo branded pen next time you pop in!).
So when we heard that students can now use laptops to take GCSE exams – no need to handwrite their answers – it hit a bit of a nerve. On one hand, it makes perfect sense. This is how the world works now. Why should a teenager be judged on their ability to handwrite 3,000 words under pressure, when everything they’ll likely do in life will involve a keyboard or touchscreen?
And let’s be clear, typing can level the playing field. For kids with dyslexia, motor issues, or handwriting that looks like someone sneezed while holding a pencil—being able to type isn’t just helpful, it’s fair.
But still… something feels a little lost.
There’s a certain discipline in writing by hand. It slows you down. It makes you think differently. There’s nowhere to hide behind autocorrect or copy-paste. You craft one word at a time, fully present. That’s not a bad skill to have in a world that’s increasingly instant and frantic.
Even in our very digital corner of the universe – where websites are born from code and creativity – we sometimes catch ourselves scribbling rough layouts or sketching content ideas on actual paper. There’s a freedom in it. No backspace, no formatting, no tabs. Just ideas flowing as fast as your hand can keep up.
We’re not saying exams should go back to ink-stained fingertips and smudged margins. But we are saying: let’s not be too quick to ditch handwriting altogether. In a world where typing is normal, writing becomes deliberate. And that, like a beautifully designed website, is something that takes time, care, and thought.
So no, we don’t write much here at Eldo – but maybe that’s why we notice when writing fades away. And maybe, just maybe, the odd pen and paper moment is still worth keeping.
