We were all taught to hold the pencil a specific way when we just started writing, which may or may not have remained the same while growing up. A pediatric occupational therapist weighs in on the age-old debate about the correct way to hold a pencil or a pen as it doesn’t seem to settle.
It’s a common belief that how you hold the pen and the direction in which it’s titled while writing says a lot about your personality. However, the logic behind it is different.
Is there a correct way to hold a pencil/pen?
The answer is – yes and no. Pediatric occupational therapist Kali Danile explains the logic behind holding pens or pencils in different ways.
She says research suggests practicing the “Tripod Grasp”, which involves resting the pencil on your middle finger while grasping it with your index finger and thumb.
This is supposedly the “best way” to hold a pencil as the position allows your arm to rest with better support, and there’s more control through the first three fingers because of the muscles in your arm.
While the tripod grasp is recommended for children when they are just learning to write, any other way is acceptable too, as long as it’s functional and doesn’t affect them negatively.
Kali says her fiancé uses all of his fingers to grasp the pen while writing and he couldn’t do it the conventional way with three fingers. This applies to a lot of people who prefer using different placement of fingers while writing as they like the grip better.
The conventional method can cause ‘Writer’s Callous’
People used to the tripod grasp are more likely to develop a condition called ‘Writer’s Callous.’ According to Kali, the condition is common among those who hold the pen or pencil as shown above and it’s nothing but a thickened piece of skin on the middle finger where the pen rests.
While she thinks there’s nothing wrong with a Writer’s Callous as it’s a common occurrence, the therapist explains that it’s just the body’s way of protecting any area that experiences increased friction.
Callus can also occur on different parts of the hand depending on the activities you partake in. For instance, people who lift weights have the tendency to develop it right at the bottom of their fingers.
Kali is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist from the Tampa Bay area. She holds a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine and a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences with a concentration in biomedical sciences from the University of South Florida.
She’s been practicing as an Occupational Therapist since 2020 and is currently working with Amedisys.
