Genealogists become handwritting specialists

Have you ever studied the old Bible entries for Births, Marriages, and Deaths, or read an ancestor's journal, but couldn't read the cursive writing?  Handwriting has changed so much over the last few generations, that today it's often hard to decipher the writing. 

 For example, the letter "S" has appeared many times over like a cursive "T" or even the number five.  Sometimes the small letter "S" can even appear as a backwards cursive "f".  Sevens and ones were so similar that it was hard to tell what year is written.  Then there were also abbreviations that today are not as well known as the Wm. for William.  

Did you that the name Jonathon was written with a capitol "J" and then an "o" with a line drawn under it and a "n" under the line?  Without knowledge of what handwriting was like, names and dates can be almost unrecognizable.  So just remember when you come to cursive writing to study how the author made his different letters and abbreviations or your great Aunt may become a grandmother!   
GM