English

Etymology

Derived from the Greek graphos (writing) and prefixed with kakos (bad). It is believed to have been introduced in the late sixteenth century, with the emergence of printing technologies and standard lexicon, the need for orthographic spelling was mandatory as opposed to the prior method of spelling upon personal preference.

Noun

cacography

1. Bad spelling.
2. Bad handwriting.
3. The act of exhibiting these traits

The word is sadly seldom used in today's spoken word.

Adjective

cacographic

1. Displaying the properties of cacography.

Noun

cacographer

1. One who exhibits either or both of these traits.

Synonyms

crabbed, cramped, faint, hieroglyphic, illegible, indecipherable, indistinct, obscure, scrawled, unclear, undecipherable, unintelligible, unreadable

Antonyms

calligraphy, chirography, longhand, orthography, penmanship