6 Modern Twists on Cursive

1. 

   1. THEN: Nameplate Necklaces

   Cursive nameplate necklaces rose to popularity when Sarah Jessica Parker wore them on Sex and the City.

   Etsy, NameinJewelry

   Price: $44.99

2. 

   NOW: Twitter Handle Necklaces

   More than a decade after Sex and the City's debut, nameplate necklaces are no longer as hot. Instead, several jewelry stores sell Twitter handle necklaces -- in print, not cursive.

   Shame on Jane
   Price: $120

3. 

   2. THEN: Handwritten Love Letters

   A beautifully written love letter was every lovebird's dream back in the day.

4. 

   NOW: Snapchat

   With so many digital ways of communication available at the touch of a button, taking the time to write a letter by hand and send it via snail mail sounds antiquated. Today's Romeos and Juliets say "I love you" through apps like Snapchat.

5. 

   3. THEN: Celebrity Autograph

   In order to prove that you really met a celebrity, you would ask for their autograph.

6. 

   NOW: Celebrity Tweet

   Who needs a celebrity's physical signature when you can have a tweet instead? Fans vie for celebrity recognition on Twitter by hoping for replies, favorited tweets or retweets.

7. 

   4. THEN: Signature

   Learning cursive allowed you to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind signature.

8. 

   NOW: Profile Picture

   The most unique way you present yourself to the world now is through your profile picture on Facebook. Choose carefully -- after all, an image is worth a thousand words.

9. 

   5. THEN: Formal Wedding Invitations

   Cursive brings elegance to wedding invitations, especially when done by a calligrapher for a custom touch.

10. 

    NOW: Wedding Website

    Some invitations are done exclusively online now in order to cut costs or reduce the need for paper. Like most websites, you can safely bet wedding websites are done in printed fonts, not cursive ones.

11. 

    6. THEN: Learning Cursive in School

    Practicing cursive was a third grade rite of passage. It took weeks or even months. Do you think that time was well spent?

12. 

    NOW: Focus on Digital Technologies

    Today's elementary school curricula have a stronger emphasis on learning about technology.

Cursive is standing on its last loops and curlicues.

The Common Core State Standards for English is a framework detailing what students are expected to learn before college — none of these include cursive. Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Alaska and Virginia are the five remaining states to refrain from adopting the Common Core curriculum.

See also: 14 Stunning Photographs That Bridge Past and Present

The number of students learning cursive across the country has dropped. Instead, schools emphasize learning to type. Both skills are valuable; while typing will prepare kids for a future that increasingly relies on technology, cursive has been shown to increase brain development.

As cursive dwindles to an antiquated art form, check out the round-up below of soon-to-be extinct items and their digital replacements.

Homepage image: Flickr, quinnanya