People who express themselves better through writing than speaking share these 12 unique traits

For some, the pen is mightier than the mouth.

A person with curly hair, wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt, sits at a table writing in a notebook. The scene is warmly lit, with a window showing greenery outside, creating a cozy and focused atmosphere.

Do you find that you feel awkward or get flustered easily when you speak, but you write like an 18th century poet? If so, you’re not alone! In fact, many people are far more comfortable expressing themselves in writing or texting rather than speaking, and the majority of them share several of the following traits:

1. They’re often very articulate when they write, but may be at a loss for words when speaking.

A person wearing glasses and an orange sweatshirt covers their mouth with both hands, standing against a light blue background. They have a surprised or shocked expression.

Whereas some people write or text exactly how they speak, those who express themselves better through writing are incredibly articulate with the written word. In contrast, when it comes to actually talking to another person, they may stumble over their own tongues, or have difficulty remembering words they want to say.

2. They may have quite beautiful penmanship.

A person with long blonde hair, wearing a pink top, is writing in an open notebook with a red pen. The shot is taken from above and to the side, focusing on the writing hand and the notebook's pages.

Many people who prefer to communicate via writing rather than speaking have rather gorgeous handwriting. Although this may be more common with the older crowd—since younger people often prefer to text—there’s been a recent resurgence towards beautiful penmanship, undoubtedly assisted by fun Japanese stationery and a love of all things nostalgic.

3. They’re very visual thinkers.

A man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a dark jacket, sits on wooden steps with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped in front of his face, appearing deep in thought. The background features wooden railings and a blurred natural setting.

Those who think visually have to mentally translate what they’re thinking from images into word forms. This can be very difficult to do at the spur of the moment, and requires time (and often silence) in order to express their ideas properly. It’s literally like interpreting one language into another!

4. They’re prone to social anxiety.

A woman sits on a couch with a concerned expression, holding her temples with both hands. She is wearing an orange shirt and has brown hair tied back. In the background, there is a brick wall, a radiator, and shelves with plants and decor items.

People who worry a great deal about what others think about them generally prefer to have the time and space to agonize over how they’re communicating. They’ll consider the implications of every word they choose, as well as how the person they’re writing to may interpret what they’ve said.

5. Perfectionism.

A man with glasses and a beard sits at a table in a cozy cafe, writing in a notebook. He is wearing an orange sweater. A smartphone and a cup of coffee are placed on the table. Natural light filters through large windows.

When someone expresses themselves through writing, they can take as much time as they need to formulate, polish, and edit their thoughts. This is opposite to verbal communication, in which they have little time to come up with a clear answer, and words cannot be unsaid (or unsent) once spoken.

6. Heightened social awareness.

A young woman with long brown hair leans against a brick wall, looking pensively into the distance. In the background, a group of four people is engaged in conversation, with their faces blurred and the focus on the woman in the foreground.

Those who have high self-awareness and social awareness know that miscommunications happen very easily. These are often avoided when communicating in writing, since one can take time to clearly articulate one’s thoughts. They can pause to consider their word choices, how things may be taken out of context, and adjust their written language accordingly.

7. They’re far more creative and articulate when writing.

A man with short hair and wearing a gray shirt is sitting at a desk in an office, writing in a notebook. He appears focused, with a laptop and a potted plant in the background.

When given the chance to write rather than speak, many people express themselves with stunning descriptions, metaphors, and exquisite prose. This can only happen with written communication, since verbal exchanges tend to be quite short and succinct. We generally get irritated or creeped out if someone blathers on poetically for too long.

8. A tendency to lose their ability to speak well when nervous or upset.

A woman with light eyes and freckles gazes thoughtfully to the right. Her hand is near her mouth, and she is wearing a black top. The background is a soft beige, creating a calm atmosphere.

A lot of people “choke up” when they’re overcome with emotion, and literally find it difficult—or even impossible—to speak in those situations. As such, many of them have honed their ability to write out what they’re thinking and feeling. If they can’t say it, at least they can scrawl or text it.

9. They’re often introverted.

A man in a black jacket stands on a wooden boardwalk by the sea, with a railing to his left and a clear sky in the background. The boardwalk stretches into the distance.

Many introverts, including those whose Myers-Briggs types begin with IN-, express themselves far better when writing than speaking. They don’t necessarily get flustered when talking to people, but they appreciate being able to take the time to clarify and channel their thoughts into words, rather than being hurried with verbal exchanges.

10. High intellect.

A young man stands in front of a whiteboard filled with mathematical equations, holding a blue marker. He wears a gray hoodie and looks over his shoulder towards the camera. The whiteboard shows various algebraic expressions and graphs.

Highly intelligent people think in all directions at once, and can therefore get overwhelmed or even muddled when communicating verbally. This may involve them veering off topic, or going on long tangents about something that should have only been a passing comment. Written communication allows them to express themselves fully without overwhelming others.

11. A vivid, and fast-processing imagination.

A surreal image of a hot air balloon with a rainbow-colored balloon and a basket, topped with a black bowler hat. The balloon is positioned above a headless shirt against a cloudy sky, creating an imaginative scene.

A person who has a creative, vivid imagination may have difficulty amalgamating their thoughts into coherent spoken sentences: there’s simply too much going on in their mind to pin down. It’s much easier for them to take the time they need to write things out when they have periods of calm and clarity.

12. Neurodivergence.

A person with short brown hair and glasses is smiling while looking to the side. They are wearing a striped shirt and are outdoors with a blurred green background.

This isn’t a trait that’s shared by all people who express themselves better in writing than speaking, but a significant number of autistic people and/or those with ADHD fall into that category. Writing offers more time to process information and express oneself succinctly than speaking, especially if one has difficulty communicating verbally in general.