Brit Speak - Joined-Up Writing Confusion

[Steve]

I was reading a quote for a website about the UK TV show, and it used
the term 'joined-up writing'. In the context it was in, I understood
it to mean 'script' or cursive writing where all the characters of a
word are joined together, as opposed to the individual block/line
characters that elementary school kids are taught.

However, in OotP when Harry/Ron/Hermione meet Professor Lockhart at
St. Mungo's Hospital, he mentions twice that he can do 'joined-up
writing'.

--- OotP AM Ed HB ---
pg 509 - "Now, how many autographs would you like? I can do joined-up
writing now, you know!"

pg 515 - "Look, I didn't lean joined-up writing for nothing, you know!"
- - - end - - -

When I first read that I had no concept of the term 'joined-up
writing', so I took it to mean that Lockhart had learned a spell that
could join several pens together. In essense, he would write with one
pen while 3 others followed along, thereby, allowing him to sign four
autographs at once.

Did any body else share my confusion?

So, what is it? Is he simply saying that he can write in cursive? If
he can write cursive, why is that a bid deal? I would think everyone
over the age of 12 could and do write in cursive.


Does it mean that he has recovered to the point where he is now
capable of writing in script again? This is a valid interpretation,
but the way the quotes are phrased doesn't imply that to me.

...or is it my multi-pen magic spell theory?

Is this a play on word by JKR, taking muggle context and giving it
magical context? The common meaning being cursive, and the magical
meaning being multiple pens?

...or none of the above ...or perhaps, all of the above?

This is almost as confusing as when Filch drop-kicked (punted) the
students across Fred & George's swamp.

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinion? Help?

bboy_mn