Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of handwriting difficulties?

The notion that spelling is unaffected is indeed a characteristic that distinguishes some handwriting difficulties. When students experience challenges with handwriting, it typically involves their ability to write clearly and efficiently, which can lead to various types of difficulties, including motor skill challenges.

However, handwriting difficulties often have a ripple effect on other aspects of writing, including spelling. For instance, if a student struggles with writing due to fine motor control issues, it might also affect their spelling abilities, since they may avoid writing or make more frequent errors due to frustration with the physical act of writing. Therefore, asserting that spelling remains unaffected is misleading, as it can often be impacted by the broader challenges associated with handwriting.

In contrast, the other options highlight characteristics that are commonly associated with handwriting difficulties. For instance, harder-to-find errors and challenges with timely completion of assignments are indicative of the struggles that come with poor handwriting skills. Additionally, difficulties in both motor input (the act of writing) and output (the process of organizing thoughts onto paper) are closely linked to the overall handwriting challenges students may face. Hence, the assertion that spelling is unaffected stands out as the correct identification of what is not characteristic of handwriting difficulties.