How do you write the number 4?

[Confused Democrat]

open 4's look something like

I write them closed like a normal human being.

[Mr. Smith]

Open, but the left tine is angled inwards

[Crumpets]

Open. I found my closed 4s looked too much like 9s when hastily written.

[Goldwater]

I write them closed like a normal human being.

[publicunofficial]

Open. I found my closed 4s looked too much like 9s when hastily written.

[kcguy]

Closed.  I learned architectural drafting standards, when drafting was still done by hand.

[The Other Castro]

Open.

[angus]

closed, of course.  (I never knew that "closed" was the official term for this.)

The more interesting question is whether one draws the number 4 in one step or two.  In order to do it in one step, i.e., without picking up the pen, one starts at the bottom, draws a vertical line segment upward, then a line segment at 45 degrees inclination which is about 1/sqrt(2) times the length of the vertical line segment, then draws a horizontal line segment 45 degrees from the second line segment and roughly equal in length to the first line segment.

To do it in two steps one starts at the top, draws a vertical line segment downward, then draws two more line segments.  (In this case, the four might be "open" or "closed" depending upon where you place your pen at the outset of the second stroke.  It is only in this case that the decision to be "open" or "closed" becomes relevant.  When one draws the number 4 without picking up the pen the decision does not arise.  This is why I think it's the more interesting question.)  I think the majority were taught to do it in two steps, and you could then divide those who draw it in two steps into two subsets:  those who open and those who close.

I draw the number 4 in one step, so the question of it being open or closed just doesn't come up.  I'm not sure when I started drawing it in one step but I have been doing that for many years, as long as I can remember, although I suspect that I was taught to do it in two steps.

[Torie]

Open. If it's closed, it might sort of look like a 9.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Open, but closed if I'm in a rush.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Closed (normal, sane, not a fascist)

[Xing]

Open (has morals, doesn't kick puppies)

[Sozialliberal]

Open, because that's how I learnt it at school.

[politicallefty]

It's almost closed, but not quite. It closer to closed, but there's still a very narrow opening.

(I didn't choose either option in the poll.)

[Figueira]

I find closed ones more aesthetically pleasing, but I write them open.

[Starpaul20]

Open.

[President of the great nation of 🏳️‍⚧️]

I write them closed like a normal human being.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Closed

[muon2]

closed, of course.  (I never knew that "closed" was the official term for this.)

The more interesting question is whether one draws the number 4 in one step or two.  In order to do it in one step, i.e., without picking up the pen, one starts at the bottom, draws a vertical line segment upward, then a line segment at 45 degrees inclination which is about 1/sqrt(2) times the length of the vertical line segment, then draws a horizontal line segment 45 degrees from the second line segment and roughly equal in length to the first line segment.

To do it in two steps one starts at the top, draws a vertical line segment downward, then draws two more line segments.  (In this case, the four might be "open" or "closed" depending upon where you place your pen at the outset of the second stroke.  It is only in this case that the decision to be "open" or "closed" becomes relevant.  When one draws the number 4 without picking up the pen the decision does not arise.  This is why I think it's the more interesting question.)  I think the majority were taught to do it in two steps, and you could then divide those who draw it in two steps into two subsets:  those who open and those who close.

I draw the number 4 in one step, so the question of it being open or closed just doesn't come up.  I'm not sure when I started drawing it in one step but I have been doing that for many years, as long as I can remember, although I suspect that I was taught to do it in two steps.

Interesting. As a boy I was taught a closed two-step version of the 4. But as many others have noted, angling the left vertical while leaving it open at the top makes for less errors of confusion with a 9.

[7,052,770]

closed, which I thought was normal, but I guess not

[nclib]

Open. I did closed until 4th grade when I was told it looked too much like a '9'.

[TDAS04]

Open.

[fhtagn]

Open. I found my closed 4s looked too much like 9s when hastily written.