Yes, We Know it’s Not 1987, but You Still Need to Know How to Write a Check

Writing checks: not really a popular pastime anymore.

We live in a world where we can pay with a debit or credit card for just about everything — and in some cases, simply swipe a phone over a payment terminal before whooshing out the door. Sitting down every month to write out checks for your utility bills? A thing of the past.

But while we wouldn’t exactly encourage a resurgence of check writing, we would advise you to learn how to write a check. Many people don’t learn how to do this until college, so don’t feel bad if you’re turning to us for help while shielding your computer screen from passersby.

The chances are good that the time will eventually come when you need to write a check. Maybe it will just be a monthly rent check. Maybe it will be a down payment for something exciting, like a car or a house. Maybe you’ll be feeling benevolent and want to write up some snazzy-looking birthday gifts.

Go wild. After all, it’s your checkbook — and your money.

Are you wondering how to write a check? It’s easier than you may have worked yourself into thinking. We’ll show you the parts of a check and how to write one.

Here Are the Parts of a Check

What are all these lines, boxes and numbers? Stop guessing. We’ll tell you!

1. Your info, including your address and sometimes your phone number
2. The check number for your reference.
3. The date line
4. The recipient line
5. The payment amount line
6. The payment amount box
7. Your bank information
8. The memo line
9. Your signature line
10. Your bank’s routing number
11. Your checking account number

How to Write a Check

Writing a check is easy if you know these steps.

1. Write the Date in the Upper Right Corner

Note the month, date and year. Usually, this will be the date you are writing the check.

If you want the recipient to wait until you have money in your account before depositing the check, you might postdate the check. This is probably best served in personal situations.

You might also postdate a check if you’re paying ahead of time for a service. For example, if my rent check is due on the first of the month, but I mail my check on the 15th of the previous month because I’m going on vacation, I would postdate my check for the first of the next month.

2. On the Line That Reads ‘Pay to the Order of,’ Write the Name of Whomever You’re Paying

If you’re not sure of the correct title or business name, ask before writing out the check to ensure they can deposit it. Never leave this line blank when you write a check — you risk someone taking the liberty of finishing writing that check out to themselves!

3. Write the Amount You’re Paying by Check

This will take place on the line directly below the payee name. You might write “twelve dollars and eighteen cents,” or “twelve dollars and 18/100” — either is fine as long as it’s clear how much you’re paying. If your writing doesn’t take up the whole space, draw a straight line through to the end of the field so no one else can edit what you wrote down.

By the way, you’re doing this in pen, right? Pencil is too easy to alter. We used to be advised to write checks in cursive, but now, writing in pen is enough to indicate legitimacy.

4. Write the Same Amount in the Box on the Right Side of the Check

Yep, it’s time to write that payment amount again, this time in digits. Noting the amount in two ways ensures it’s correct.

Be sure to fill the whole box so the amount can’t be altered. It’s more important to align your amount all the way to the left side of the box so no one can change your $12.18 to $112.18.

5. Write a Memo, if You Choose

In some situations, the recipient may ask you to provide identifying information on your check, like an account number.

6. Sign the Check in the Bottom Right Corner

Your recipient can’t deposit the funds unless you’ve signed!

Lisa Rowan is a writer and producer at The Penny Hoarder. She still writes a lot of checks, but never (ever!) in public.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.

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