By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content
Key facts
- Cursive joins come in four types: bottom to bottom, bottom to top, top to bottom and top to top.
- The join type depends on the height where the first letter ends and the height where the next one begins: baseline or midline.
- The letters o, v, w and b end at the midline, so their join leaves from the top as a bridge stroke.
- Most lowercase letters, including a, c, d, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, r, s, t, u and x, finish at the baseline.
- Bottom to bottom is the simplest join and the best one to learn first, with practice words such as in, un, it, tin and unit.
- Zaner-Bloser, D'Nealian and Palmer share the four join types but differ in the details.
What are cursive joins?
In cursive, each lowercase letter ends with a short exit stroke and the next one begins where that stroke arrives. That connection is the join. When it works, you write a word in one continuous movement, with the pen lifted only at the end (and for dotting i and crossing t).
Joins depend on two things: the height where the first letter ends, and the height where the second begins. Letters end at one of two heights. Most (a, c, d, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, r, s, t, u, x) finish at the baseline. Four letters, o, v, w and b, finish at the midline, the top of the small letters. Letters begin either at the baseline (after an undercurve) or at the midline (a, c, d, g, q, o start there). Two end heights and two start heights give four join types.
The four joins
| Join | Leaves from | Arrives at | Connector | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom to bottom | Baseline | Baseline | Short, low undercurve | an, in, un, ti |
| Bottom to top | Baseline | Midline | Rising undercurve | ac, ad, ag, ma |
| Top to bottom | Midline | Baseline | Sloping dip from the top | oi, ou, vi, wi |
| Top to top | Midline | Midline | Level bridge across | oa, oc, va, wa |
How does a bottom to bottom join work?
The simplest join. The first letter ends on the baseline and the second begins there. In “in”, the i ends with its upstroke exit, and that same stroke becomes the entry to the n. In “un”, the same idea. Keep the connecting stroke low and the same slope each time, so your words do not look as if they are climbing a hill.
How does a bottom to top join work?
The first letter ends on the baseline, but the next begins at the midline, as with a, c, d, g and q, which all start with a stroke curving back from the midline. The connector is an undercurve that rises from the baseline and arrives at the top of the next letter. In “ac”, the a finishes with its exit stroke, which rises and curves into the beginning of the c. It is also the join in “ma”, “ha” and “la”. Make this connector a smooth curve, not a straight diagonal.
How does a top to bottom join work?
Now the first letter ends at the midline, as after o, v, w or b, and the next starts on the baseline. The connector leaves from the top and slopes downward to meet the next letter low. In “oi” and “ou”, the o closes at the top and the exit stroke drops to where the i or u begins.
How does a top to top join work?
The first letter ends at the midline and the next also begins there. The connector runs across horizontally from the top of the first letter, like a bridge, and does not drop to the baseline. This is the join in “oa”, “oc”, “va” and “wa”. The letters a, c, d, g, q and o all start at the midline, so the stroke into them should be nearly flat. (Letters such as e and l begin low with an upstroke, so check your model for how it handles “oe” and “ol”; models differ.)
How do I join o, v, w and b?
The letters o, v, w and b deserve their own attention because the join leaves from the top, not the bottom. Without a connector from the top, the next letter sits awkwardly, and a beginner often brings the stroke down to the baseline and back up. Some teachers call the horizontal stroke a bridge, which names it well.
- Finish the letter first. Close the o, finish the v, w or b with its small upward stroke.
- Hold at the midline. The connector leaves from the top of the letter, not from the baseline.
- Slope or cross as needed. If the next letter starts low (i, u, n, m, r, s), drift down. If it starts at the midline (a, c, d, g, q, o), move across level.
- Keep it small. The bridge is shorter than a normal join. A long bridge pushes letters apart.
Words to practise: “ow”, “obi”, “we”, “wow”, “vow”, “boat”, “bean”, “over”.
What are the most common join mistakes?
- Dropping to the baseline after o, v, w or b. The connector goes down and comes up again, creating a sharp valley. Keep the stroke at the midline.
- Joins that are too long. Letters look spread out and the word becomes hard to read. Aim for connectors about the width of a letter’s body at most.
- Joins that are too short. Letters collide and overlap. Leave a small gap of white space between letters.
- Inconsistent slope. One letter leans right, another stands upright. Choose one slant and keep it throughout a word.
- Lifting the pen mid-word. Some lifts are correct, such as for capitals, but unplanned lifts break the flow. Check the model before lifting.
- Letter heights that wander. Small letters should reach the midline, not above. Joins look wrong when heights are inconsistent.
In what order should I practise joins?
Learn the joins from easiest to hardest. A sequence that works for most people:
- Bottom to bottom: “in”, “un”, “it”, “tin”, “unit”, “mum”.
- Bottom to top: “ac”, “ad”, “ma”, “had”, “lamp”, “dance”.
- Top to bottom: “oi”, “ou”, “vi”, “wit”, “bit”, “bus”.
- Top to top: “oa”, “va”, “wa”, “bad”, “wad”, “boat”.
- Mixed words: “welcome”, “beautiful”, “blessed”, “thank you”.
Spend several short sessions on each stage before moving on. Practise on lined paper so the baseline and midline are visible, and look at the model side by side with your attempt. The cursive worksheets provide lined pages to print.
Where to go next
If a join keeps failing, the cause is often a weak individual letter. Check its page in cursive letters A to Z, which describes how each letter connects to its neighbours. Once the joins feel steady, move on to whole words in cursive, where you can practise them in meaningful pieces. If you prefer to type cursive for a message, see how to type in cursive, though typed text has no joins to learn. Whichever route you take, practising cursive joins slowly on guide lines is what makes handwriting smooth.