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Cursive Lowercase Letters

Cursive lowercase letters are built from a few repeated strokes, so you can learn all 26 in four families. See a to z in school cursive, then learn the families, the three height zones and where each letter joins the next.

Lowercase letters a to z in cursive

Set in Playwrite US Trad, a school cursive typeface. Tap a letter for stroke-by-stroke instructions.

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · · How we review content

Key facts

  • The 26 cursive lowercase letters fall into four stroke families: undercurve, loop, downcurve and overcurve.
  • Cursive has three height zones: small letters reach the midline, tall letters reach the top line, and tails drop below the baseline.
  • The letter t is a tall letter that stops shorter than the loop letters, roughly midway between the midline and the top line.
  • The letter f is the only lowercase letter that occupies both the upper and the lower zone, which is part of why it takes practice.
  • The letters o, v, w and b end at the top and send a bridge to the next letter instead of joining at the baseline.
  • A good learning order is i, u and t, then e and l, then c, a and o, then n and m.

Four families of cursive lowercase letters, one movement each

The cursive letters hub introduces the four families briefly. Here we go further into what each family is like to write and where learners slip.

Undercurve: i, u, t, w, r, s, p, j

The shared movement is a curve swinging up from the baseline. i, u and t are the cleanest examples, which is why they come first. The trouble starts with r and s, which keep the upstroke but end in a small shoulder or a point that does not exist in print. Both are also easy to confuse in a rush. Make the end of the s a little rounded peak, and the end of the r a shelf.

Loop letters: e, l, h, k, b, f

They begin like an undercurve, then keep rising into a loop. The e is a small loop in the midline zone, and the others are tall loops that reach the top line. Keep each loop narrow with a straight return stroke. A common fault is a fat, closed loop that looks like a blob, and the other is a loop that leans left of the stem.

Downcurve: a, d, g, o, c, q

All start at the midline and curve counter-clockwise, like a c. After the closing point, a, d and g go on to a stem, while o simply closes and bridges. If a looks like u, the circle is not closed. If d looks like cl, the circle and the stem do not touch.

Overcurve: n, m, v, x, y, z

Each begins with a hump, rising and curving over to the right. n and m repeat the hump, v uses a point, and y and z take a tail down. Humps should be the same width: many learners draw a narrow first hump and a wide last one in m.

How tall should each letter be? The three height zones

Cursive has three vertical zones, and each letter lives in one or more.

Zone Letters What to check
Midline to baseline a c e i m n o r s u v w x All the same height, none poking up
Top line to baseline b d f h k l t Loops reach the line, t is shorter than l
Baseline to below f g j p q y z Tails drop the same distance, never hit the next line

Two letters need a note. t is a tall letter that stops shorter than the loop letters, roughly midway between the midline and the top line. f is the only letter that occupies both the upper and lower zone, which is part of why it takes practice.

Which lowercase letters look alike?

  • a, d, g, o, q: one body shape. The differences are the stem and the tail.
  • n, m, v, x: humps and points that differ only in number.
  • e and l: both loops, but e is small and l is tall.
  • i and e: the i has a dot and the e has a loop. If your dots land inside loops, slow down.
  • r and s: both end in a shoulder, so make them different.

Where do cursive letters join?

Letters meet at the baseline, or at the top. Letters that end at the baseline join the next one with a short upstroke. Letters that end at the top, o, v, w and b, send a bridge over to the next letter. That bridge is the most-missed join in everyday handwriting. See cursive joins for the four types with examples.

Where should I start, and how do I practise?

Choose one family at a time. Write three repetitions of each letter, then three short words. For lines to copy, use cursive sentences. When lowercase is comfortable, move to the capitals. If you need the full method from the beginning, read how to write in cursive. And if you only need to paste cursive-looking letters into a message, how to type in cursive lists the options. Whichever route you take, the cursive lowercase letters are where real handwriting fluency starts.

Frequently asked questions

Basics

How tall should cursive lowercase letters be?
Small letters such as a, c, e, m and n reach the dashed midline. Tall letters such as b, d, f, h, k and l reach the top line. Letters with tails, g, j, p, q, y and z, drop below the baseline. Keeping these three heights consistent matters more for neat cursive than perfecting any single shape.
Do all lowercase cursive letters connect?
In most school models, yes: every lowercase letter in a word connects to the next. The exceptions are letters where teachers vary, and the practice of lifting the pen to dot an i, cross a t or f, and add the tail of letters such as x. Those marks are added after the word is finished.
How many lowercase letters are in the cursive alphabet?
There are 26, one for each letter of the alphabet. They fall into four stroke families: undercurve, loop, downcurve and overcurve. Learning one family at a time is faster than working through a to z, because the letters in a family share the same beginning movement.
Which lowercase cursive letters go below the line?
The tails of g, j, p, q, y and z drop below the baseline, and f occupies both the upper zone and the lower zone. Keep the tails the same length and leave enough line spacing that they never touch the loops on the line below.

Where it works

Can I copy and paste cursive lowercase letters?
Yes, the cursive text generator gives cursive-looking lowercase letters as Unicode text. They are a text style, not handwriting, so they have no joins to learn, and some apps and screen readers display them poorly. For real handwriting practice, use the letter pages with a pen.

How it works

Which cursive lowercase letters should I learn first?
Start with i, u and t, then e and l, then c, a and o, then n and m. This order follows the stroke families, so each new letter reuses a movement you already know. The alphabet order is a poor way to learn, because neighbouring letters such as a, b and c share nothing.
How should I practise cursive lowercase letters?
Choose one family at a time. Write three repetitions of each letter, then three short words that use them. Short sessions work better than long ones, and a few minutes of focused practice on one family is more useful than a page of mixed letters.

Tips & limits

Why do my cursive a and o look the same?
Both start with the same counter-clockwise curve. The difference is the finish. An a closes the circle and then retraces up the right side before a stem returns to the baseline. An o closes the circle and leaves from the top with a bridge. Slow down at the closing point.
What are the hardest cursive lowercase letters?
Most learners find z, f, r and s the hardest, followed by b and k. These have unusual beginnings or connections that differ from print. Each letter page rates difficulty and shows the stroke order. Practise them in short words, like "fresh" or "size", rather than in isolation.
Why does my cursive t look like an l?
A t is shorter than a loop letter. It reaches roughly midway between the midline and the top line, while an l reaches the top line. If both are the same height, shorten the t, and remember to cross it after you finish the word.
Why do my cursive r and s look the same?
Both keep the upstroke and end in a small shoulder, so they blur in a rush. Make the end of the s a little rounded peak and the end of the r a shelf. Practise them in short words such as size and fresh to see the difference.