How to Write Strong in Cursive

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · October 2026 · How we review content

"Strong" in Playwrite US Trad, a typeface modelled on traditional school cursive.

Strong is a six-letter word with a very different rhythm in each half. The first part, S-t-r, has tall and pointed shapes; the second part, o-n-g, is round and then drops below the line. It is popular for gym journals, motivational prints and tattoos, and it rewards writing slowly until the t, r and g are clean.

Copy and paste "Strong" in cursive

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Letter by letter

Each distinct letter in "Strong" has its own stroke-by-stroke page.

The joins in Strong

St: Traditional capital S curves up into a loop and finishes near the baseline, and the pen lifts here. Start the t just right of the S's end and keep the t's spike taller than the S's body so the two letters do not blur.
tr: The t exits with a small undercurve at the baseline that rises straight into the r's first stroke. Cross the t only after the whole word is done, and keep the t spike clearly taller than the r.
ro: The r ends in a pointed shoulder, then a short bridge slides over to the top of the o. Keep the bridge level; if it droops, the o falls below the midline and the word sags.
ng: The n's last hump exits at the baseline and goes into the g's oval. Close the g oval on the left, then drop the stem straight below the line and loop it back up to the baseline.

Tricky spots

Pointed r: Cursive r has a small pointed shoulder, not the rounded hump of an n. If you round it, tro or tno becomes easy to misread. Make the peak sharp and the exit short.
g descender: The g loop swings left under the baseline and must close back at the baseline on the right of the stem. A loop that is too wide runs into the next line of writing.
t cross: Strong has only one cross, but it should land on the t spike and extend slightly to the right toward the r. A cross that slides left over the S makes the S look like a different letter.

Capitals

Strong is written with a capital S when it is a title or the start of a line, and lowercase in phrases such as stay strong. The capital S is a lifting capital, so a small gap before the t is part of the correct look. Lowercase strong has the added challenge of a small s before the t, with a short joining stroke that rises to the t spike.

Variations and styles

Strong looks good with heavy downstrokes: thicken the t spike and the g stem and keep the rest hairline for a brush-lettered look. On gym planners, underline the word with a long swash from the g tail. A single word is easy to write large; a sentence like stay strong gives you a second capital to practise. Pair with brave or fierce for a three-word set.

As a tattoo

Strong is a popular tattoo on forearms and shoulders. The g descender and the S loop need enough space, so go for at least 10 mm letter height if you can. Heavier line weight is a good fit for this word, and an upright slant reads as stronger than a leaning one. Check the stencil to be sure the r peak and the o stay open.

Printable practice sheet

Trace the grey letters, then write your own on the empty lines. Prints on one page (Letter or A4).

Cursive practice: Strong

Name: ____________________ coolletteringgenerator.com

Copy-paste versions of Strong

In plain script 𝒮𝓉𝓇ℴ𝓃ℊ, the o and the g are the two substitutes, ℴ (U+2134) in fourth place and ℊ (U+210A) in last place, so the end of the word is where the mismatch shows. The S, t, r and n keep the regular look. Bold script 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 is one block.

Strong in cursive: questions

How do I write the S in Strong in cursive?

Start at the baseline with an overcurve, swing up to a point at the top, then curve back and loop down to the baseline. The loop should be narrow. Finish with a short stroke and lift before starting the t, because the capital S does not connect to the t in school cursive.

Why does my r look like an n in strong?

The r needs a pointed shoulder that peaks higher than the stem, while the n has a rounded hump. Keep the r's stroke short and steep, and let the next letter o take over with the bridge. If the shoulder rounds off, tro looks like tno in small writing.

Where should I cross the t in strong?

Cross it after the word is complete, so the pen does not interrupt the flow. Put the cross slightly above the midline of the t spike and extend it right so it nearly touches the r. A bar that slides left over the S makes the capital look like another letter.

What size is best for a strong tattoo?

Aim for at least 10 mm letter height, more if the g descender is long. Smaller than that and the g loop and the r peak can fill in as lines blur over the years. Ask the artist to print the stencil at the real size and check the open loops before inking.