Cursive Alphabet: How to Write A to Z in Cursive

The cursive alphabet is a connected style of handwriting in which letters flow into one another instead of being written separately.

Simple idea.

But it takes practice.

Learning how to write in cursive means understanding the shape of each letter, where the stroke begins, how the letter connects to the next one, and how uppercase and lowercase forms differ.

At LetterAccents.com, you can learn the complete alphabet, study individual letters, and practise both uppercase and lowercase cursive writing.

Start with our main
Cursive Alphabet
guide or see the complete
Cursive Alphabet A to Z.

What Is the Cursive Alphabet?

The cursive alphabet contains the same 26 letters as the standard English alphabet, but the letters are written using flowing strokes designed to connect together.

That changes everything.

A lowercase cursive letter often begins with an entry stroke and ends with an exit stroke. Those strokes allow one letter to connect naturally to the next.

Uppercase cursive letters can be more decorative. Some connect to the following letter easily, while others are often written as separate forms.

The basic alphabet is:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

In lowercase:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Why Is Cursive Being Taught Again?

Cursive disappeared from many classrooms after the Common Core State Standards were introduced in 2010. The standards emphasized keyboarding but did not specifically require cursive handwriting.

That trend has changed.

By 2026, 27 U.S. states had laws requiring or encouraging cursive instruction in public schools, compared with only 14 states about a decade earlier. The exact rules vary. Some states require instruction during elementary school, while others set proficiency targets by a particular grade. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

For example, Kentucky requires cursive instruction in elementary schools with the goal of proficiency by the end of fifth grade. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Florida legislation in 2026 specified cursive instruction for grades 2 through 5, including uppercase and lowercase letter formation, spacing, alignment, and writing complete words and sentences. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Cursive is back.

Why Do Schools Teach Cursive?

There are several reasons.

Students who can read cursive are better able to read handwritten historical documents, letters, family records, signatures, and archival materials.

Cursive can also become faster than print once a student becomes comfortable with connected writing.

Some educators and researchers also point to possible benefits associated with handwriting practice, although claims that cursive itself produces special cognitive benefits should be treated cautiously. The strongest evidence supports handwriting practice generally rather than proving that cursive is uniquely superior. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

How to Write in Cursive

Good cursive begins with consistent movement.

Do not rush.

First learn the basic shape of each letter. Then practise connecting letters into short words.

Most lowercase cursive letters begin close to the baseline. The pen moves upward into the main shape, returns toward the baseline, and ends with a small stroke leading toward the next letter.

The goal is flow.

1. Start With Lowercase Letters

Lowercase letters are the foundation of cursive writing because most words contain far more lowercase letters than capitals.

Start with letters that use similar movements.

For example, a, c, d, g, o, and q all involve rounded shapes. Letters such as i, t, u, and w use simple upward and downward strokes. Letters including l, e, h, and b use loops.

Grouping similar letters makes learning easier.

2. Learn the Entry Stroke

Many cursive letters begin with a small upward movement from the baseline.

That movement is called an entry stroke.

It helps the letter connect naturally with the previous letter in a word.

3. Learn the Exit Stroke

The end of a lowercase letter is equally important.

Most letters finish with an exit stroke extending toward the right.

That stroke becomes the beginning of the next letter.

One movement.

4. Keep a Consistent Slant

Most traditional cursive writing has a slight slant to the right.

Your writing does not need to have a dramatic angle, but keeping the letters at roughly the same slant makes words easier to read.

Consistency matters more than ornamentation.

5. Keep Letter Size Consistent

Lowercase letters should generally maintain similar proportions.

Some letters rise above the normal writing height, such as b, d, f, h, k, l, and t.

Others descend below the baseline, such as f, g, j, p, q, y, and sometimes z, depending on the cursive style being taught.

6. Do Not Lift the Pen Too Often

Cursive is designed around connected movement.

Many lowercase words can be written with very few pen lifts.

There are exceptions.

Letters such as i and j need dots, and t needs a crossbar. Many writers complete the word first and then return to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

7. Practise Slowly Before Writing Quickly

Speed comes later.

Students often make cursive harder by trying to write quickly before the letter shapes are automatic.

Practise each letter slowly. Then practise short words. Finally, move to complete sentences.

Uppercase and Lowercase Cursive Letters

Capital cursive letters often look much more different from their printed equivalents than lowercase letters do.

Some are easy to recognize.

Others are not.

Capital G, Q, F, T, and Z can vary considerably depending on the handwriting style being used.

That is why it helps to learn every letter individually.

All Cursive Letters A to Z

Use the individual LetterAccents.com guides below to learn each uppercase and lowercase cursive letter.

Each page can be used as a reference while you practise letter formation, joins, stroke order, and common mistakes.

A in Cursive

Learn
A in cursive,
including capital A and lowercase a.

Cursive B

Learn
cursive B
and practise the uppercase and lowercase forms.

Cursive C

See how to write
cursive C.

Cursive D

Learn
cursive D
in uppercase and lowercase.

Cursive E

Practise
cursive E.

Cursive F

Learn the distinctive shape of
cursive F.

Cursive G

See
cursive G
and compare the capital and lowercase forms.

Cursive H

Learn how to form
cursive H.

I in Cursive

Learn
I in cursive,
including the uppercase I and lowercase i.

Cursive J

Practise
cursive J.

Cursive K

Learn
cursive K
and its connecting strokes.

Cursive L

See how to write
cursive L.

Cursive M

Learn
cursive M
in both cases.

Cursive N

Practise
cursive N.

O in Cursive

Learn
O in cursive,
including its rounded lowercase form.

Cursive P

See the correct formation of
cursive P.

Cursive Q

Learn the unusual shape of
cursive Q.

Cursive R

Practise
cursive R.

Cursive S

Learn how to write
cursive S.

T in Cursive

See the full guide to
T in cursive,
including the uppercase T and lowercase t.

Cursive U

Learn
cursive U
and its smooth joining stroke.

Cursive V

Practise
cursive V.

Cursive W

Learn
cursive W
in capital and lowercase.

Cursive X

See how to form
cursive X.

Cursive Y

Learn
cursive Y
and its descending stroke.

Cursive Z

Finish the alphabet with
cursive Z.

Complete Cursive Alphabet A to Z

If you want to study the letters together rather than one at a time, use our complete
Cursive Alphabet
reference.

You can also visit the main
Cursive Alphabet
page to move directly between the individual A–Z guides.

Which Cursive Letters Are Easiest to Learn?

Some lowercase letters are easier because their shapes are close to ordinary handwriting.

Good starting letters include:

These letters help students practise common upward strokes, loops, rounded forms, and exit strokes.

Which Cursive Letters Are Hardest?

That depends on the writer.

Capital letters tend to cause the most confusion because they can look very different from standard print.

Students often need extra practice with cursive capital:

Take your time.

How Do Cursive Letters Connect?

Most lowercase letters end with a stroke that naturally leads into the beginning of the next letter.

For example, the final stroke of a lowercase a moves upward and to the right. That same stroke can immediately become the entry stroke of an n, d, m, or almost any other lowercase letter.

That is the central idea behind cursive.

The letters are not simply drawn next to each other. They are designed to interact.

Practise Cursive With Short Words

Once individual letters are comfortable, begin combining them.

Good beginner words include:

cat
dog
and
the
love
name
home
school

Short words make it easier to concentrate on the connections.

Then Practise Your Name

A child’s own name is often one of the best ways to practise cursive.

It is familiar.

And useful.

Practising a name also introduces the relationship between an uppercase first letter and the lowercase letters that follow it.

How to Write a Cursive Signature

A signature is usually a more personal form of cursive handwriting.

Begin by learning the standard cursive forms of your first and last name.

Once those movements are comfortable, you can simplify the letters, increase the slant, add a flourish, or make certain capitals more distinctive.

Readable first.

Style later.

Different Styles of Cursive

There is no single cursive alphabet used everywhere.

Several handwriting systems have been taught in American schools.

Zaner-Bloser Cursive

Zaner-Bloser uses fairly traditional cursive letterforms with recognizable loops and formal capital letters.

D’Nealian Cursive

D’Nealian was designed to make the transition from print to cursive easier. Its printed letters already contain slight tails and slants that resemble cursive connections.

Palmer Method

The Palmer Method became extremely influential in American handwriting education during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

It emphasizes rhythmic movement and efficient writing.

Spencerian Script

Spencerian handwriting is more decorative and elegant.

It is associated with nineteenth-century penmanship and is often used today for calligraphy, invitations, and decorative lettering rather than ordinary classroom handwriting.

Cursive Versus Print

Print handwriting separates letters.

Cursive connects them.

Neither system is automatically better for every situation.

Print can be easier for beginners and may be more immediately readable. Cursive can become faster for experienced writers because the pen does not need to lift between every letter.

Does Cursive Help With Spelling?

Some teachers find that the continuous movement of cursive helps students think of words as connected units rather than isolated letters.

However, handwriting should not be presented as a guaranteed treatment for spelling or learning difficulties.

It is a skill.

And skills improve with practice.

Does Cursive Improve the Brain?

Claims about cursive and brain development are often exaggerated online.

Research supports the educational value of handwriting and active letter formation, but experts caution against assuming that cursive specifically provides dramatic cognitive benefits beyond other forms of handwriting instruction. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

A better reason to learn cursive is straightforward: it is a useful form of writing and reading.

Why Reading Cursive Still Matters

Cursive is not only about writing.

It is also about reading.

Older letters, diaries, historical records, signatures, family documents, and archival materials are frequently handwritten.

Students who cannot read cursive may find those documents difficult to understand without transcription.

What Grade Is Cursive Usually Taught?

In the United States, cursive is commonly introduced during elementary school, often around second or third grade.

Requirements differ from state to state.

Some states expect students to develop proficiency by fourth or fifth grade, while others leave the exact timing to school districts. Education Week reported in 2026 that at least half of U.S. states had adopted policies requiring cursive instruction. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Is Cursive Mandatory in School?

Not everywhere.

There is no single federal requirement forcing every U.S. school to teach cursive.

Education standards are largely determined by states and local school systems.

However, cursive has made a strong return. By 2026, 27 states had laws mandating or encouraging instruction, and additional proposals continue to appear in state legislatures. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Common Cursive Writing Mistakes

Beginners often make the same mistakes.

Writing too quickly
Changing the slant between letters
Making some lowercase letters much larger than others
Lifting the pen between every letter
Leaving too much space between connected letters
Making loops too large
Forgetting to dot i and j
Forgetting to cross t
Copying decorative calligraphy instead of learning basic cursive first

Keep it simple.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Cursive?

A student can learn the basic shapes fairly quickly, but comfortable cursive handwriting develops through repetition.

Ten or fifteen minutes of focused practice each day is generally more useful than one long practice session once a month.

Small sessions.

Repeated often.

A Good Order for Learning the Cursive Alphabet

You do not necessarily need to learn cursive in alphabetical order.

Grouping letters by similar strokes can make practice easier.

For example:

Start with c, a, o, d and g.
Move to i, u, w and t.
Practise e, l, h and b.
Add n, m, v, x and y.
Finish with more distinctive letters such as r, s, f, j, k, p, q and z.
Then learn the uppercase alphabet.

Cursive Alphabet Practice

The best way to improve is to combine three kinds of practice:

Tracing
Copying
Writing from memory

Tracing helps the hand learn the movement.

Copying tests whether you can reproduce the shape without being directly guided.

Writing from memory shows whether the letter has become automatic.

Learn Every Cursive Letter

You can work through the entire alphabet using the LetterAccents.com individual cursive guides:

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cursive Alphabet

What is the cursive alphabet?

The cursive alphabet is the standard A–Z alphabet written using flowing, usually connected handwriting strokes.

How many cursive letters are there?

There are 26 letters in the English cursive alphabet, each with an uppercase and lowercase form.

Is cursive mandatory in the United States?

There is no nationwide federal cursive requirement. However, by 2026, 27 states had laws requiring or encouraging cursive instruction, with different grade and proficiency requirements. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

What age should children learn cursive?

Many schools introduce cursive during elementary school, often around grades 2 or 3 after students have gained confidence with print handwriting.

Should I learn lowercase or uppercase cursive first?

Lowercase first is usually easier because lowercase letters make up most of the words you write.

Do all cursive letters connect?

Most lowercase letters are designed to connect. Some uppercase letters are commonly written separately before connecting into the lowercase portion of the word.

Is cursive the same as calligraphy?

No. Cursive is everyday connected handwriting. Calligraphy is decorative lettering in which the appearance and artistic form of the strokes are central.

Where can I learn every letter in cursive?

Use the
Cursive Alphabet
guide at LetterAccents.com, or open the
Cursive Alphabet A to Z
page and practise each letter individually.

Start Learning the Cursive Alphabet

Cursive becomes easier when you stop thinking of it as 26 complicated drawings.

It is a collection of repeated movements.

Loops. Curves. Strokes.

Learn those movements slowly, practise the individual letters, and then begin joining them into words.

Start with the complete
Cursive Alphabet,
explore the
Cursive Alphabet A to Z,
or return to
LetterAccents.com
for more handwriting, letters, accents, and typing resources.