Buzz
Developing cursive writing skills is valuable for crafting handwritten letters, journal entries, or invitations. Begin by refining your writing technique through adjustments. Practice lowercase and uppercase cursive letters, progressing through the alphabet. Also, ensure to hone your technique with daily practice, challenging yourself with longer sentences or paragraphs in cursive.
Key Steps
Getting Started
Sit comfortably at a desk. Use a comfortable chair at a desk that aligns with your thighs, allowing your feet to rest flat on the floor. Maintain good posture with a straight back and relaxed shoulders.
- Avoid desks that are too high or too low, ensuring you don't strain or slouch while writing.
Opt for an ink pen with a felt tip. Alternatively, a gel pen that produces smooth, fluid lines of ink can also be used. Dark-colored ink like blue or black enhances visibility on the page.
- You can also use a pencil for cursive writing, especially if you want the ability to erase and start over. Choose a B pencil with a triangular barrel for a softer touch on the paper and improved writing comfort.
Use lined paper to maintain consistent letter size and shape. Look for paper with a dotted line in the middle of each line. Specialty lined paper for cursive writing can be found at local school supply stores or online.
- If you prefer unlined paper to practice free-flowing cursive movements, you may do so. However, maintaining uniform letter shapes without lines on the paper can be more challenging.
Angle the paper for optimal writing position. For right-handed individuals, align the top right and bottom left corners of the paper with your nose. Use your left arm to stabilize the paper. Left-handed writers should align the top left and bottom right corners with their nose, securing the paper with their right arm.
- Angling the paper helps achieve the correct slant (up and to the right at 35 degrees) for cursive writing.
Use your non-writing hand to guide the paper upward while writing. This promotes even and controlled writing. Maintain a consistent angle by guiding the paper with your non-writing hand.
Hold the pen or pencil lightly at a 45-degree angle. Place the pen or pencil on your middle finger and secure it with your thumb and index finger. Keep a relaxed grip to avoid white knuckles or stiffness in your fingers.
Developing Lowercase Cursive Characters
Practice writing “a.' Begin with a curved stroke ascending from the baseline to the dotted line. Next, execute a backward motion to form the slanted “o” shape of the “a.” Ensure that you touch the top of the dotted line while creating the “o” shape and then swoop back down, finishing the swoop just below the dotted line.
Write “c.' Initiate an upward stroke from the baseline to the curved line, curving to the right. Perform a backward motion to create a slanted “o” shape, but rather than closing the “o,” end the stroke just below the dotted line.
- After mastering 'a' and 'c,' progress to letters with similar strokes like “d,” “q,” and “g.”
Practice forming “i.' For writing “i” in cursive, execute an upward stroke to the dotted line, then slide back down to the baseline. Complete the letter by placing the dot above the center of the “i,” just above the dotted line.
Try writing “u.' Begin with an upward stroke to the dotted line, then slide back down to the baseline and curve upward to meet the dotted line again. Finish by swooping below the dotted line.
- Experiment with other letters sharing similar strokes, such as “w” and “t.”
Write “e.' Begin with an upward stroke from the baseline. Then, curve downward, following behind the initial upward stroke. Finish by extending the downward stroke just above the baseline.
Try “l.' Start with an upward stroke to the top line. Then, curve downward behind the upward stroke, reaching all the way to the baseline. Complete by sweeping the stroke just above the baseline.
- Explore other letters with similar strokes, such as “h,” “k,” “b,” “f,” and “j.”
Practice writing “n.' Commence with an upward stroke to the dotted line, followed by a straight downward stroke to the baseline. Next, make an upward stroke to the dotted line and curve it downward. Conclude with a short swoop just above the baseline.
Write 'm.' To write “m” in cursive, follow the steps for “n,” but when curving downward, create another upward and downward curve. Then, include a short swoop just above the baseline.
- After mastering these letters, attempt letters with similar strokes like “v” and “x.”
Creating Uppercase Cursive Characters
Write 'A.' Start with a downward stroke from the top line to the bottom line. Curve the stroke and loop it back to the top line to form an oval. Then, make a downward stroke from the top of the oval and extend it upward, just above the bottom line.
- An uppercase 'A' in cursive resembles a lowercase 'a' in cursive and should touch both the top and bottom lines.
Try “O.' Begin by creating a small loop at the top line, extending from right to left. After the loop, form a large curve to the right, creating an oval that touches the top line. The stroke's end should overlap with the middle of the small loop at the top of the “o.”
- Uppercase letters “O,” “M,” and “N” in cursive follow similar strokes as their lowercase counterparts but cover more space on the line.
Practice writing “B.' Start with a straight downward stroke from the top to the bottom line. Next, create a rounded curve to the side from the top of the stroke to just above the dotted line. Make another rounded curve from the middle of the stroke to the bottom of the stroke. Create a small loop by curving the stroke and end by sweeping it to the right, just above the bottom line.
- Writing an uppercase “B” in cursive is quite different from a lowercase “b,” so practice may be necessary to master it.
Write “E.' Begin with a small vertical loop extending down from the top line. Then, curve left to form a larger vertical loop extending to just above the dotted line. Create a small loop over the dotted line and curve downward to form a larger loop touching the bottom line. Finish by extending the bottom loop upward so it sits just above the bottom line.
- An “E” in cursive resembles a backwards “3.”
Practice writing 'L.' Start with a loop towards the right, just below the dotted line. Curve the loop upward until it touches the top line. Then, extend the stroke downward to the left until it reaches the bottom line. Draw a small loop upward towards the right and then extend the stroke so it slopes just below the bottom line.
Practice writing 'Y.' Begin with a small loop extending downward to the right. Curve the stroke to the bottom line and then bring it back up so it rests just above the dotted line. Draw a slanted line downward, extending past the bottom line, and then curve it upward to the right.
Enhancing Your Skills
Utilize letter guides. Letter guides provide step-by-step instructions on writing every letter of the alphabet in lowercase and uppercase cursive. Each letter guide includes arrows and dotted lines to follow, allowing you to trace the examples directly.
- Search for letter guides online or consult your teachers for available resources.
Practice creating linked patterns with a single letter. Choose a letter that you find easy to write, such as “a” or “c.” Write one line of the same letter and connect each letter together to form a smooth pattern across the page.
- You can also try creating patterns with different letters on each line.
- If certain letters pose challenges, focus on creating patterns with those specific letters.
Connect your letters to form words. Begin with short two-letter words like “ad,” “be,” “in,” or “no.” Progress to three-letter words and beyond. Connect the end of each letter to the beginning of the next for a cohesive appearance in cursive.
- Consider writing your name in cursive, especially if it's short, as an additional practice.
Allocate 20 minutes daily for cursive practice. Dedicate 20 minutes either in the morning or evening to practice cursive writing. Focus on practicing various letters and words during each session.
- As an enjoyable challenge, try writing sentences or phrases you like from books, songs, or movies in cursive during your practice.
Helpful Suggestions
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Brush pens are commonly used for cursive writing to achieve elegant, calligraphy-style lettering. However, it's recommended to start with regular pens initially to avoid complicating things too much.
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If you're struggling with a specific letter, modify it slightly to suit your style. For instance, if you find lowercase 'b' challenging, adjust its form to resemble a printed 'b' more closely.
The guidance provided here is based on insights from Mytour readers like yourself. If you have a useful tip you'd like to share on Mytour, please submit it below.
- Practice using phrases that include almost every letter of the alphabet, such as 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,' 'The five boxing wizards jump quickly,' or 'Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.'
- Integrate cursive into your daily activities instead of print. For instance, take class notes in cursive or compose your grocery list in cursive script.
Essential Materials
- An ink pen or pencil
- Lined or plain paper
- A desk
Alphabet Examples and Practice Sheets
Sample Lowercase Cursive Alphabet
Sample Uppercase Cursive Alphabet
Handwriting Practice Sample Page
