Cursive alphabet · Letter I
Cursive I: How to Write Uppercase & Lowercase I
Cursive i is the simplest letter to write and the easiest to get wrong. It is one upstroke and one downstroke, with a dot added only after you finish the word.
Cursive I at a glance
Capital I
Lowercase i
Numbered dots mark where each stroke begins. The red line is the baseline; the dashed line is the midline. Style: traditional American school cursive, simplified to a single line.
Capital I in cursive: step by step
- 1Start near the top line at the right and curl left into a small hook.
- 2Draw the stem straight down to the baseline.
- 3Lift your pen. Capital I is not usually connected to the next letter.
Lowercase i in cursive: step by step
- 1Start on the baseline and swing up to the midline in a slanted line.
- 2Come straight back down to the baseline.
- 3Sweep up into a small exit stroke.
- 4Finish the word, then go back and add the dot above the i.
Trace cursive I on screen
Use a finger, stylus or mouse. Start at the numbered dot, follow the dotted guide, then press Check to see how much of the guide you covered.
Capital I
Trace over the dotted guide with your finger, mouse or stylus.
Lowercase i
Trace over the dotted guide with your finger, mouse or stylus.
How cursive i joins other letters
The i has the same exit stroke as a and e, so it joins to nearly everything. Keep its height at the midline, not above it.
in
it
is
id
ni
Trace the join: in
Trace over the dotted guide with your finger, mouse or stylus.
Practice words with i
Capitalized names are written the way they would be on a card or label; lowercase words show how the letters link in a line.
Isabella
Ivy
Italy
time
island
pencil
lilies
Want a word of your own? The worksheet generator makes a practice sheet for any name.
Common mistakes with cursive i
Dotting too early
Dotting the i as you go breaks your rhythm and makes words look jumpy. Finish the word and then add all the dots and crosses.
A rounded top
The top of the i is a point, not an arch. A rounded top makes it look like a small u or an n.
Cursive i vs e: A lowercase i and e start identically. The i comes straight down; the e loops back to the left before it curves down. See cursive E →
Cursive I questions
When do I dot the i in cursive?
After you finish the whole word. Lifting your pen mid-word breaks the connection between letters, so the dots and crosses are added at the end.
Is capital I in cursive the same as capital J?
No, but they are close. Capital I stops on the baseline, while capital J drops below it into a loop.
Free printable worksheet: cursive I
One page with capital I, lowercase i, joins and words to trace, plus blank lines for your own writing. Print it on US Letter or A4.
More practice: the full alphabet practice sheets, or all cursive worksheets.