Small letters a–z
Lowercase Cursive Alphabet
Lowercase letters make up almost everything you write in cursive. Each one starts and ends in a way that lets it flow into the next.
Lowercase cursive alphabet
Tap a letter for stroke order, joins and a tracing pad.
Letters by height
Knowing which line each letter reaches is half the battle. These three groups use the same writing lines.
How lowercase letters join
Cursive connects letters with a stroke that starts where one letter ends. There are two kinds of join, and which one you use depends on the letter you are leaving.
Baseline joins
Most letters finish at the baseline with a small upward flick, which runs straight into the next upstroke. This is the join for a, c, d, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, t and u, among others.
High joins
The letters b, o, r, v and w finish at the midline and join across the top. The connecting stroke is nearly horizontal, which is why combinations like ow and ve look different from an.
Drill both with the connecting letters worksheet, which groups pairs by join type.
Three habits that make lowercase letters neater
- Keep one slant. Every downstroke should lean the same way. Turn the paper rather than your wrist if your lines drift.
- Close your ovals. The a, d, g, o and q all start with an oval. If it is open at the top, the letter turns into something else.
- Keep spacing even. The gap between letters should be about the width of a lowercase n.
Lowercase cursive questions
Should I learn lowercase or uppercase cursive first?
Lowercase. You will use it for almost all your writing, and its movements (ovals, loops and humps) are the base for the capitals as well.
Why don't my letters connect smoothly?
Usually the exit stroke is too short or too low. End each letter with a clear flick in the direction of the next one, and for b, o, r, v and w remember to join from the midline, not the baseline.
Which lowercase letters are hardest?
The s and r change direction in a small space, and the k has a loop plus a leg. Practice them alone on their pages first, then in the joins listed there.