Cursive Capital Letters

The 26 uppercase letters of the cursive alphabet: what each one looks like on ruled lines, which ones join the letter after them, and how they are built.

These are the original font letterforms. Capital joins vary by course; the experimental capital chart uses a separate set of pen paths.

Capitals are worth leaving until last. Most writing is lowercase, so start with the lowercase letters and their joins; the beginner’s guide sets out the whole order.

Every cursive capital, A to Z

Each capital on its own lines. Pick one for its numbered strokes, the common mistakes and a one-page practice sheet.

Capitals that join the next letter

These original forms have an exit stroke, but their exit levels differ. Check the next lowercase entry and your course’s joining rule when you write your name in cursive — and, for a surname like McBride or O’Leary with a second capital inside it, when you work out a signature.

Capitals you lift the pen after

These end in a loop, a curl or a crossbar rather than a tail. Finish the capital, lift, and begin the next letter on its own.

How the capitals are built

Grouped by where the first stroke begins. Each letter links to its numbered steps.

Start at the baseline, on the left, with a small hook

A — Start on the baseline at the left with a small hook, then sweep along and up to the right in one rising stroke to the top line.

Start at the top of the stem

B — Start at the top line and draw a slant stroke straight down to the baseline.
D — Start just below the top line and draw a slant stroke down to the baseline.
P — Start just below the top line and draw a slant stroke down to the baseline, curling to the left at the bottom.
R — Start just below the top line and draw a slant stroke down to the baseline, curling to the left at the bottom.

Start inside the letter

C — Start inside the letter, above the midline, with a small curl: round down, across to the right and up into the top of the letter.
I — Start at the midline with a small hook and rise up and to the right to the top line, turning over in a small loop.
Q — Start inside the letter, just above the baseline, with a short hook to the left, then rise up the left side and over the top (clockwise).

Start just below the top line, on the right

E — Start just below the top line with a small hook, then curve up and around to the left and down to the midline, forming the upper curve.
G — Start just below the top line on the right with a small hook, then sweep up and over to the left, like the top of a large C.
L — Start just below the top line with a small hook, rise to the top line and arch over to the left.
S — Start just below the top line on the right with a small hook, and curve up and over to the left.

Start on the left, with a small curl

F — Start on the left with a small curl, rise to the top line and draw the top to the right, finishing in a small loop.
H — Start on the left with a small curl, rise to the top line and run along it to a small loop, then come straight down the first stem to the baseline and curve back to the left.
J — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl and rise up and to the right to the top line.
K — Start on the left with a small curl, rise to the top line and run along it to a small loop, then come down the stem to the baseline, curving to the left at the bottom.
M — Start at the midline on the left with a curl that swings down to the baseline, then rise to the top line.
N — Start at the midline on the left with a curl that swings down to the baseline, then rise to the top line.
T — Draw the top: begin with a curl on the left and carry the stroke along the top line to the right.
U — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl and rise over to the top line.
V — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl and rise over to the top line.
W — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl, rise over to the top line and slant down to the baseline.
X — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl and rise over to the top line.
Y — Start at the midline on the left with a small curl and rise over to the top line.
Z — Start on the left with a small curl, rise to the top line and draw a level stroke across the top to the right.

Start just below the top line, on the left

O — Start just below the top line on the left and sweep down (counter-clockwise) to the baseline.

Cursive capital letters practice sheet

Every capital once as a model and twice in grey to write over. Prints on one page. Capitals are used where they are needed, so practise them on real words: names, the days of the week and the months use ten different capitals between them, and the worksheet generator will rule a sheet of your own names.

Prints on one US Letter page. Choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog to download.

Cursive capital letters A–Z

Model, then trace

Name ______________________ Date __________

cursivealphabet.pro — free cursive practice sheets

Capital letter questions

Which cursive capital letters connect to the next letter?

In the original forms on this page, these capitals have an exit for the following lowercase (most at the baseline, A and H at a crossbar, N high): A, C, E, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, Q, R, U, Y, Z. Use a lift after B, D, F, I, O, P, S, T, V, W, X. These are model-specific groups, not universal rules: your course may leave all capitals unjoined. The experimental joined model has its own capital examples on the joining page.

Are cursive capital letters harder than lowercase?

Usually, because they are larger, less uniform and used less often, so they get less practice. Learn the lowercase alphabet first: most writing is lowercase, and six capitals are essentially enlarged lowercase forms (C, J, N, O, U and Y), so they cost nothing extra to learn.

How tall should cursive capitals be?

Capitals reach from the baseline to the top line — the same height as the tall loops of b, h and l. Four capitals drop below the baseline in the letterforms used here: G, J, Q and Y. Z does in some other styles.

Do cursive capitals connect to each other when writing in all caps?

For the models used on this site, lift between capitals rather than forcing a connection. All-capital words are often easier to read in print. Capital forms and joining policies vary, so follow your course's examples when practising an all-capital word.