A → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
Joining Cursive Letters
Cursive is the joins. There are only four kinds — from the baseline, from the midline after a bridge letter, into an oval, and after a capital — and once each one is in your hand, any word is just a sequence of them.
Experimental joined-stroke lab
Try your own English text, including names and capitals. All 52 letters have pen paths; selected capital exits connect to the following lowercase. Other capitals, internal capital starts, numbers and punctuation require lifts.
Complete model. 1 connections, including 0 from capitals. Each capital starts a fresh stroke; nonjoining exits, punctuation, spaces and line wraps require lifts.
The highlighted segments are part of each continuous path, not font spacing. b, o, v and w have higher exits. Use the generator for longer text and multi-page sheets.
This lab fits its text into one display and worksheet row, so long text appears smaller. The generator wraps text at your chosen letter height instead.
Experimental join practice: an
cursivealphabet.pro — experimental model
Capital joins in the experimental model
These examples belong to the optional joined-path model, not the original font charts below. A highlighted line means the capital really shares a path with a. A gap means lift and start a new stroke. Capital-to-capital pairs always use a lift; never force an exit into the next capital.
B → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
C → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
D → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
E → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
F → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
G → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
H → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
I → a lift
One body stroke; lift after the capital, then begin a.
J → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
K → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
L → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
M → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
N → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
O → a lift
One body stroke; lift after the capital, then begin a.
P → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
Q → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
R → a join
2 body strokes; continue its final stroke into a.
S → a lift
One body stroke; lift after the capital, then begin a.
T → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
U → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
V → a lift
One body stroke; lift after the capital, then begin a.
W → a lift
One body stroke; lift after the capital, then begin a.
X → a lift
2 body strokes; lift after the capital, then begin a.
Y → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
Z → a join
One body stroke; continue its final stroke into a.
Match the alphabet you are learning
Capital forms and joining rules vary by course. Compare shape, size, spacing and slant with your school’s alphabet. Check the entry, exit, body strokes and separate marks, then try the sheet by hand. Use your course’s model when forms differ.
For other letter models, see the Zaner-Bloser teaching resources or historical Palmer manual.
Practise capitals and namesFour join reference groups
The font examples below show individual letter shapes and exit levels, not continuous pen paths. Use the experimental lab above to see actual connectors and lifts. Course-specific joins may use different entries and capital forms.
Baseline join
The common case. The first letter ends with an undercurve tail on the baseline, and the next letter simply starts from that tail. Most pairs in most words are this join.
an it el hi up ta
Bridge join
b, o, v, w have high exits in these letter references. In courses using bridge joins, the following entry may be shortened. The experimental model above instead connects to its own authored entry path; these are different models.
on be ov we or wh
Join into an oval
For oval letters such as a, c, d, g, o and q, compare the entry with your course's model. Keep the oval clear and the joining stroke controlled. The experimental model above retains its own entry curves rather than substituting course-specific entries.
ca ed ig la to sq
After a capital
For the original capital forms shown here, use a lift after B, D, F, I, O, P, S, T, V, W, X. The separate experimental chart above shows its own joining exits. Follow your course's capital rules when they differ.
An Ca Me Be Ti Do
Pairs that trip people up
br — A bridge into r: the r's shoulder sits right on the bridge, so keep it small.
os — A bridge into s: start the s from the midline, not the baseline, and keep it short.
ve — A bridge into e: the e's loop is drawn from the midline, so it looks flatter than usual.
wr — Bridge into r again — write, wrong and wrap all use it.
ox — Bridge into x, then the cross stroke afterwards.
ff — Two loops above and two below in a row; keep both stems on the same slant.
Exit levels in the original letterforms
End on the baseline (tail join)
a c d e f g h i j k l m n p q r s t u x y z
End at the midline (bridge join)
b o v w
Four letters, and each one changes where the next letter starts: cursive b, cursive o, cursive v, cursive w.
Capitals you lift the pen after
B D F I O P S T V W X
This grouping belongs to the original letterforms, not every cursive course. The experimental chart above has its own examples. See capital letters.
Joining letters practice sheet
One row per kind of join, then the tricky pairs, then words that use them. When the pairs feel automatic, take them into whole cursive words and then into full sentences, where spacing between words becomes the thing to watch.
Prints on one US Letter page. Choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog to download.
Joining cursive letters
Original font pair references — model, then trace
Name ______________________ Date __________
Baseline join
Bridge join
Join into an oval
After a capital
Tricky pairs
Words
On your own
cursivealphabet.pro — free cursive practice sheets
Join questions
Do all cursive letters connect?
In the original letterforms used here, lowercase letters connect and these capitals require a lift: B, D, F, I, O, P, S, T, V, W, X. The experimental joined model has its own examples and deliberate pen lifts. Capital forms and joining rules vary by course; do not force all capitals to connect.
Why does the letter after o look different?
In courses using high-exit joins, o finishes near the midline, and the next entry may be shortened. b, v and w also have high exits in these references. The experimental model connects each exit to the next letter's authored entry without replacing that entry with a course-specific form.
How do I practise cursive joins?
Start with short pairs or groups of two or three letters. Check their shapes and joins against the model you are learning, then practise them in meaningful words. Keep repetitions brief and move on when the connection feels comfortable. Use the experimental lab for continuous-path examples.
Should letters in a word be evenly spaced?
Aim for readable, balanced spacing, not identical measured gaps. Letter shapes, entry and exit strokes all affect the space within a word. Leave a clear word gap, and compare your practice with the same letter model rather than assuming every exit must be the same length.