Cursive N

How to write uppercase N and lowercase n in cursive, one stroke at a time.

Print the N practice sheet Stroke by stroke

Cursive N and n: the pen path, drawn in order

Cursive n is two slant strokes joined by a single rounded hump — the entry overcurve plus one arch. It is the simplest overcurve letter and the best one to learn the hump on. The capital N reaches the top line and finishes up there, with a short stroke out to the right that leads into the next letter.

Stroke family: Overcurve letters
Height: n is a short letter — it stays between the baseline and the midline. n and the other short letters
Joins the next letter: Lowercase: yes, from the baseline. Capital: yes. The baseline join n uses
Often confused with: cursive m, cursive u, cursive h

How to write a lowercase n in cursive

Start at the midline; finish at the baseline, with an exit tail. One continuous stroke.

Start at the midline with a small hook; in a word, the joining stroke brings you there.
Slant down to the baseline.
Overcurve up to the midline, arch over into the hump, slant down to the baseline, and finish with an undercurve to the midline.

Trace cursive n on screen with a finger or mouse — the board tells you if you start in the wrong place or go the wrong way.

Lowercase cursive n — numbers mark where each part of the stroke begins

Capital cursive N — numbers mark where each part of the stroke begins

How to write a capital N in cursive

Start on the left, with a small curl; finish at the top line, on the right, with a short stroke that leads on. Capital N ends with an exit stroke, so it joins the lowercase letter that follows without lifting the pen. N beside the other capitals that join

Start at the midline on the left with a curl that swings down to the baseline, then rise to the top line.
Slant down to the baseline.
Rise again to the top line on the right and finish with a short stroke curving out to the right; the join to the next letter runs on from there.

How to write cursive N: the pen path for uppercase N and lowercase n on ruled paper, with numbered steps on both letters — Cursive N pen path — numbers on both letters mark where each part begins; arrows show the direction.

Cursive N: uppercase N and lowercase n on ruled paper — Cursive N and n — blue top line, dashed midline, red baseline.

Common mistakes with cursive N

Starting with an undercurve instead of an overcurve, which makes the n look like a u.
Pointing the hump; it must be round.
Adding an extra hump by accident, turning the n into an m.

Tips that help

n and u are mirror images — n arches over the top, u curves under. Writing "nu" and "un" makes the difference obvious.
Keep the hump the width of an o.

Easy to mistake for m or u

seem

seen

Count the humps: n has two, m has three. In a long word, count them from the letter before. Cursive m

month

mouth

They are the same strokes the other way up. n is round at the top and pointed at the bottom; u is pointed at the top and round at the bottom. Cursive u

Can you tell m from n at a glance? Take the reading test · Print a comparison practice sheet

Practice words with n

Once the letter is comfortable on its own, write it inside words — that is where the joins happen. Watch how the exit tail of n rises to meet the next letter.

napPrint a nap sheet →nestPrint a nest sheet →noonPrint a noon sheet →ninePrint a nine sheet →naturePrint a nature sheet →

Want different words? Type a spelling list into the generator and print your own n sheet (letters A–Z and numbers, up to 24 lines of any length, US Letter or A4), or copy more words that use n from the word lists.

Free cursive N worksheet

Capital N and lowercase n: a model to copy, grey letters to write over, dotted letters to trace, two practice words, and blank rows to finish on your own. Prints on one US Letter page.

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

Cursive N practice sheet

Uppercase N · lowercase n · nap · nest

Name ______________________ Date __________

Capital N

Lowercase n

Together

Words

On your own

cursivealphabet.pro — free cursive practice sheets

n and its stroke family

Overcurve letters begin with an arch that comes over the top from the left: m, n, v, x, y and z. The hump is the whole skill — keep it round, not pointed.

Families are also the order to learn in, rather than A to Z: the beginner’s guide covers when n is usually taught and the four strokes every letter is built from.

← Cursive M Cursive O →N in the whole alphabet

Cursive N questions

How do you write a lowercase n in cursive?

Overcurve up to the midline, slant down to the baseline, overcurve up again, slant down, and exit with a tail. Two slant strokes, one rounded hump.

How do you write a capital N in cursive?

Start with a small curl at the left, rise to the top line, slant down to the baseline, and rise again to the top on the right, finishing with a short stroke to the right. Capital N connects to the next letter from that final stroke.

How do you tell cursive n from cursive u?

n begins with an overcurve (an arch over the top) and u begins with an undercurve (a dip under). If the first stroke rises like a hill, it is n; if it rises like a bowl, it is u.

What are some good words to practise cursive n with?

Good practice words for cursive n are nap, nest, noon, nine and nature. Keep the arch of n rounded as the word speeds up; the top of an overcurve is the first thing to turn into a point. Watch the height too: n should stop at the midline, level with the short letters either side of it. The practice sheet on this page rules the first two, nap and nest; the worksheet generator will rule the rest.