Cursive X

How to write uppercase X and lowercase x in cursive, one stroke at a time.

Cursive x is the one lowercase letter whose second stroke crosses the body of the first (i and j take a dot, t a crossbar). The first is an overcurve and slant like the start of n; the second is a short slant added afterward, crossing the first through its middle. The capital X is the same idea scaled to the top line, and neither form connects to the letter that follows without the second stroke being added later.

Stroke family: Overcurve letters
Height: x is a short letter — it stays between the baseline and the midline. x and the other short letters
Joins the next letter: Lowercase: yes, from the baseline. Capital: no — lift the pen. The baseline join x uses
Often confused with: cursive v, cursive n, cursive z

Print the X practice sheet Stroke by stroke

Cursive X and x: the pen path, drawn in order

How to write a lowercase x in cursive

Start at the baseline; finish at the baseline, with an exit tail. One continuous stroke, plus a second stroke added after the word.

Start on the baseline with an overcurve that arches up and over to the midline.
Slant down to the baseline and finish with an undercurve to the midline, as if writing half an n.
After the word, lift the pen and add a short slant stroke from the upper right to the lower left, crossing the first stroke in the middle.

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

Capital cursive X

How to write a capital X in cursive

Start at the baseline; finish at the baseline, with an exit tail (second stroke added after). Capital X does not join the next letter: finish it, lift the pen, and begin the next letter on its own. X beside the other capitals that need a pen lift

Start on the baseline with an overcurve that rises to the top line.
Slant down to the baseline and finish with an undercurve to the midline.
Lift the pen and add a second slant from the top right to the bottom left, crossing the first stroke at its middle.

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

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

Common mistakes with cursive X

Crossing too high or too low; the second stroke should cut the first exactly at its middle.
Making the first stroke a straight line — it needs the overcurve at the top or it looks like a stray slash.
Adding the cross stroke immediately instead of after the word, which breaks the flow.

Tips that help

x almost always sits at the end or middle of a word (box, six, exit), so practise it joined on the left: "ox", "ex", "ix".
The cross stroke is short — the same length as the first stroke, no longer.

Practice words with x

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

xylophone

x-ray

box

six

fox

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

x is among the least common letters in English, so it rarely comes up by chance. A pangram puts x into every line you write, which is the quickest way to keep it in practice.

Free cursive X worksheet

Capital X and lowercase x: 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 Letterpage. Choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog to download.

Cursive X practice sheet

Uppercase X · lowercase x · xylophone · x-ray

Name ______________________ Date __________

Capital X

Lowercase x

Together

Words

On your own

cursivealphabet.pro — free cursive practice sheets

x 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 x is usually taught and the four strokes every letter is built from.

← Cursive W Cursive Y →X in the whole alphabet

Cursive X questions

How do you write a lowercase x in cursive?

Overcurve up to the midline and slant down to the baseline with an exit tail — half an n — then, after the word, add a short slant stroke crossing the first one through its middle. It is the only lowercase letter that needs two strokes.

How do you write a capital X in cursive?

Overcurve from the baseline to the top line, slant down to the baseline with a tail, then add a second slant crossing the first at its middle. Capital X does not connect to the next letter on its own.

When do you add the cross stroke to cursive x?

After finishing the word, at the same time you dot the i's and cross the t's. Writing it in the middle of a word means lifting the pen twice.

What are some good words to practise cursive x with?

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