The cursive alphabet, A to Z

Every letter of the cursive alphabet in capital and lowercase form, on the same three-line guides used on handwriting paper. Click a letter for stroke instructions and its own worksheet, or print the full chart below.

Printable cursive alphabet chart

Cursive alphabet chart (3 pages)

3 pages · US Letter, prints on A4 · free

Page 1 is a reference chart with all 26 letter pairs on guides. Page 2 has the capital and lowercase alphabets as strips for a desk or wall. Page 3 is a trace-the-alphabet practice sheet.

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Capital cursive letters

Capitals are taller and more decorative. In Zaner-Bloser cursive twelve of them join the next letter (A, C, E, H, J, K, M, N, R, U, Y and Z); the other fourteen (B, D, F, G, I, L, O, P, Q, S, T, V, W and X) stand alone, so you lift the pencil before the next letter.

The three letter families

Cursive is easier to learn by stroke family than in alphabetical order. Every lowercase letter starts with one of three motions.

Undercurve letters

Start with a swing up from the baseline. The largest family, and the best place to start.

b e f h i j k l p r s t u w

Oval letters

Start by curving around like the letter a. Learn a first, then the rest follow.

a c d g o q

Overcurve letters

Start by going over the top like the letter n.

m n v x y z

How to teach the cursive alphabet

Start with lowercase letters. They make up most of real writing and are simpler than capitals.
Teach by stroke family, not A to Z: undercurve letters first, then ovals, then overcurves.
Trace before copying. The dashed letters on every worksheet build the motion before the child has to produce it alone.
Join letters early. After five or six letters, practice pairs such as "it", "tu" and "el" so cursive feels connected from the start.
Add capitals last, beginning with the ones that look like their print form (C, O, P, U).

The how to write in cursive guide expands on each step, and the practice sheets follow the same order. Teachers will find a full scope and sequence on the teaching cursive page.

This chart is in the Zaner-Bloser style. See how it compares with D'Nealian and New American Cursive.

Cursive alphabet questions

How many letters are in the cursive alphabet?

The cursive alphabet has the same 26 letters as print, each with a capital and a lowercase form, so 52 letter shapes in total. Most people learn the 26 lowercase letters first because they make up almost all of everyday writing.

Which cursive alphabet style is this?

The chart uses a standard school cursive in the Zaner-Bloser tradition, which is the style most US students see in class. D'Nealian cursive is very similar; the main differences are a slightly stronger slant and a few capitals such as the F, the Q and the Z.

What order should I learn the cursive alphabet in?

Not A to Z. Start with the lowercase undercurve letters i, t, u, w, e, l, then the oval letters a, c, d, g, o, q, then the overcurve letters n, m, v, x, y, z, and keep the trickiest ones (r, s, f, k, j, p, b) for last. Capitals come after the lowercase alphabet.

Can I print the cursive alphabet chart for my classroom?

Yes. All worksheets and charts on this site are free for personal and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.