Cursive Q: how to write the letter Q in cursive
The lowercase cursive q is the oval of an a followed by a descender loop that swings to the right: in Zaner-Bloser terms, downcurve, undercurve, slant, loop, undercurve. It belongs to the downcurve letters (start by curving around, like a and o) and is a medium-difficulty letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase Q on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase q at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (downcurve, undercurve, slant, loop, undercurve)
- Starts
- at the below the midline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- downcurve letters
Capital Q at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (curve up, curve down, double curve)
- Starts
- at the midline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive Q
Lowercase cursive q
Free cursive Q worksheet
Cursive Q practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital Q and lowercase q to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (quit, quiz, quick, queen). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase q in cursive
- Start just below the midline. Curve down and around to the left to make the oval, exactly as for the lowercase a.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline, closing the oval.
- Slant down through the baseline into the descender space.
- Make a loop to the right, cross on the baseline, and make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
Tip: Always practice q with its partner: write "qu qu qu" so the right-hand loop flows into the u.
How to write a capital Q in cursive
- Start at the midline on the left. Curve up over the topline and curve down the right side to the baseline.
- Make a double curve along the baseline with a small loop, finishing to the right. The capital Q stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital Q does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the Q and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter q
Practice the q inside real words so the joins become automatic. All of these appear on the worksheet.
Each of these words has its own page with the joins explained: see cursive words.
Common mistakes with the cursive Q
- Looping the tail to the left, which turns the q into a g.
- Forgetting that q is almost always followed by u, so the exit stroke should lead smoothly into the u.
Letters that use the same motion
The q is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive Q questions
Does the capital Q connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital Q is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the Q, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase q end?
The lowercase q ends on the baseline with an upward exit stroke. The next letter starts from that stroke, which keeps the whole word connected.
Is the cursive Q hard to learn?
The q is a medium-difficulty letters of the cursive alphabet. Always practice q with its partner: write "qu qu qu" so the right-hand loop flows into the u.
Which cursive style is the Q shown in?
The letters on this page and in the worksheet use the standard school cursive taught in most US classrooms (the Zaner-Bloser style). D'Nealian cursive differs slightly in slant and in a few capitals, but the strokes described here apply to both.