Cursive T: how to write the letter T in cursive
The lowercase cursive t is a tall retraced undercurve and slant, shorter than the l, crossed after the word is written: in Zaner-Bloser terms, undercurve, slant, undercurve; cross. It belongs to the undercurve letters (start with a swing up from the baseline) and is one of the easier letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase T on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase t at a glance
- Strokes
- 2 (undercurve, slant, undercurve; cross)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- undercurve letters
Capital T at a glance
- Strokes
- 2 (curve right; double curve, curve up, slide right)
- Starts
- at the topline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive T
Lowercase cursive t
Free cursive T worksheet
Cursive T practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital T and lowercase t to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (top, ten, tree, table). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase t in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Make an undercurve up to just below the topline.
- Slant down to the baseline, retracing the undercurve.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
- After the word is written, cross the t with a short bar at the midline.
Tip: Cross your t and dot your i only after finishing the word. It keeps the joins smooth.
How to write a capital T in cursive
- Stroke 1: start at the topline and curve right to make the wavy top bar.
- Stroke 2: start below the top bar, make a double curve down the stem, curve up at the baseline and slide right. The capital T stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital T does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the T and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter t
Practice the t 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 T
- Making the t as tall as an l. In school cursive the t stops a little below the topline.
- Looping the t like an l. The stem is retraced, not looped.
- Crossing the t too high or too low; the bar sits on the midline.
Letters that use the same motion
The t is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive T questions
Does the capital T connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital T is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the T, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase t end?
The lowercase t 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 T hard to learn?
The t is one of the easier letters of the cursive alphabet. Cross your t and dot your i only after finishing the word. It keeps the joins smooth.
Which cursive style is the T 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.