Cursive W: how to write the letter W in cursive
The lowercase cursive w is two undercurves like a u, plus a checkstroke at the midline: in Zaner-Bloser terms, undercurve, slant, undercurve, slant, undercurve, checkstroke. It belongs to the undercurve letters (start with a swing up from the baseline) and is a medium-difficulty letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase W on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase w at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (undercurve, slant, undercurve, slant, undercurve, checkstroke)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with a checkstroke at the midline
- Family
- undercurve letters
Capital W at a glance
- Strokes
- 1 (curve forward, slant, undercurve, slant, undercurve, overcurve)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive W
Lowercase cursive w
Free cursive W worksheet
Cursive W practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital W and lowercase w to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (web, wig, wet, water). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase w in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Make an undercurve up to the midline and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline, slant down again, and make an undercurve up once more.
- Finish with a checkstroke: a short flat stroke at the midline, which is where the next letter starts.
Tip: Write "wu wu wu" to feel the difference between the u ending on the baseline and the w ending on the midline.
How to write a capital W in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve forward to the topline and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the topline, slant down again, and make an undercurve up once more.
- Curve over to finish at the topline. The capital W stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital W does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the W and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter w
Practice the w 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 W
- Ending on the baseline instead of the midline.
- Making the w so wide that it takes the space of two letters.
Letters that use the same motion
The w is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive W questions
Does the capital W connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital W is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the W, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase w end?
The lowercase w is a bridge letter: it ends at the midline with a short flat stroke, so the next letter starts from the top rather than from the baseline. That is why "web" looks different from words that follow a baseline letter.
Is the cursive W hard to learn?
The w is a medium-difficulty letters of the cursive alphabet. Write "wu wu wu" to feel the difference between the u ending on the baseline and the w ending on the midline.
Which cursive style is the W 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.