Cursive X: how to write the letter X in cursive
The lowercase cursive x is an overcurve and slant down to the baseline, crossed afterwards by a separate slanted stroke: in Zaner-Bloser terms, overcurve, slant, undercurve; cross. It belongs to the overcurve letters (start by going over the top, like n and m) and is a medium-difficulty letters to learn. Below you will find the capital and lowercase X on three-line guides, stroke-by-stroke instructions, practice words, and a free printable worksheet in the same school cursive style.
Lowercase x at a glance
- Strokes
- 2 (overcurve, slant, undercurve; cross)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Ends
- with an undercurve up to the midline
- Family
- overcurve letters
Capital X at a glance
- Strokes
- 2 (curve forward, slant, undercurve; cross)
- Starts
- at the baseline
- Next letter
- stands alone: lift the pencil first
Capital cursive X
Lowercase cursive x
Free cursive X worksheet
Cursive X practice worksheet
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Capital X and lowercase x to trace, copy and write on your own, plus four practice words (box, fox, six, wax). Three-line guides, standard school cursive.
How to write a lowercase x in cursive
- Start at the baseline. Curve over to the midline and slant down to the baseline.
- Make an undercurve up to the midline to join the next letter.
- After the word is written, lift the pencil and cross the letter with a short slant from the midline to the baseline.
Tip: Very few English words start with x, so practice it inside words: box, fox, six, wax, exit, next.
How to write a capital X in cursive
- Stroke 1: start at the baseline, curve forward to the topline, slant down to the baseline and make an undercurve up to the midline.
- Stroke 2: cross with a slant from the topline to the baseline. The capital X stands alone: lift the pencil before the next letter.
The capital X does not join the next letter. Lift the pencil after the X and start the next letter on the baseline.
Cursive words with the letter x
Practice the x 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 X
- Crossing the x immediately, which breaks the flow of the word.
- Making the first stroke a u instead of an n shape.
Letters that use the same motion
The x is easier to master alongside letters that start the same way. Practice these together:
Cursive X questions
Does the capital X connect to the next letter in cursive?
No. The capital X is one of the few capitals that stands alone. Finish the X, lift the pencil, and start the next letter fresh on the baseline.
Where does the lowercase x end?
The lowercase x 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 X hard to learn?
The x is a medium-difficulty letters of the cursive alphabet. Very few English words start with x, so practice it inside words: box, fox, six, wax, exit, next.
Which cursive style is the X 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.