D'Nealian cursive
D'Nealian is the second most common handwriting style in US schools, after Zaner-Bloser. If a teacher has told you the class uses D'Nealian, this page shows what that means, where it differs from the traditional script, and which worksheets you can use at home.
D'Nealian is a registered trademark of Savvas Learning Company. PrintableCursive is not affiliated with Savvas or Zaner-Bloser. The letters shown on this site are in the traditional Zaner-Bloser style.
The lowercase letters are almost the same
In cursive, D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser share the same lowercase forms, the same joins and the same three-line paper. The differences are in the print stage that comes before cursive, in the slant, and in a handful of capitals.
D'Nealian vs Zaner-Bloser
| Feature | Zaner-Bloser | D'Nealian |
|---|---|---|
| Print (manuscript) letters | Upright "ball and stick" letters. Cursive is a new set of shapes learned in 2nd or 3rd grade. | Slanted print letters with small exit tails ("monkey tails"). Cursive is taught as adding joins to letters the child already writes. |
| Slant | A stronger right slant, around 25 degrees. | A gentler slant, around 17 degrees, the same in print and cursive. |
| Lowercase cursive letters | Traditional forms. | Nearly identical to Zaner-Bloser. A worksheet in one style works for the other. |
| Capital cursive letters | Classic looped capitals. | A few are simpler and closer to print, notably the F, Q, T and Z. |
| Who uses it | The majority of US schools; the style most adults learned. | Many districts since the 1980s, plus some homeschool programs. |
Worksheets that work for D'Nealian students
Use the lowercase, joins, words and sentences pages as they are. For capitals, compare F, Q, T and Z with your school's chart.
Cursive practice sheets
8 pages · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Lowercase letters (pages 1 and 2), letter joins (page 5), words and sentences (pages 6 and 7) are style-neutral.
Cursive words
4 pages · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Lowercase words by length plus sight words.
Handwriting paper, 3/4 inch
1 page · US Letter, prints on A4 · free
Three-line paper for second grade, the usual D'Nealian cursive start.
Other US cursive styles
- Zaner-Bloser cursive, the traditional style used on this site.
- New American Cursive, a simplified script popular in homeschools.
D'Nealian questions
What is D'Nealian handwriting?
D'Nealian is a handwriting method created in 1978 by Donald Neal Thurber, a Michigan teacher, as an alternative to Zaner-Bloser. Its main idea is continuity: print letters are already slanted and end with a small tail, so learning cursive only means connecting letters the child can already write. It is published by Savvas Learning Company.
Can I use these worksheets if my child's school teaches D'Nealian?
Yes for the lowercase letters, joins, words and sentences: the lowercase forms are almost the same in both styles. For capitals, check the F, Q, T and Z against your school's chart, since those differ most. The worksheets on this site are drawn in the traditional Zaner-Bloser style.
Which is better, D'Nealian or Zaner-Bloser?
Neither is better; the research on legibility and speed is mixed. The practical answer is to use whatever the child's school uses so that home practice matches the classroom. If you homeschool and can choose, D'Nealian makes the print-to-cursive step easier, and Zaner-Bloser gives the classic script most people recognize.
Is D'Nealian still taught?
Yes. It is less common than it was in the 1990s, but many districts and homeschool curricula still use it, and the letter forms are familiar to most teachers.