Cursive Alphabet

Learn to write the whole cursive alphabet, one letter at a time. Below you will find a free printable cursive alphabet chart, plus a link to every letter with its own animation and worksheet.

Cursive Alphabet Chart – Printable

Here is a free, high-resolution cursive alphabet showing every capital and lowercase letter from A to Z on ruled practice lines. It is sized to fit an A4 page, so you can print the printable cursive alphabet chart at home and keep it beside your desk while you practise. Just tap the print button below the image.

Free printable cursive alphabet chart · fits A4 · capital and lowercase A–Z on three-line ruling.

What is the cursive alphabet?

The cursive alphabet is the set of joined-up letter shapes used in cursive handwriting. Unlike print, where each letter stands on its own, cursive links the letters of a word together in one flowing motion, with fewer pen lifts. Because the letters connect, many cursive letters have their own shapes that look quite different from their printed versions, which is why it helps to learn each one on its own from a good cursive alphabet chart.

Where and when is cursive taught?

In the United States, cursive is usually introduced in the early elementary grades, most often around second and third grade, once children are comfortable with printing. Some states begin a little earlier or set a grade by which students should be fluent. Several state standards ask for cursive to begin by grade 3 and for students to write legibly in cursive by grade 5, which is where a clear printable cursive alphabet chart becomes a handy classroom and home tool.

Is cursive required in schools?

There is no single national rule. When the Common Core standards arrived in 2010, they focused on math and English and left out cursive, so many schools dropped it. Since then, individual states have brought it back. As of 2024, roughly 25 states require cursive instruction in public schools, and more have bills in progress. States that mandate it include California, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, among others, while some states leave the choice to individual districts.

Cursive is not mandated at the federal level, and there is no single federally-approved cursive style. Handwriting requirements are set by each state, and sometimes each district, which is why the rules, grades and letter styles vary from place to place.

The main cursive styles

Not all cursive looks the same. In American schools you will mostly meet two teaching styles, plus a few older ones:

• Zaner-Bloser — a traditional teaching script with clearly separate print and cursive alphabets and more formal, looped capitals. Common in many East Coast and Midwest schools.
• D’Nealian — designed to ease the jump from print to cursive: the print letters already have small tails, so fewer letters change shape when children start joining them.
• Palmer / Spencerian — older American penmanship methods. Spencerian is very ornate; the Palmer Method simplified it. You will see these in historical documents rather than modern classrooms.
• Getty-Dubay (italic) — a simpler, semi-joined italic style used by some schools and adults who want neat, quick handwriting without heavy loops.

The letters on this site follow standard, everyday cursive shapes, so they work whichever style your school uses. If your class follows a specific method, the stroke order stays broadly the same, only the flourishes on some capitals differ.

Cursive Alphabet Worksheets

Every letter of the cursive alphabet has its own page on this site, and each page includes a free printable worksheet you can print out with tracing lines, stroke-order arrows and practice rows. Tap any letter below to open its full guide, watch the stroke-by-stroke animation, and print that letter’s worksheet:

Start with the letters in your child’s name, or simply work through the alphabet from A to Z. Each worksheet prints cleanly on a single page, so you can build a complete set of cursive practice sheets one letter at a time.

Why learn cursive?

Beyond signing your name and reading older handwriting, cursive has real practical benefits. Because it is written in one connected motion, it can be faster than print once mastered, and the flowing movement helps many children with letter formation and spelling. Being able to read cursive also matters in everyday life, from a grandparent’s letter to historical records and legal documents. A cursive alphabet chart on the wall gives learners a constant reference while those skills develop.

How to use these pages

Each letter page shows the capital and lowercase form, a short stroke-order animation, a written step-by-step guide, common mistakes to avoid, example words, and a printable cursive alphabet worksheet with tracing lines. Print the chart above for an overview, then work through the individual letters for detailed practice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cursive alphabet?

The cursive alphabet is the joined-up form of the 26 letters A–Z used in cursive handwriting, where letters connect in one flowing motion rather than being printed separately.

Where can I get a printable cursive alphabet chart?

You can download and print the free cursive alphabet chart at the top of this page. It fits an A4 sheet and shows every capital and lowercase letter on ruled lines.

Are there cursive alphabet worksheets for each letter?

Yes. Every letter has its own page with a free printable worksheet that includes tracing lines and stroke-order arrows. Use the letter links in the Cursive Alphabet Worksheets section above.

What order should I learn the cursive alphabet in?

Many teachers start with the letters in a child’s name, then work through the alphabet. Lowercase letters that share a shape (like the humps of m, n and h, or the round start of a, c, d, g and o) are often grouped together.

Is the cursive alphabet the same in every school?

The basic letter shapes are the same, but styles like Zaner-Bloser and D’Nealian differ slightly in the flourishes on some capitals. The printable cursive alphabet on this site uses standard everyday shapes that work with any style.

Why do some cursive letters look so different from print?

Because cursive joins letters together, several shapes changed over time to make the joins flow. Capitals like F, G, Q and Z can look quite different from their printed versions, which is why learning from a cursive alphabet chart helps.