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How to Write Cursive Text

When youngsters first learn written expression in kindergarten and first grade, they start by printing block letters. By the time they arrive in third grade, they are ready to learn to write cursive style, also known as writing in script. Unlike block printing, where each letter is formed separately and stands alone, in cursive script each letter is joined to the following letter. When writing cursive, the pen is not lifted off the page from the beginning of the first letter until after the word's last letter.

Things You'll Need

  • Lined paper
  • Samples of the alphabet in cursive script
  • Pencil with an eraser
  • Sample text from a book, magazine or newspaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Print the letters of the alphabet in lower case along one line of paper, leaving two or three empty lines below each letter.

    • 2

      Produce a line of "join-printing" by drawing a tail on the end of one printed letter and connecting this tail to the next letter. Begin the tail on the first letter at a point that is closest to the right side near the bottom of the letter. The connection point on the following letter will be on the left side, near the top.

    • 3

      Practice join-printing the entire alphabet, starting with the letter "A" connecting to the letter "B," then "B" to "C" and so on until "Y" connects to "Z."

    • 4

      Repeat Step 3 twice, trying to complete the alphabet more quickly each time. As you write faster, the join-printing will begin to resemble cursive as the joins between the letters will start to curve and will be made more smoothly.

    • 5

      Study samples of different styles of cursive script, either by purchasing a book or by referencing some online sources. Note that the upper case or capital letters vary somewhat depending on the style chosen.

    • 6

      Practice writing all the letters of the alphabet in cursive script. Write each letter separately until you can produce them all quickly. Note the curved links between each letter in the sample resources.

    • 7

      Write the alphabet in cursive script several times, joining the letters until you can do it quickly and easily without referring to the samples.

    • 8

      Select a passage from a book, magazine or newspaper. Copy a paragraph, writing the text in cursive. Repeat this exercise until you feel you are writing easily and smoothly.

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