How to write cursive T and t
Capital T is a curved stem with a top stroke added afterwards. Lowercase t is a stem that starts below the topline, a tail, and a short cross at the midline. The capital has a second form with a looped top.
Capital T
Tall: baseline to topline.
At the topline, on the stem.
With the top stroke. The pen lifts; the next letter starts on its own.
Lowercase t
Tall, but shorter than l: about three quarters of the way to the topline in this font.
About three quarters of the way up to the topline. At the start of a word, many people add a short upstroke from the baseline first.
Low on the right, swinging up. The cross is added last.
Capital T, second form
A T with a looped top, written top first: a small loop at the top left runs into the stroke across the top, then the stem comes down from the middle of it.
A little below the topline, on the left, inside the small loop.
Low on the left, at the small upturn. The pen lifts; the next letter starts on its own.
Lowercase t is shorter than l. It reaches about three quarters of the way to the topline, and the cross sits at the midline. Cross your t's after the word, like the dots on the i's.
Common mistakes with capital T
- A bar is added at the midline, so the T becomes an F.
- The top stroke is short and sits only on the right, so the letter looks like a cursive J.
- The bottom upturn is drawn as a loop, so the stem looks like the start of a lowercase letter.
Common mistakes with lowercase t
- The cross is forgotten, so the t reads as a squashed l.
- The t is drawn as short as an i.
- The t is crossed before the word is finished, which breaks the flow and often leaves the cross in the wrong place.
Joining t to other letters
Capital T lifts before the next letter, so start the second letter fresh. Practice the lowercase pairs until each join feels like one movement.
Print a practice sheet for T and t
The sheet has the numbered stroke guide for both letters, rows to trace, two practice words and a blank row for writing on your own.