Cursive capitals are tall: they reach from the baseline to the top line. The first family, A, C, E and O, starts near the top and curves around to the left, like the c family in The c Family, only bigger.
- A: a big oval, closed at the top, then slant down and out.
- C: a little curl at the top, then a big curve down and around.
- E: a small curve on top, a little loop in the middle, a bigger curve below.
- O: a big oval, closed at the top with a small loop.
Key idea
Start near the top line and curve around to the left. A, C and E join the next letter; O usually doesn’t.
Why it works
A capital marks the start of a sentence or a name. A full-size cursive capital tells the reader where to begin.
Worked example: Write the name Ann
How do you write Ann in cursive?
- Cursive A: start near the top, curve around, close the top, slant down.
- Swing out of A right into the first n.
- Then the second n, and an undercurve out.
Answer: A joins straight into n n.
Common mistake
Writing a print capital in a cursive word, or making the capital no taller than a small letter. Check: the capital touches the top line.