Hill letters start with an overcurve, a hill: n, m, v, x, y and z. (The other strokes are in The Basic Cursive Strokes.)
- n: over a hill, slant down, over a second hill, slant down, out.
- m: three hills, all the same size.
- v: over a hill, slant down, swing up to the middle line, bridge out.
- x: over a hill, slant down and out; cross it after the word.
- y and z: start over a hill; their tails loop below the baseline.
Key idea
Hills are round on top. Round hills make n and m; pointed ones would make u and w.
Why it works
In cursive, n and u are made of the same parts, upside down. The round tops of the hills are what tell them apart.
Worked example: n or u?
How is cursive n different from cursive u?
- n: the tops are round hills and the bottoms are points.
- u: the bottoms are round and the tops are points.
- So n is round on top, and u is round on the bottom.
Answer: n is round on top; u is round on the bottom.
Common mistake
Making the hills pointed, so n looks like u and m looks like w. Check the tops: are they round?
For the grown-up. Palmer teaches the over-motion for m and n early in his course; see the over-motion guide.