Loop letters swing up into a loop: e, l, h, k, b and f. The swing up is the undercurve from Cursive i, t, u and w, made taller.
- e: a small loop that reaches the middle line.
- l: a tall loop up to the top line, then slant down and out.
- h and k: the loop of l, then a hill (h) or a little loop and kick (k).
- b: the loop of l, then up and a little bridge at the middle line.
- f: a tall loop on top and a loop below the baseline, closing at the baseline.
Key idea
Loops are open and leaning: small for e, tall for l, h, k, b and f.
Why it works
The size of the loop is how a reader tells e from l. A loop pinched shut looks like a slant line; a loop too fat looks like o.
Worked example: e or l?
How can you make sure your l doesn’t look like an e?
- Both are loops.
- e stops at the middle line.
- l swings all the way up to the top line.
Answer: Take the loop of l all the way to the top line.
Common mistake
Loops that are too fat, closed shut, or the wrong height. Check each loop: open, leaning, and reaching its line.
For the grown-up. Palmer’s small l and the loop letters and small e guides have extra drills.