Five letters have moves of their own: e, f, j, s and u. You already know the c curve from Circle Letters and the line down and up from Down, Up and Over.
| Letter | How it goes |
|---|---|
| e | Start in the middle of the short space with a line across to the right, then curve up, back and around like c. |
| f | Start near the top line with a little hook, curve over and pull down. Then cross it on the middle line. |
| j | Start at the middle line, pull down below the baseline and curl left. Then the dot. |
| s | Start just below the middle line on the right. Curve back, then forward, then back: a snake. |
| u | Pull down from the middle line, curve around the bottom and up. Then a line down on the right. |
Key idea
e starts with a line across, not at the top; s starts on the right and curves back first.
Why it works
Starting e with its line makes the little closed space at its top. Starting s on the right makes it face the right way every time.
Worked example: Where does e start?
Ruby starts e at the top, like c. What happens?
- The curve comes around first.
- Then the line has to be added inside, and it often misses.
- Start with the line across the middle, then curve up and around.
Answer: Start with the line across, then curve.
Common mistake
Making s backward, or starting e at the top. Check s: its top curve opens to the right, like a c.
For the grown-up. Backward s is common for a while and fades with practice. Point to the top curve and say, “Starts like c.”