Writing paper has lines that tell each letter how tall to be. There is a top line, a dotted middle line, and the baseline at the bottom, where every letter sits.
| Kind | Where it goes | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Tall letters | from the baseline up to the top line | b d f h k l t (and every capital) |
| Short letters | from the baseline up to the middle line | a c e i m n o r s u v w x z |
| Tail letters | down below the baseline | g j p q y |
Key idea
Every letter sits on the baseline. Short letters reach the middle line, tall letters reach the top line, and tail letters dip below the baseline.
Why it works
When letters are the right size, a reader can tell them apart at a glance: a tall h is not a short n, and a g with a tail is not an a.
Worked example: What kind of letter?
Look at y.
- It starts at the middle line.
- Its long slant goes down below the baseline.
Answer: y is a tail letter.
Common mistake
Letting letters float above the baseline, or making the tail of g and y stop on the baseline. Run your finger along the baseline: every letter should touch it.
For the grown-up. The site’s Practice sheets page prints handwriting paper with these three lines in large, medium and small sizes, and can put gray letters on it to trace.