C in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase c is the open cousin of a and o. It swings up, curves over, and stops. Close it and you have written o. Most school styles do not give c a baseline exit.
c
The letterforms on this page are rendered in Cedarville Cursive, an open-source font — school styles like Zaner-Bloser or D'Nealian differ in details. Treat the steps as the source of truth for stroke order; let the sample show you one possible shape.
Write it step by step
- 1Start the cursive c on the baseline and swing up to just above the midline.
- 2Roll left and down in an open curve. Stop on the right side, a little above the baseline, without closing the shape.
- 3Lift. The next letter begins its own entry stroke. Do not drag a line out of the bottom of the c.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Closing the curve into an o. Leave a clear gap on the right, about the width of a pencil line.
- Starting too low, so the c sits like a comma. The top of the curve should touch the midline.
- Adding a long exit along the baseline. That tail is what a and d have. c stays open and short.
Practice words
cat · come · circle · face · school
Turn this letter into a practice sheet
Opens a cursive tracing sheet with this lesson's words filled in. Download the PDF and print it.
See this letter on the alphabet chart and download the sheet →
Frequently asked questions
Does a cursive c connect to the next letter?
Usually no. The letter after c starts with its own upstroke, which visually tucks against the open side. Forcing an exit from the bottom of c makes it look like a badly closed a.
Why does my c look like an e?
e adds a small loop inside the curve. c is a single open stroke with no inner loop. If you see a closed eye in the middle, you have written e.
How big should a cursive c be?
It lives between the baseline and the midline, the same band as a, o, and e. A c that reaches the headline is an accidental capital.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online