Capital S in Cursive: How to Write It
The cursive capital S is a single ribbon of a stroke: one continuous movement from the top curl through the centre diagonal to the bottom curl, without lifting the pen. Drawn in one motion it looks effortless; drawn print-first-and-decorated it looks stiff. The sample on this page is set in an open-source cursive font.
S
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 at the top line with a small counterclockwise curl to the left — the top of the S rolls over like a wave cresting.
- 2Let the same motion continue: sweep down through the centre of the letter toward the baseline — one unbroken diagonal.
- 3At the baseline, round the stroke to the right and up in a bottom curl that mirrors the top one.
- 4Finish with a small inward flick that tucks the end inside the bottom curve — no pen lift anywhere in the letter.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Drawing a print S and adding curves afterwards. The letter only looks relaxed when it's one continuous movement — three separate strokes make it look assembled, not written.
- An upright S. Cursive leans; an S that sits vertical breaks the slant rhythm of the whole word. Exaggerate the lean while practising — it will relax to normal on its own.
- Uneven curls. The top and bottom curls should mirror each other in size; a big top with a shy bottom makes the letter look top-heavy.
Practice words
Sunday · Summer · Sarah · Story · Silver
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
How many strokes does a cursive capital S take?
One, in most school styles — a single continuous movement from the top curl to the bottom flick. If you're lifting the pen, you're writing a decorated print S. Practise the motion in the air first; the pen version follows.
Does a cursive capital S connect to lowercase letters?
Usually not — like most capitals it ends with an inward tuck rather than an exit stroke, so the next letter begins fresh. A few writers stretch the bottom curl into a join; it's readable but non-standard.
Why is my cursive S wider than everyone else's?
Width comes from the curls. Tighten the top and bottom curls — think of the letter living in a tall, narrow ellipse — and the S slims down without losing its ribbon quality.
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