Capital X in Cursive: How to Write It
Capital X crosses near the middle of the line height. It is two strokes, and neither of them should be so curved that the letter becomes a fancy Y. The cross is the letter.
X
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
- 1For capital X, sweep from the upper left near the headline down to the lower right on the baseline.
- 2Lift. Start the second stroke at the upper right, near the headline.
- 3Cross the first stroke around the midline and finish at the lower left on the baseline. The two strokes should be similar in length.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A cross up at the headline or down on the baseline, so one side is a stub.
- Adding a descender. Capital X stays between headline and baseline. A tail means you drifted into Y.
- One curved stroke only. X is not finished until the second stroke crosses it.
Practice words
Box · Next · Extra · Xavier · Max
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 cursive capital X connect?
No. Both strokes end on their own. Pick up the pen for the cross, the same habit as lowercase x, then leave the next letter to start fresh.
How is capital X different from lowercase x?
Height. Lowercase x is a small joining curve plus a short cross between the baseline and the midline. Capital X spans the full line and does not join.
Should the strokes be straight?
Slightly curved is normal in a cursive hand. Dead-straight strokes look printed. The requirement is that they cross near the center, not that they are ruler-straight.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online