I in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase i looks like a stick and is not one. You swing up, retrace down, and exit, then dot. Skip the exit and the next letter has nothing to hold.
i
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 i on the baseline and swing up to the midline.
- 2Retrace down to the baseline and exit a short stroke to the right before you lift.
- 3Dot above the midline, directly over the letter, after the word or at least after the exit.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dotting before the exit, so the dot becomes a blob on the join.
- No entry swing. A naked vertical line does not connect from the previous letter.
- A dot floating halfway to the next word. Keep it over the stem, not over the exit.
Practice words
it · is · little · find · time
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
When do you dot a cursive i?
After the letter is formed, usually when you finish the word. Dotting mid-letter makes you lift too soon and lose the exit stroke that joins i to whatever follows.
Does cursive i connect on both sides?
Yes. The swing up receives the previous letter, and the short baseline exit feeds the next one. The dot is the only part that does not connect.
How is cursive i different from cursive e?
i is a straight retrace with a dot. e is a loop with no dot. If your i has a closed eye, you are mixing the two.
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