X in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase x is one of the few small letters that lifts the pen. You write a joining curve first, then cross it. Skip the cross and the letter is an unfinished n or a stray c.
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
- 1Start the cursive x on the baseline and swing up and over a slanted curve down to the baseline, like a narrow arch, with a short exit.
- 2Lift. From the upper left of that curve, pull a second stroke down to the right, crossing near the middle.
- 3Stop the cross on the baseline side. It does not need its own long exit; the first stroke already joined onward.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Crossing up near the midline, so the letter looks like a k.
- Two straight print strokes with no entry. The first stroke has to be able to connect.
- Forgetting the second stroke entirely. An uncrossed x disappears into the word.
Practice words
box · next · extra · six · fox
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 x connect?
The first stroke does, in and out along the baseline. The crossing stroke is separate, like the cross on t. Connect with the curve, then cross.
When do you add the cross?
Right after the curve, before the next word, the same habit as crossing t. Waiting until the end of a long word is how crosses land on the wrong letter.
Why does x feel different from the other small letters?
Because of the pen lift. Most lowercase letters are one traveling stroke. x asks for a second motion, so it is worth a row of its own before you hide it inside next or extra.
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