Z in Cursive: How to Write It
The lowercase z looks like print z for its first three strokes — across, diagonal, across — and then does something print never does: without lifting the pen, it dips into a small loop below the baseline and climbs back up to the line. That under-loop is what keeps z part of the cursive flow. The sample here is an open-source cursive font; your own version will tighten with practice.
z
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 on the baseline with a light entry stroke rising to the x-height line, then draw the top bar: a short horizontal stroke moving right.
- 2Without lifting, pull the diagonal down-left to the baseline — keep it straight; this is the skeleton of the letter.
- 3Still without lifting, run the bottom bar to the right along the baseline.
- 4At the end of the bottom bar, keep going: dip below the baseline, curl left, loop under, and swing back up to close the small loop at the baseline with an exit stroke to the right.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the under-loop. A z that stops at the bottom bar is a print z — it strands the pen off the line and breaks every word it sits in.
- A bowed diagonal. The diagonal carries the letter; if it curves, the z leans like it's falling. Two light dots marking the corners fix this fast.
- Oversized loop. The under-loop should be a whisper — a wide loop below the line drags attention down and gets read as a j.
Practice words
zebra · amazing · puzzle · size · blizzard
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 z really go below the line?
Yes — the small under-loop below the baseline is standard in looped cursive styles. It gives the pen somewhere to go between the bottom bar and the next letter. If your style keeps everything on the line, the bottom bar simply extends into the exit stroke instead.
Is it wrong to write a print-style z in cursive?
It's the most common z habit, and it costs you the connection: a flat-bottomed z forces a pen lift before the next letter. The looped z keeps the word unbroken — worth the two or three days of retraining it takes.
How do I stop my cursive z looking like a g or j?
Watch the proportions: z's below-line part is a small, flat loop hung off the end of the bottom bar; g's is a full loop closed at the line, and j's drops from a tall body. Keep the z loop shallow and it can't be misread.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online