4 in Cursive: How to Write It
Four barely changes in cursive: an open top, a slanted frame, a crossbar — the same skeleton as print, drawn with a lean. What varies between styles is small but visible, so this is a digit where copying one sample consistently matters more than usual.
4
The numerals on this page are rendered in Cedarville Cursive, an open-source font — school styles and other handwriting fonts differ in details. The steps describe the usual way to draw each digit, not a mandated stroke order; without start-dot data for numerals, let the sample show you the target shape.
Write it step by step
- 1Start at the top and draw a slanted downstroke, then curve right along the baseline — like a print 4's first stroke.
- 2Lift, and make the crossing stroke: a slanted line from the top right down past the first stroke.
- 3Cross both with the horizontal bar, sitting just above the baseline.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Closing the top into a triangle. In this style the 4 stays open, like print.
- Letting the crossbar drift below the baseline. It crosses near the bottom, it doesn't land on the line.
- Two 4s in one number leaning different ways — 44 should look like twins.
Practice numbers
4 · 14 · 40 · 44 · 400
Turn this number into a practice sheet
Opens a cursive tracing sheet with this lesson's numbers filled in. Download the PDF and print it. Digits don't get the green start dots — those exist for letters only.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cursive 4 written with one stroke or two?
Two, in the usual school order: the frame first, then the crossbar. Some adults write it in one continuous motion. Either is fine on a practice sheet — the finished shape is what carries the meaning.
Why does my cursive 4 look exactly like my print 4?
Because the shapes are nearly identical, and that is fine. The slant is the only real difference, which is why 4 is one of the easier digits to move into a cursive number line.
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