How to Write F in Cursive

How to write a cursive capital F

Traditional cursive capital F has a wavy cap stroke across the top line, a stem that curves down and back to the left at the baseline, and a short crossbar through the middle.

Start: On the top line, at the left end of the wavy cap stroke.

1. 1Draw the cap: a slightly wavy stroke from left to right along the top line, curving up at the start and dipping at the end.
2. 2Lift, and start the stem just under the middle of the cap.
3. 3Pull the stem down on the slant to the baseline, then curve it back up and to the left, ending in a small hook.
4. 4Lift again and add a short crossbar through the stem at the midline, from left to right.

Connecting: In Zaner-Bloser and Palmer cursive, capital F does not join the next letter: the stem's hook points left and the crossbar is added afterward. Some writers make the crossbar end with a little tail that leads toward the next letter, but school models teach a lift.

How to write a cursive lowercase f

Lowercase cursive f has a tall upper loop like l, a straight stem that drops below the baseline, and a lower loop that swings back up to close on the right at the baseline.

Start: On the baseline, at the end of the previous letter's exit stroke. · Letter family: Loop letters (e, l, h, k, b, f); f is the only one that also has a descender loop.

1. 1Make an undercurve from the baseline up to the top line.
2. 2Loop back to the left and pull a straight slant stroke down, crossing the upstroke near the midline and continuing past the baseline.
3. 3Stop about halfway down to the next line, then curve to the right and back up, forming a narrow lower loop.
4. 4Close the lower loop on the right side of the stem, right at the baseline.
5. 5Exit with an undercurve to the right from that closing point.

Connecting: Lowercase f joins on both sides. It enters from the baseline and leaves from the baseline after the lower loop closes, so the following letter starts at its usual place.

Joining f to other letters

• frfr: Close the lower loop on the baseline, then rise to the r's peak just above the midline. Because the f's loop crossing is busy, keep the r's peak clearly separated from it so the r doesn't vanish into the f.
• ftft: Both letters are tall, and the t is crossed later. Keep the t stem clearly shorter than the f loop, then cross only the t. A crossbar that runs back into the f's upper loop makes the f look like a capital-style F in the middle of a word.
• ffff: Seen in 'off' and 'coffee'. Space the two upper loops evenly and keep both lower loops narrow and closing on the right, or the pair starts to look like a single wide letter.
• fifi: The i's upstroke comes straight out of the f's closing point on the baseline. Keep it short and sharp so the i doesn't merge with the f's lower loop.

Common mistakes with cursive F

• Closing the lower loop of f on the left

  Bring the bottom loop back up on the right side of the stem and close it at the baseline. A left-closing loop makes f look like a tall j or a looped g.

• Making the lower loop as big as the upper loop

  Keep the lower loop slimmer and shorter, about half a line below the baseline. A large lower loop crowds the next line of writing.

• Forgetting the crossbar on capital F

  Add a short bar at the midline after the stem. Without it, capital F looks exactly like cursive capital T.

• Letting the f stem bend

  Pull one straight slant line from the top loop through the baseline. A curved stem makes the loops misalign and the f looks like an s.

Easily confused with: Lowercase cursive f is confused with l and b when the lower loop is too small, and with j, g or q when the lower loop closes on the wrong side. Capital F is almost identical to capital T; the crossbar is the only difference.

Practice words with f

• Fiona
• Felix
• family
• after
• coffee
• fresh

Cursive F: questions