How to Write I in Cursive

How to write a cursive capital I

Traditional cursive capital I begins near the baseline with an overcurve that sweeps up to the top line, then comes straight down and curls back to the left, finishing with a short stroke to the right.

Start: Slightly above the baseline, to the left of the letter.

1. 1Start just above the baseline on the left and make a wide overcurve that rises to the right and up to the top line.
2. 2At the top, curve over and come straight down on the slant, all the way to the baseline.
3. 3At the baseline, curve to the left and up, forming a rounded bottom that rises to about the midline.
4. 4Finish with a short stroke curving back to the right, crossing near the stem, then lift.

Connecting: Capital I does not join in Zaner-Bloser cursive, because its last stroke ends at the midline heading right across the letter. Palmer-trained writers often start the I with a small backward loop. D'Nealian capital I is much simpler, close to a slanted print I with a hooked base.

How to write a cursive lowercase i

Lowercase cursive i is a short undercurve to the midline, a slant stroke back to the baseline and an undercurve exit, with the dot added after the whole word is written.

Start: On the baseline, from the previous letter's exit, or at the baseline if i starts the word. · Letter family: Undercurve letters (i, t, u, w, and also r, s, j, p), which all begin with a swing up from the baseline.

1. 1Swing up from the baseline to the midline with an undercurve that slants to the right.
2. 2Stop at the midline with a sharp point and pull straight down on the slant to the baseline.
3. 3Exit with an undercurve to the right, toward the midline.
4. 4When the whole word is finished, go back and place a small dot just above the point of the i.

Connecting: Lowercase i joins on both sides. It enters and exits on the baseline, and because the dot comes last you never lift in the middle of the word.

Joining i to other letters

• inin: The i exits on the baseline and the n begins with an overcurve hump. Keep a clear point at the top of the i so its downstroke doesn't blend into the n's first hump, otherwise 'in' looks like 'm'.
• itit: Both letters are undercurve letters, but the t rises higher. Make the second upstroke noticeably taller than the i, then dot the i and cross the t together at the end.
• igig: After the i's exit, climb to the midline and go over and back for the g's oval. A low exit makes the g's oval start too close to the i and merge with it.
• oioi: The o leaves on a midline bridge, so the i begins up there. Dip the bridge slightly before making the i's point; if you skip the dip, the i disappears into the bridge.

Common mistakes with cursive I

• Looping the top of lowercase i

  Make a sharp point at the midline. A loop turns the i into an e, and 'it' becomes 'et'.

• Lifting to dot the i in the middle of the word

  Write the whole word first and add every dot at the end. Lifting midword breaks the rhythm and usually leaves a gap or a lumpy join.

• Starting capital I at the top like print

  Begin just above the baseline on the left and sweep up first. Starting at the top skips the overcurve that makes the letter recognisable as a cursive I.

• Extending the capital I stem below the baseline

  Turn the curve at the baseline, not below it. A stem that dips under the line looks like a capital J.

Easily confused with: Lowercase cursive i is confused with e (looped top) and with the short undercurve of u or w when the dot is missing. Capital I is often mistaken for capital J (which goes below the baseline), capital T or the number 9.

Practice words with i

• Isabel
• Indiana
• idea
• inside
• mini
• visit

Cursive I: questions