How to Write L in Cursive

How to write a cursive capital L

The traditional cursive capital L begins with a small loop near the top line, comes down in a gently curved spine, forms a flat loop on the baseline and swings out to the right.

Start: Between the midline and the top line, toward the right side of the letter.

1. 1Start halfway between the midline and the top line and make a short undercurve up and to the right, reaching the top line.
2. 2Loop back to the left at the top, then bring the stroke down across the upstroke in a long, slightly curved line toward the baseline.
3. 3Just above the baseline, curve to the left and make a small loop that lies almost flat on the baseline.
4. 4Cross back through the spine and curve under to the right along the baseline.
5. 5End with a short upturn into the next letter, or stop on the baseline if you're writing a lone initial.

Connecting: In Zaner-Bloser and Palmer cursive, capital L connects from the curve under along the baseline, so Lu, La and Le join directly. The baseline loop is the part that varies most between hands: some make a clear oval, others a tight twist.

How to write a cursive lowercase l

Lowercase cursive l is a tall, narrow loop: an upstroke from the baseline to the top line, a turn to the left and a straight slant back down to the baseline.

Start: On the baseline, from the previous letter's exit. · Letter family: Loop letters (e, l, h, k, b, f): l is the plain tall loop that h, k, b and f build on.

1. 1From the baseline, make an undercurve up and to the right, passing the midline and reaching the top line.
2. 2Curve back to the left at the top line to form a narrow loop.
3. 3Pull a straight slant stroke down, crossing the upstroke just below the midline.
4. 4At the baseline, curve into an undercurve that rises to the midline for the next letter.

Connecting: Lowercase l joins on both sides with undercurves, so it flows easily into le, li, lu and ly. Its only demanding neighbours are bridge letters such as o and w, where the l has to start from the midline instead of the baseline.

Joining l to other letters

• llll: In hello, ball and yellow, make both loops the same height and cross each one at the same point. If the second loop comes up short, ll looks like le.
• lele: Contrast the heights: l reaches the top line, e stops at the midline. Writing both at the same height turns them into twin loops nobody can tell apart.
• olol: o ends with a bridge at the midline, so the l's upstroke starts there instead of the baseline. Rise steeply from the bridge to the top line or the loop comes out fat and short.
• alal: In always, call and also, the a's undercurve exit has to climb twice as high as usual. Keep it a smooth curve rather than a straight diagonal so the l still has an open loop.

Common mistakes with cursive L

• Making lowercase l the same height as e

  Loop l to the top line and keep e at the midline. Height is the only difference between them, so a short l makes words like feel and little hard to read.

• Retracing instead of looping

  Leave a visible gap between the upstroke and the downstroke. A retraced l has no loop and reads as a cursive t that's missing its cross.

• Skipping the baseline loop on capital L

  Make a small, flat loop where the spine meets the baseline before swinging right. Without it, capital L looks like a stretched lowercase l with a tail.

• Starting capital L at the very top

  Begin partway up, between the midline and the top line, and climb into the top loop. Starting on the top line removes the loop and the letter looks stiff.

Easily confused with: Lowercase l is confused with e (too short) and with an uncrossed t (no loop). Capital L is sometimes read as a capital S or G, or even a Q, in hands where the top loop is large and the spine curves heavily.

Practice words with l

• Lily
• London
• lemon
• little
• yellow
• balloon

Cursive L: questions