How to Write M in Cursive

How to write a cursive capital M

The traditional cursive capital M starts near the baseline with an overcurve, makes three slanted downstrokes joined by rounded humps at the top line, and finishes with an undercurve that connects.

Start: Just above the baseline, slightly left of the first downstroke.

1. 1Start just above the baseline and make an overcurve that climbs and arches over to the right at the top line.
2. 2Slant straight down to the baseline. This is the first of three parallel downstrokes.
3. 3Retrace a short way up, make a second overcurve that arches over at the top line, then slant down to the baseline again.
4. 4Make a third overcurve and slant down, keeping the gaps between downstrokes equal.
5. 5At the baseline, finish with an undercurve that rises toward the midline to join the next letter.

Connecting: Capital M connects, so Ma, Me and Mo flow from its final undercurve. Many adults who learned older Palmer-style cursive start M with a small hook or loop at the top left instead of an overcurve from the baseline. Both versions are correct within their models.

How to write a cursive lowercase m

Lowercase cursive m is three rounded humps in the middle zone: an opening overcurve, two more overcurves, three slanted downstrokes and an undercurve exit.

Start: On the baseline, where the previous letter ended. · Letter family: Overcurve letters (n, m, v, x, y, z): m and n open with the same up-and-over stroke.

1. 1From the baseline, make an overcurve up and over to the right, peaking at the midline.
2. 2Slant straight down to the baseline.
3. 3Retrace a short way up the downstroke, then make a second overcurve to the midline and slant down.
4. 4Repeat once more for the third hump, keeping all three the same height and width.
5. 5At the baseline, swing into an undercurve that rises to the midline for the next letter.

Connecting: Lowercase m enters with an overcurve, so after a letter that ends in an undercurve (im, um, em) the connecting stroke has to roll over the top rather than come to a point. It leaves with an ordinary undercurve.

Joining m to other letters

• mmmm: In summer and hammer, the first m's undercurve rolls straight into the second m's overcurve. Count downstrokes as you go: six in a row, all evenly spaced.
• omom: The o's bridge leaves at the midline, so the m doesn't start from the baseline. Dip just slightly from the bridge and roll into the first hump; don't let the bridge sag to the line.
• meme: The m's undercurve exit turns directly into e's small loop. Keep the e no taller than the m's humps so the word stays level, as in time and home.
• imim: After the i, the stroke must curve over the top into m's first hump. A pointed connection makes that hump look like the second half of a u, and 'him' starts to read as 'hiun'.

Common mistakes with cursive M

• Writing too many or too few humps

  Lowercase m has three downstrokes and n has two. Say 'down, down, down' under your breath as you write m until the count is automatic.

• Pointed tops instead of rounded humps

  Overcurves roll over the top like an arch. Pointed peaks belong to undercurve letters, and an m with sharp tops reads like a row of undotted i's.

• Opening loops at the bottom of each downstroke

  Retrace tightly up each downstroke before the next hump. Loops at the baseline turn an m into a string of small e's.

• Starting capital M at the top like a printed M

  Begin near the baseline and climb into the first overcurve. A top start tends to produce a stiff printed M that doesn't match the slant of your lowercase.

Easily confused with: Lowercase m is mistaken for n (lost hump), rn (gap after the first hump) and w (pointed tops). Capital M can look like a capital N when one hump is cramped.

Practice words with m

• Maria
• Monday
• summer
• imagine
• mom
• member

Cursive M: questions