How to Write Y in Cursive

How to write a cursive capital Y

The traditional capital Y opens with a cane-shaped hook, makes a cup that rises to the top line, then drops a long downstroke below the baseline into a loop that closes at the baseline and swings out.

Start: Just below the top line, on the left.

1. 1Begin under the top line with a small overcurve that rises and turns down, like the start of capital U.
2. 2Slant down to the baseline, curve around and rise in an undercurve back to the top line on the right.
3. 3Retrace briefly and pull a long slanted downstroke through the baseline to about the descender line, half a letter height below.
4. 4Loop to the left at the bottom and come back up, crossing the downstroke right at the baseline.
5. 5Finish with an overcurve exit that rises toward the midline into the next letter.

Connecting: Capital Y connects. The lower loop ends with a rising stroke that leads directly into lowercase letters, as in 'Yes' and 'York'.

How to write a cursive lowercase y

Lowercase cursive y starts with an overcurve hump, slants down to the baseline, rises to the midline, then drops a straight stroke below the baseline into a loop that closes at the baseline.

Start: On the baseline, at the point where the previous letter finishes its exit. · Letter family: Overcurve letters, with n, m, v, x and z: the y begins like a v and ends with a loop like j.

1. 1From the baseline, make an overcurve that arches up to the midline and slants down.
2. 2Reach the baseline, turn, and rise in an undercurve back to the midline.
3. 3Pull straight down through the baseline to the descender line, keeping the downstroke on the slant.
4. 4Turn left in a narrow loop and come back up, crossing the downstroke at the baseline.
5. 5Swing out with an overcurve that rises toward the midline for the next letter.

Connecting: Lowercase y joins on both sides. It enters from the baseline and exits from the crossing point at the baseline, so the next letter starts there.

Joining y to other letters

• ysys: The y's loop exit becomes the upstroke of the s. Close the loop right at the baseline and rise straight into the s peak; 'days' and 'always' look messy if the loop closes high.
• ayay: The a ends with an undercurve that arches over into the y's hump. Keep the a closed at the top before you exit, or 'day' starts to look like 'ciy'.
• lyly: Common at the end of words like 'only' and 'really'. The l's tall loop and the y's lower loop should be about the same length so the ending looks balanced.
• yoyo: From the loop's exit, curve up into the top of the o and close it, then add the o's bridge. 'you' and 'your' are the words to practice.

Common mistakes with cursive Y

• Closing the loop too high or not at all

  Bring the loop back up so it crosses the downstroke exactly at the baseline. An open loop looks like a j, and a loop that crosses high cramps the next letter.

• Rounding the top into an o shape

  The top of y is open like a v, with a hump on the left and an upstroke on the right. A closed rounded top turns it into a g.

• Making the descender loop too short

  Pull the downstroke about half a letter height below the baseline. A stubby loop makes y look like a lowercase u or v with a tail.

• Dropping the capital Y's top below the top line

  Let the right side of the cup rise all the way to the top line before you descend. A short top makes the capital look like a large lowercase y.

Easily confused with: Lowercase y is confused with g (closed rounded top) and j (open loop, no hump). Capital Y can look like a capital J or a tall lowercase y if the top doesn't reach the top line.

Practice words with y

• Yasmin
• yellow
• yesterday
• happy
• mystery
• York

Cursive Y: questions