Cursive N

What prints

At the top sits a large dark "Nn" with a small note beside it: "Print: N n" and the words nest, nut, nine. Below are ruled lines with a dashed midline. Two lines carry the capital N (the first copy dark, the rest grey), two carry small n, then a line of "nnn" joined, then nest, nut and nine, each repeated across its line with the first copy dark.

Writing small n

Small n is the first letter many children meet that has a hill. Start on the baseline, swing up with an undercurve to the dashed line, then slide straight back down along the same path. Without lifting, climb again and curve over into a rounded hill, come down to the baseline, and flick up to leave. That final upstroke is the join. Keep the hill round instead of pointed, otherwise n turns into a u or an r.

In the Zaner-Bloser style, n belongs with the over-curve group, next to m, v, x, y and z. The group shares one habit: a top that curves over instead of closing.

Writing capital N

Capital N starts near the top with a small curve, drops down the left side, climbs back up that line, then slants down to the baseline and finishes with a curve up on the right. D'Nealian and other programs shape it a little differently, and the grey model on this sheet is a teacher-style hand, so the exact entry may not match your school book. Pick the one your child is taught and keep it steady.

Joining n to the next letter

The upswing at the end of n carries straight into the next letter. Into a, c, d, g and o it reaches the midline; into tall letters it keeps rising to the top line. Words like nine and nest show both moves. The nn line on the sheet lets the pencil rehearse the exit stroke and the new entry in a row.

Mistakes to watch

• A pointed peak so n reads like a print v-shape
• Skipping the retrace so there is a gap in the left stem
• Leaving out the exit stroke, which makes the next letter float
• Capital N drawn as a print N with four separate strokes

The settings

• Practice. Set to "One letter" on this page.
• Letter. Starts on N n. Choose another letter to print its page.
• Line size. Large (beginners), Medium or Small (confident writers).

Worked example: Theo, age eight

Theo's n keeps turning into a u with a flat top. His teacher picks Line size: Large and prints the page. He traces the model slowly, saying "up, down, up and over". On the "nnn" line he checks that each hill touches the dashed line. Then he moves to nine, where the join from n into i must stay low. By the third copy of nest the hills are round.

Before this page, try the cursive alphabet chart for a view of every letter. Next in order come cursive M and cursive O, and the cursive capital letters page gives all the capitals more room.

Sources

1. Reading Rockets: Writing (handwriting and writing instruction for children) readingrockets.org