How to Write Cursive A and a
Stroke-by-stroke steps for capital A and lowercase a, shown in six real cursive fonts.
This page shows how to form the cursive capital A and lowercase a, how a joins to the letters around it, and the mistake learners make most often. Below you will find the letter drawn in six open-source cursive fonts, a live preview where you can type your own words, and a free printable tracing worksheet for A and a.
Type some text to begin.
Printable Cursive Worksheet (PDF)
Four-line handwriting rows: ascender line, dashed midline, baseline and descender line. Your text is printed as a model row with light gray tracing rows.
Quick answer
Start at the top with a small hook, make a large oval counter-clockwise, close it at the top and pull straight down to the baseline, ending with a short undercurve. Begin with an undercurve to the midline, curve back into a c-shape, close it at the top, then pull straight down and finish with an undercurve that leads into the next letter.
Key facts
- Letter: capital A and lowercase a
- Lowercase a stays between the baseline and the midline.
- Exit stroke: from the baseline (a low join).
- Examples: six open-source cursive fonts
- Practice: free printable PDF, US Letter or A4
Cursive Aa in six real fonts
The same letters look noticeably different from one cursive style to another. School-style fonts such as Courgette and Dancing Script are the easiest to copy; formal scripts such as Great Vibes and Pinyon Script add loops and contrast. Each example below is drawn from the font's actual glyph outlines.
How it works
Watch the shapes
Compare A and a in the six fonts above.
Trace
Download the worksheet and trace the model row.
Join
Write a inside short words to practise joins.
How to write a cursive capital A
Start at the top with a small hook, make a large oval counter-clockwise, close it at the top and pull straight down to the baseline, ending with a short undercurve.
How to write a cursive lowercase a
Begin with an undercurve to the midline, curve back into a c-shape, close it at the top, then pull straight down and finish with an undercurve that leads into the next letter.
Lowercase a stays between the baseline and the midline.
Joining a to other letters
Lowercase a joins from its exit undercurve at the baseline, so it connects easily to almost any following letter. Exit stroke: from the baseline (a low join).
Most common mistake with cursive a
Leaving the oval open at the top, which makes a look like u. Close the oval before the downstroke.
Practise A and a
Trace the model row slowly, then write a row from memory. Next, practise a inside short words, joining it to the letters before and after. Use the font previews to compare styles, and the Printable worksheet tab to download a US Letter or A4 PDF with large, medium or small rows.
Frequently asked questions
Is cursive A written the same way in every style?
No. School styles such as D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser differ in small details, and decorative scripts add loops. Follow the style your school uses; the shapes on this page show the most common forms.
How do I practise cursive a quickly?
Trace one row of a, write one row from memory, then write three short words that contain a. Ten minutes a day is enough.
Is the Aa worksheet free?
Yes. Type Aa or any words in the box and download a printable PDF without signing up.
Print a free Aa worksheet
Large rows for kids, smaller rows for adults, US Letter or A4.
Practise Aa now →