D in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase d is an a with a tall finish. Build the oval first, then send the stroke up to the headline and straight back down. A short stick is the usual failure.
d
The letterforms on this page are rendered in Cedarville Cursive, an open-source font — school styles like Zaner-Bloser or D'Nealian differ in details. Treat the steps as the source of truth for stroke order; let the sample show you one possible shape.
Write it step by step
- 1Start the cursive d on the baseline and form the same closed oval you use for a, sitting on the midline.
- 2Instead of a short exit, rise from the right side of the oval all the way to the headline.
- 3Pull straight down to the baseline, slightly right of the oval, and add a small exit stroke to the right.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Stopping the ascender at the midline. Then d is just a tall a, and readers hesitate.
- Putting the tall stroke on the left, like a print d. In this cursive the stick is the last stroke, on the right.
- A leaning stick that misses the oval. The downstroke should kiss the right side of the bowl so the letter stays one piece.
Practice words
dog · red · door · friend · and
Turn this letter into a practice sheet
Opens a cursive tracing sheet with this lesson's words filled in. Download the PDF and print it.
See this letter on the alphabet chart and download the sheet →
Frequently asked questions
Is cursive d the same as cursive a?
Only the opening. a ends with a short downstroke. d spends that last stroke going up to the headline and back down, which is why d takes longer than it looks.
Does cursive d connect?
Yes, on the way out. The final downstroke lands on the baseline and exits right. The letter before d connects into the oval the same way it connects into a.
Why do people confuse d and cl?
If the oval and the stick separate, d breaks into a c plus an l. Keep the stick touching the oval, and do not lift the pen between them.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online