Q in Cursive: How to Write It
The lowercase q is g's twin with a completely different ending: same roll-over start, same downstroke past the baseline — but instead of looping under, q finishes with a short tail that flicks right along the baseline. In many American school styles that tail curls just enough to resemble a tiny 2, which is exactly what keeps q from being read as g. The sample below is set in an open-source cursive font.
q
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 on the baseline, curve up and over to x-height, and roll left into the round bowl — the shared opening of the o-family.
- 2Pull straight down from the right side of the bowl, past the baseline. Keep this stroke close to vertical — q's right side is straighter than o's.
- 3Just below the baseline, flick the tail to the right along the line of the baseline — short and flat, with the slight upward curl that gives the classic 2-like finish.
- 4Without lifting, let the tail run directly into the exit stroke — the flat tail is what connects q to the next letter.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Turning the tail into a loop. The moment the tail loops under and back up, your q becomes a g. The tail stays low and moves right.
- Dropping the tail below the descender line. The flick happens at the baseline, not at g-depth — a low tail drags the whole word downward.
- Over-rounding the bowl. Because the downstroke feeds a flat tail instead of a loop, q's right side should be firmer and straighter than o's.
Practice words
quick · queen · square · quote · liquid
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
Why does a cursive q look like the number 2?
The tail that finishes q curls upward slightly, and in Palmer-style teaching that curl is exaggerated into a little 2 shape. It's a reading aid as much as a style choice: a q with no tail is indistinguishable from a sloppy g.
Does the cursive q connect to the next letter?
Yes — the flat tail runs along the baseline straight into the exit stroke. Quick is a good practice word because the q-to-i join shows immediately whether your tail is flat enough.
What's the fastest way to stop confusing q and g?
Drill them as a pair on the same line: g closes with an under-loop that climbs back up; q flicks right and stays low. Ten alternating repetitions build the contrast into your hand faster than practising either letter alone.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online