W in Cursive: How to Write It
Lowercase w is the long version of u, with the ending of v. Two full valleys return to the baseline, and the last stroke climbs and stops. Four motions, one pen lift at the end.
w
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 w on the baseline and write the first valley, up to the midline and back down, like u.
- 2Add a second valley, the same height, also returning to the baseline.
- 3From that second bottom, swing up to the midline and stop. Do not add a third downstroke.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A third valley. That is u with an extra bump, not w. The last motion goes up and stays up.
- Uneven valleys, the second one tiny. Both peaks belong on the midline.
- Pointy bottoms. Keep them round or w starts to look like a zigzag print letter.
Practice words
we · where · down · two · yellow
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
How is cursive w different from u?
u ends on the baseline. w takes one more climb and ends in the air, like v. Count the returns to the line: u returns twice and stops, w returns twice and then leaves upward.
Does cursive w connect?
On the way in, yes. On the way out, the next letter starts fresh under the raised ending, same as v. Do not drag a line down from the last peak.
Why is w so wide?
It is three climbs. Narrow each valley a little or the letter will crowd the margin. Width is fine; uneven height is the real problem.
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