8 in Cursive: How to Write It
Eight is the show-off of the digit set: two loops stacked and crossed at the waist, usually in one motion, and it is the only numeral that really earns the word cursive. The classic proportion to aim for is a smaller loop on top and a fuller one below.
8
The numerals on this page are rendered in Cedarville Cursive, an open-source font — school styles and other handwriting fonts differ in details. The steps describe the usual way to draw each digit, not a mandated stroke order; without start-dot data for numerals, let the sample show you the target shape.
Write it step by step
- 1Start at the middle of the digit height, a little right of center.
- 2Sweep counterclockwise into the top loop first, keeping it the smaller of the two.
- 3Cross your own path at the waist and swing clockwise into the lower loop, fuller than the top.
- 4Close the lower loop back near the starting point.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Two circles that touch instead of two loops that cross. The waist crossing is what makes the figure read as 8.
- Equal loops. Top smaller, bottom fuller — the other way round reads top-heavy.
- Drawing it as two separate strokes with a lift at the waist while learning. Fine at first; fold it into one motion as the shape settles.
Practice numbers
8 · 18 · 80 · 88 · 800
Turn this number into a practice sheet
Opens a cursive tracing sheet with this lesson's numbers filled in. Download the PDF and print it. Digits don't get the green start dots — those exist for letters only.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cursive 8 written in one stroke?
Traditionally yes — one continuous motion crossing itself at the waist. Two strokes is a common beginner's scaffold; move to one motion once the loops hold their shapes.
Why do my 8s come out lopsided?
Almost always the top loop. Keep it deliberately small — about a third of the digit's height — and the bottom loop has room to round out below the waist.
Voice to Handwriting · voicetohandwriting.online