Cursive o
In cursive, the lowercase letter o takes 1 stroke and is a short letter that sits between the baseline and the midline. The model on this page is US Traditional, the connected style most American classrooms teach: the pen stays on the paper inside a word, and every letter is drawn to flow into the next. Press Play to watch the letter write itself, then use Step to move one stroke at a time. In English text o is the number 4 most common letter, at about 7.5% of all letters, so it comes up in nearly every line you write.
A closed oval that ends with a small bridge at the midline, ready to join the next letter.
Stroke by stroke
- Start on the dashed midline at the middle. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending on the dashed midline at the middle.
Common mistakes
Leaving the oval open at the top.
o is most often confused with a. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Words with o to practise
Practice
Trace on screen first: press Trace it above and follow the grey letter. Then print the sheet and write the same letter on paper. Writing on paper is what builds the habit.
How o joins to the next letter
In connected cursive the pen leaves o at the midline, a little above the baseline. That exit point decides the connector to the letter that follows. These are the pairs you will write most often.
Words with o to practise
Questions about cursive lowercase o
How many strokes is the lowercase letter o in cursive writing?
1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.
Where do I start o in cursive?
Start on the dashed midline at the middle. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending on the dashed midline at the middle.
Is cursive o the same in every school?
US Traditional cursive is the connected style most American schools teach. Teachers may use a different model, such as D'Nealian or Zaner-Bloser, so a few letters (the capital G, Q and Z especially) can differ from your school's handbook.
What letter is o confused with?
o is most often confused with a. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Can I print a practice sheet for o?
Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type ooo or a whole word, pick a line size, and print. The sheet has a dark model row, grey tracing rows, dotted rows and blank lines.