Cursive p
In cursive, the lowercase letter p takes 1 stroke and is a letter with a tail that drops below the baseline. 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 p is the number 19 most common letter, at about 1.9% of all letters, so it comes up in fewer words than most letters.
Drop below the baseline first, lift, then start again at the midline and loop round the belly.
Stroke by stroke
- Start on the baseline at the left side. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending on the baseline at the middle.
Common mistakes
Skipping the descender, which turns it into an n.
p is most often confused with q. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Words with p 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 p joins to the next letter
In connected cursive the pen leaves p at the baseline. That exit point decides the connector to the letter that follows. These are the pairs you will write most often.
Words with p to practise
Questions about cursive lowercase p
How many strokes is the lowercase letter p in cursive writing?
1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.
Where do I start p in cursive?
Start on the baseline at the left side. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending on the baseline at the middle.
Is cursive p 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 p confused with?
p is most often confused with q. 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 p?
Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type ppp 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.