Cursive s

In cursive, the lowercase letter s 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 s is the number 7 most common letter, at about 6.3% of all letters, so it comes up in nearly every line you write.

A short upstroke, a small hill, and a tiny loop at the baseline. The shape is narrower than the printed s.

Stroke by stroke

Start on the baseline at the left side. Curve across to the right, ending on the baseline at the middle.

Print a practice sheet

Common mistakes

Using the printed s shape, which does not join.

s is most often confused with r. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.

Words with s to practise

sea

sun

yes

also

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.

Open the worksheet

How s joins to the next letter

In connected cursive the pen leaves s at the baseline. That exit point decides the connector to the letter that follows. These are the pairs you will write most often.

se: a low join: the connector runs along the baseline; the e starts at the baseline

st: a rising join: the connector climbs from the baseline to the next letter's start; the t starts at the top line

si: a rising join: the connector climbs from the baseline to the next letter's start; the i starts at the midline

sh: a low join: the connector runs along the baseline; the h starts at the baseline

so: a rising join: the connector climbs from the baseline to the next letter's start; the o starts at the midline

su: a rising join: the connector climbs from the baseline to the next letter's start; the u starts at the midline

Words with s to practise

sea

sun

yes

also

fast

fish

ship

sing

Questions about cursive lowercase s

How many strokes is the lowercase letter s in cursive writing?

1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.

Where do I start s in cursive?

Start on the baseline at the left side. Curve across to the right, ending on the baseline at the middle.

Is cursive s 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 s confused with?

s is most often confused with r. 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 s?

Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type sss 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.