Cursive capital A
In cursive, the capital letter A takes 1 stroke and is a tall letter that reaches the top line. 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. Capitals start every sentence and every name, so A deserves its own practice even though it is rarer than its lowercase partner.
Begin at the baseline like a lowercase a, but grow the oval to the top line and finish with the stem on the right.
Stroke by stroke
- Start on the top line at the right side. Sweep straight down and make a loop that crosses your own line, ending just above the baseline at the right side.
Common mistakes
Making the oval too narrow so the A looks like a lowercase a.
A is most often confused with O. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Names that start with A
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 A joins to the next letter
In connected cursive the pen leaves A between the baseline and the midline. That exit point decides the connector to the letter that follows. These are the pairs you will write most often.
Names that start with A
Questions about cursive capital a
How many strokes is the capital letter A in cursive writing?
1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.
Where do I start A in cursive?
Start on the top line at the right side. Sweep straight down and make a loop that crosses your own line, ending just above the baseline at the right side.
Is cursive A 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 A confused with?
A is most often confused with O. 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 A?
Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type Aa 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.