Alphabet Atlas
top linemidlinebaselinedescender 1234

Cursive capital H

In cursive, the capital letter H takes 4 strokes 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 H deserves its own practice even though it is rarer than its lowercase partner.

Two tall strokes that look like loops, joined by a crossbar that dips slightly in the middle.

Stroke by stroke

  1. Start on the top line at the left side. Curve straight down, ending on the baseline at the left side.
  2. Lift your pen and start again on the top line at the right side. Draw a straight line straight down, ending on the baseline at the middle.
  3. Lift your pen and start again on the dashed midline at the left side. Curve across to the right, ending just below the dashed midline at the middle.
  4. Lift your pen and start again just below the dashed midline at the left side. Draw a straight line across to the right, ending just below the dashed midline at the right side.

Print a practice sheet

Common mistakes

Drawing both stems the same height as an N.

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

Names that start with H

Harper
Hazel
Hannah
Henry

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 H joins to the next letter

In connected cursive the pen leaves H 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.

Ha: a high join: the connector leaves at the midline and flows straight into the next letter; the a starts at the midline
He: a bridge join: the connector leaves at the midline and dips to the next letter's start; the e starts at the baseline
Ho: a high join: the connector leaves at the midline and flows straight into the next letter; the o starts at the midline
Hr: a bridge join: the connector leaves at the midline and dips to the next letter's start; the r starts at the baseline
Hu: a high join: the connector leaves at the midline and flows straight into the next letter; the u starts at the midline
Hi: a high join: the connector leaves at the midline and flows straight into the next letter; the i starts at the midline

Names that start with H

Harper
Hazel
Hannah
Henry
Hudson
Heather
Hope

Questions about cursive capital h

How many strokes is the capital letter H in cursive writing?

4 strokes. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.

Where do I start H in cursive?

Start on the top line at the left side. Curve straight down, ending on the baseline at the left side.

Is cursive H 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 H confused with?

H is most often confused with K. 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 H?

Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type Hh 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.