Cursive capital J
In cursive, the capital letter J takes 1 stroke and is a tall letter that also 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. Capitals start every sentence and every name, so J deserves its own practice even though it is rarer than its lowercase partner.
An I with a long tail dropping below the baseline.
Stroke by stroke
- Start just above the baseline at the middle. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending just above the baseline at the right side.
Common mistakes
Not dropping below the baseline, which gives an I.
J is most often confused with I. Put them side by side and check the first stroke: the starting point and the height are what separate them.
Names that start with J
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 J joins to the next letter
In connected cursive the pen leaves J 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 J
Questions about cursive capital j
How many strokes is the capital letter J in cursive writing?
1 stroke. Keep going without lifting unless the instructions say so.
Where do I start J in cursive?
Start just above the baseline at the middle. Go all the way round in a closed oval and meet your starting point, ending just above the baseline at the right side.
Is cursive J 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 J confused with?
J is most often confused with I. 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 J?
Yes. Open the worksheet maker, type Jj 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.