How to write the letter R in cursive

Capital R and small r on four-line ruling. The hand drawn letterforms for the books are still being made, so this is a guide to the proportions, not the final letter art.

Capitals and small letters, Rs 149Interiors are still being drawn, so this is a reservation through the contact page. No payment until the file is ready to send.

Capital R drops from line 1 to line 3, retraces up, curves out into a small bowl at the middle, then kicks a leg out to line 3. Small r sits in the middle space: an up stroke, a small shoulder at the top, then a short dip and an exit hook ready for the next letter.

What to watch on four-line copy

Small r stays in the middle space. This is the letter children stretch up to line 1 most often.
The shoulder of r is a small flat step, not a full arch like n.
r is the same height as a, c and n. Put them side by side when correcting.

The mistake to correct first

Small r drawn like print r, a stick with a curve stuck on. In cursive it is one movement: up, over, dip, out.

Practice strip

Trace the shape three times slowly, then write the pair on your own four-line copy. Two minutes a day beats one long session on Sunday.

Capitals and small letters book, Rs 149

Every capital and small letter on four-line pages, in the order schools teach them. The interiors are still being drawn, so reserve a copy through the contact page.

All 26 letters

Page updated 2026-09-04.