B in Cursive: How to Write Capital & Lowercase B
Educational Note: Cursive styles can vary slightly across curricula. The specimens on CursiveABC use a consistent school-style cursive system designed to make initial strokes, loops, and connections easy to understand.
How to Write a Capital B in Cursive
Capital cursive B starts with a tall downward stem from the headline to the baseline. The pen retraces back up to the headline to form a rounded upper loop that tucks in at the midline, followed by a slightly larger lower loop that rests on the baseline and curls inward.
Writing Steps for Capital B
- 1 Start at the top headline and pull straight down to the baseline.
- 2 Retrace up the stem toward the headline and sweep out to create the upper rounded lobe.
- 3 Tuck in at the midline, then sweep out to form a slightly wider lower lobe resting on the baseline.
- 4 Finish the lower lobe with a small inward curl near the central stem.
How to Write a Lowercase b in Cursive
Lowercase cursive b is an ascending loop letter. It sweeps upward from the baseline to the headline, loops backward to descend straight to the baseline, rounds upward into a compact bowl at the midline, and ends with a horizontal bridge stroke.
Writing Steps for Lowercase b
- 1 Start at the baseline and sweep up in a tall rightward slant to the headline.
- 2 Loop around to the left and pull straight down to the baseline.
- 3 Curve upward to form a rounded bottom bowl that reaches the midline.
- 4 Finish with a short horizontal bridge stroke at the midline to connect to the next letter.
Interactive Tracing: B & b
Use your mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus to trace the letter directly on the ruled lines.
How Lowercase b Connects to Other Letters
In continuous cursive handwriting, individual letters flow smoothly into the next. Below are common letter combinations showing how the exit stroke of lowercase b transitions seamlessly into adjacent letters.
Capital B Pen-Lift Rule: In standard school cursive, Capital B does not connect directly to the next letter. The writer completes the capital form, lifts the pen, and begins the lowercase letter at the baseline.
From the high midline bridge of b, the connector drops down to form the entry undercurve for a.
The bridge of b flows directly into the small loop of e at the midline without returning to the baseline.
Connects from the midline bridge directly into the downward stem of i.
Both letters connect at the midline: the bridge of b leads right into the top entry of o.
The midline connector dips slightly to begin the first upward cup of u.
Example Words Featuring Cursive B & b
Practice writing complete words that feature cursive B. Every word is composed directly from our verified school-cursive letterforms on standard handwriting guidelines.
Reinforces the high bridge connection into a and y
Connects b to i at the midline
Combines two ascending loops (b and l)
High bridge connection into double o
Excellent full-word practice with ascenders and descenders
Common Mistakes When Writing Cursive B
Watch out for these common handwriting errors to keep your cursive B legible, balanced, and easy to connect.
Dropping the Lowercase b Connector to the Baseline
The Issue: Pulling the exit stroke of lowercase b down to the baseline turns the letter into a lowercase l followed by an extra stroke.
How to Fix: Keep the exit stroke as a high horizontal bridge resting right at the dashed midline.
Making the Upper and Lower Lobes of Capital B Identical
The Issue: Equal lobes make capital B look top-heavy.
How to Fix: Make the bottom lobe slightly wider and rounder than the top lobe so it sits stably on the baseline.
Pro Practice Tips for Letter B
- • Practice the bridge connection with vowels (ba, be, bi, bo, bu) to master connecting from the midline rather than the baseline.
- • Keep the ascending loop of lowercase b narrow so it does not crowd adjacent letters.
Practice Sheet: Cursive B & b
Trace the faint guide letters on the lines below, then copy the letters independently into the blank spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cursive B
Does lowercase cursive b connect to the next letter from the top or bottom?
Lowercase cursive b connects from the top (midline). It finishes with a horizontal bridge that flows directly into the following letter without returning to the baseline.
Does capital cursive B connect to the next letter?
In most traditional handwriting systems, capital B ends with an inward curl and does not connect to the following letter, though some modern variations extend the tail.