K in Cursive: How to Write Capital & Lowercase K
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 K in Cursive
Capital cursive K consists of a vertical left stem with a small entry curve, followed by an upper diagonal arm from the headline to the midline, where it forms a small central loop and kicks downward to the baseline with an exit stroke.
Writing Steps for Capital K
- 1 Start near the headline with a small loop and draw a vertical stem down to the baseline.
- 2 Lift pen, start at the headline to the right, and draw an arm slanting down to touch the stem at the midline.
- 3 Form a small loop at the midline knot, slant downward to the baseline, and curve up into an exit stroke.
How to Write a Lowercase k in Cursive
Lowercase cursive k begins at the baseline and loops high to the top headline. It descends straight to the baseline, retraces up to the midline, forms a small rounded loop tucking into the stem, and kicks downward to the baseline with an upward exit stroke.
Writing Steps for Lowercase k
- 1 Start at the baseline and sweep up in a tall slant to the top headline.
- 2 Loop over to the left and pull straight down to the baseline.
- 3 Retrace up the stem to the midline and form a small round loop tucking back into the stem.
- 4 Kick downward to the baseline and curve upward to create an exit stroke.
Interactive Tracing: K & k
Use your mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus to trace the letter directly on the ruled lines.
How Lowercase k 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 k transitions seamlessly into adjacent letters.
Capital K Connecting Rule: Capital K ends with a baseline or midline exit stroke that connects directly into the first lowercase letter of a word (e.g. writing names or sentence starters without lifting the pen).
The kicking exit leg of k flows from the baseline into the entry undercurve of a.
Curves up from the baseline into the small open loop of e.
Sweeps up from the baseline to the midline to form the stem of i.
Flows from the kicking leg directly into the first hump of n.
Example Words Featuring Cursive K & k
Practice writing complete words that feature cursive K. Every word is composed directly from our verified school-cursive letterforms on standard handwriting guidelines.
Features tall ascender k connecting to midline i and ascender t
Tests full-word rhythm across ascenders and midline loops
Connects kicking k into midline i, n, and descending g
Smooth transition from k into loop e and descending y
Common Mistakes When Writing Cursive K
Watch out for these common handwriting errors to keep your cursive K legible, balanced, and easy to connect.
Making Lowercase k Look Like Lowercase h
The Issue: Forgetting to tuck the small loop at the midline turns k into an h.
How to Fix: Make sure to form the small enclosed loop at the midline before drawing the kicking leg.
Detaching the Kicking Leg
The Issue: Lifting the pen between the loop and leg breaks the cursive flow.
How to Fix: Draw the tucked loop and kicking leg in one continuous motion from the midline to baseline.
Pro Practice Tips for Letter K
- • Keep the tucked loop of lowercase k small and contained strictly in the upper half of the midline zone.
- • Ensure the kicking leg firmly touches the baseline before curving up into the exit stroke.
Practice Sheet: Cursive K & k
Trace the faint guide letters on the lines below, then copy the letters independently into the blank spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cursive K
How do you keep cursive k from looking like cursive h?
Cursive h has a smooth open hump, whereas cursive k has a small rounded loop that tucks tightly against the stem at the midline before kicking out.
Does capital cursive K connect to the next letter?
Yes. The lower diagonal leg of capital K ends with an upward sweep from the baseline that connects to the following letter.