O in Cursive: How to Write Capital & Lowercase O
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 O in Cursive
Capital cursive O is an elegant, closed oval created in a single sweep. It starts at the top headline, curves counter-clockwise down to touch the baseline, sweeps back up to the headline, and finishes with an inward loop or curl near the top.
Writing Steps for Capital O
- 1 Start at the top headline and curve downward to the left toward the baseline.
- 2 Touch the baseline and curve upward to the right along the slant line.
- 3 Close the oval at the top headline and finish with a small inward curl.
How to Write a Lowercase o in Cursive
Lowercase cursive o is a core midline vowel. It begins at the baseline with an undercurve to the dashed midline, sweeps counter-clockwise to form a closed oval resting on the baseline, seals at the midline, and finishes with a short horizontal bridge connector.
Writing Steps for Lowercase o
- 1 Start at the baseline with an upward undercurve to the dashed midline.
- 2 Curve counter-clockwise down to touch the baseline in a smooth oval.
- 3 Sweep upward to close the oval completely at the dashed midline.
- 4 Finish with a short horizontal bridge stroke at the midline to connect to the next letter.
Interactive Tracing: O & o
Use your mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus to trace the letter directly on the ruled lines.
How Lowercase o 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 o transitions seamlessly into adjacent letters.
Capital O Pen-Lift Rule: In standard school cursive, Capital O 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 o, the stroke drops slightly into the first hump of n.
The midline bridge of o leads directly into the upward cup of u.
Connects from the high bridge directly into the shoulder of r at the midline.
Double o practice: the bridge of the first o connects directly into the top entry of the second o.
Example Words Featuring Cursive O & o
Practice writing complete words that feature cursive O. Every word is composed directly from our verified school-cursive letterforms on standard handwriting guidelines.
High bridge connection from o into midline w and tall ascender l
Smooth top connection from o into open curve c
Connects high bridge into r and flows through descending g
Bridge of o leads directly into descending p
Common Mistakes When Writing Cursive O
Watch out for these common handwriting errors to keep your cursive O legible, balanced, and easy to connect.
Dropping the Exit Stroke to the Baseline
The Issue: Pulling the exit connector of lowercase o down to the baseline makes it look like a lowercase a.
How to Fix: Always finish lowercase o with a high horizontal bridge resting right at the dashed midline.
Leaving the Oval Open at the Top
The Issue: Failing to close the oval makes lowercase o look like a cursive v or u.
How to Fix: Close the oval completely at the midline before drawing the bridge connector.
Pro Practice Tips for Letter O
- • Remember that letters following lowercase o connect from the midline rather than the baseline.
- • Keep the oval symmetrical with a gentle 60-degree rightward slant.
Practice Sheet: Cursive O & o
Trace the faint guide letters on the lines below, then copy the letters independently into the blank spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cursive O
How do you tell cursive o from cursive a?
Cursive o exits from the top (midline) with a horizontal bridge, whereas cursive a has a downward stem and exits from the bottom baseline.
Does capital cursive O connect to the next letter?
In traditional handwriting, capital O finishes with an inward curl and stands alone without connecting to the following letter.