25 October 2026

Straight vs slanting cursive: the difference, and which to learn

Straight cursive and slanting cursive join letters the same way. The difference is the angle: in straight cursive the letters stand upright, and in slanting cursive they lean to the right. Both are full cursive, with the pen staying on the paper until the word ends. Which one is better depends on the hand that writes it.

What straight cursive looks like

In straight cursive the tall letters (b, d, h, k, l, t) stand straight up, like the lines of a ruled page turned on their side. The letters still join in a flowing line. Many children find it easier to keep neat, because “straight up” is a simple rule to check.

What slanting cursive looks like

In slanting cursive every letter leans the same way, usually to the right. The lean follows the natural movement of a right hand across the page, so writers who get used to it often write faster.

Straight and slanting cursive compared

Which should your child learn?

There is no single right answer, but a few signs help:

• If your child’s writing already leans to the right, slanting cursive works with their hand instead of against it.
• If their letters stand upright or wobble between angles, straight cursive gives them one clear rule to follow.
• If the school teaches one of the two, use that one at home.
• If your child is left-handed, an upright or very gentle slant is often more comfortable than a strong right lean.

Whichever you choose, keep the angle the same across the whole page. A steady slant at any angle reads better than letters that lean in different directions.

How to keep the slant steady

1. Draw light guide lines. With a pencil and ruler, draw a few lines across a practice page at the angle you want: straight up, or leaning right.
2. Practise the tall letters first. Write rows of l, t, h, k and d along the guide lines. These letters show the slant most clearly.
3. Turn the notebook, not the wrist. For slanting cursive, a right-handed writer can tilt the page a little to the left so the slant comes naturally.
4. Check one line at a time. After each line, look at the tall letters. If they lean different ways, slow down for the next line.
5. Drop the guide lines after a week or two, once the angle holds without them.

Common mistakes

• Starting upright and drifting into a slant halfway down the page, usually when the child gets tired or rushed.
• Leaning letters to the left, which is hard to read for most people.
• Slanting the tall letters but writing the short ones upright, so the line looks uneven.
• Pressing hard on the pencil, which makes the joins shaky and the slant harder to control.

Where semi-cursive fits

If full cursive feels like too much, semi-cursive joins only some letters and lifts the pen where a join is awkward. It can be written upright or with a gentle slant. See our guide to semi-cursive handwriting, and for how cursive compares with print, read print vs cursive handwriting.

How we teach it

We teach four English styles: print, semi-cursive, straight cursive and slanting cursive, and we choose one after looking at your child’s handwriting. Each letter is taught with the LV Method as a short sequence of four basic strokes: the standing line, the sleeping line, and the left and right slants. For the cursive letters themselves, see cursive handwriting from A to Z.

Want a second opinion on your child’s slant? Send one notebook page through the free handwriting check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between straight and slanting cursive?

Only the angle. Straight cursive letters stand upright, and slanting cursive letters lean to the right. The joins are the same.

Is slanting cursive faster than straight cursive?

For many right-handed writers it is, once learned, because the slant follows the hand’s movement across the page. Straight cursive is often easier to keep neat at first.

Can a child switch from straight to slanting cursive?

Yes. The letter shapes and joins stay the same, so the work is changing the angle. Guide lines help for the first week or two.

Which cursive style is best for a left-handed child?

Often straight cursive or a gentle slant. A strong right lean can be awkward for a left hand, and the child may smudge the writing.

Why does my child’s slant keep changing?

Usually because of speed, tiredness or a notebook that moves while they write. Slowing down, tilting the page the same way each time and practising tall letters helps.