Capital Letter Formation: How To Form Every Capital From A To Z
Capital letters all start at the top line, and most are made of one to four strokes in a set order. Tap any capital to watch it formed stroke by stroke, and switch on "Show with lowercase" to compare the two sizes.
On this page
- How Each Capital Letter Is Formed
- How Do You Form Capital Letters Correctly?
- How Is Each Capital Letter Formed?
- Which Capital Letters Are Formed The Same Way?
- How Are Capital Letters Different From Lowercase Letters?
- Why Do Children Write Capitals In The Middle Of Words?
- When Do Children Learn Capital Letters?
- Questions About Capital Letter Formation
How Each Capital Letter Is Formed
How Each Capital Letter Is Formed
How Do You Form Capital Letters Correctly?
Form every capital letter from the top line down, drawing each stroke in the order shown and lifting the pencil only between strokes. Three habits cover most capitals:
- Start at the top. Every capital does.
- Draw the downstrokes first, then the strokes that cross or join them.
- Finish each letter before starting the next. Capitals do not join to the letters that follow.
The rules are the same as for letter formation in lowercase, but capitals have more separate strokes and need more care with pen lifts.
How Is Each Capital Letter Formed?
Each card gives the start, the strokes in order and the common mistake. Stroke counts vary between schemes, so follow your school's model where it differs.
How To Form The Capital A
Start at the top and go diagonally down to the left. Go back up to the top and diagonally down to the right. Lift, then add the crossbar from left to right.
Common mistake: a crossbar that slopes or sits too high.
How To Form The Capital B
Start at the top and go straight down. Go back up to the top, curve round to the middle, then curve round again to the base.
Common mistake: two bumps of different sizes, or a flat top.
How To Form The Capital C
Start at the top right and curl anticlockwise round to the bottom right, in one movement.
Common mistake: starting at the bottom or going clockwise.
How To Form The Capital D
Start at the top and go straight down. Go back up to the top, then make one big curve round to the base.
Common mistake: a curve that is too small, or drawn first.
How To Form The Capital E
Start at the top, go straight down, back up to the top and across the top line. Lift, then draw the middle line and the bottom line, each left to right.
Common mistake: a middle line as long as the others.
How To Form The Capital F
Start at the top, go straight down, back up to the top and across the top line. Lift, then draw the middle line across.
Common mistake: adding a bottom line, which makes an E.
How To Form The Capital G
Start at the top right and curl round like a C to the base line, carry on up to the middle and straight back down. Lift, then draw a short line across to meet it.
Common mistake: a tail that drops below the base line.
How To Form The Capital H
Start at the top and go straight down. Lift and draw a second line down. Lift again and join the two with a crossbar in the middle.
Common mistake: uneven sides.
How To Form The Capital I
Start at the top and go straight down in a single line. Some schemes, including Oak National Academy, add short lines at the top and bottom.
Common mistake: starting at the bottom.
How To Form The Capital J
Start at the top, go straight down, and curve round to the left at the base. Some schemes add a short line across the top.
Common mistake: a tail that goes below the line.
How To Form The Capital K
Start at the top and go straight down. Lift, then draw a diagonal in to the stem and a diagonal out to the base. Some schemes draw K without lifting, going back up the stem to the middle first.
Common mistake: arms that do not meet at the stem.
How To Form The Capital L
Start at the top, go straight down to the base and turn across to the right. Some schools teach it in two strokes.
Common mistake: an arm that points up.
How To Form The Capital M
Start at the top and go straight down. Go back up to the top, diagonally down to the middle of the base, diagonally up, then straight down.
Common mistake: a middle point that stops halfway.
How To Form The Capital N
Start at the top and go straight down. Go back up to the top and diagonally down to the base, then straight up.
Common mistake: a diagonal that misses the corners.
How To Form The Capital O
Start at the top and go round anticlockwise, closing the circle where you began.
Common mistake: going clockwise or leaving a gap.
How To Form The Capital P
Start at the top and go straight down. Go back up to the top and curve round to the middle.
Common mistake: a bump that reaches the base.
How To Form The Capital Q
Draw a capital O, then add a short tail at the bottom right.
Common mistake: a tail that looks like a separate letter.
How To Form The Capital R
Draw a capital P, then carry on without lifting into a diagonal leg from the middle to the base.
Common mistake: a leg that starts at the top of the bump.
How To Form The Capital S
Start near the top right, curve left, then curve right and down like a snake, ending at the base. It is a larger version of the lowercase s.
Common mistake: reversing the curves.
How To Form The Capital T
Start at the top and go straight down. Lift, then draw the top line across.
Common mistake: a top line that is not level.
How To Form The Capital U
Start at the top, go down, curve round at the base and come straight back up.
Common mistake: a pointed base.
How To Form The Capital V
Start at the top left and go diagonally down to the base, then diagonally up to the top right.
Common mistake: a rounded point.
How To Form The Capital W
Start at the top left and go down, up, down and up in two sharp Vs.
Common mistake: peaks of different heights.
How To Form The Capital X
Start at the top left and go diagonally down to the right. Lift, start at the top right and cross to the bottom left.
Common mistake: crossing too high or too low.
How To Form The Capital Y
Draw two short diagonals that meet in the middle, then go straight down to the base.
Common mistake: a stem that is not straight.
How To Form The Capital Z
Start at the top left, go across to the right, then diagonally down to the left and across to the right again.
Common mistake: writing it backwards.
Which Capital Letters Are Formed The Same Way?
Capitals fall into four rough groups by shape. Schemes group them differently, so treat the table as one way to see the pattern.
| Group | Letters | What they share |
|---|---|---|
| Straight lines | E F H I L T | A downstroke from the top, then straight lines across |
| Straight and curve | B D P R J U | A downstroke and a curve |
| Curves | C G O Q S | A curl from the top right |
| Diagonals | A K M N V W X Y Z | Diagonal strokes |
How Are Capital Letters Different From Lowercase Letters?
Capital letters are about twice the height of small lowercase letters, sit on the base line and are not joined to the letters that follow. The National Handwriting Association notes that children learn to estimate the height of capitals and ascenders at roughly twice the size of the small letters.
The tool's pair toggle shows both letters on four lines so the size relationship is clear. The National Curriculum asks Year 2 pupils to write capital letters "of the correct size, orientation and relationship to one another and to lower-case letters".
Why Do Children Write Capitals In The Middle Of Words?
Children often put capitals in the middle of words because they learned capitals first, from their name or an alphabet chart, or because a lowercase letter is not yet secure. The letters most often swapped are b and B, d and D, k and K, and s and S.
The fix is to practise the lowercase form of that letter with its start point, in words, until it is automatic. See b and d reversal and letter reversals.
When Do Children Learn Capital Letters?
In England, the National Curriculum asks Year 1 pupils to "form capital letters" and Year 2 pupils to write capital letters and digits of the correct size, orientation and relationship to one another and to lower-case letters. Most children meet capitals in Reception, through their own name.
See handwriting and the National Curriculum for the full wording.
Questions About Capital Letter Formation
Should Children Learn Capitals Or Lowercase First?
Lowercase first. Most of what children write is lowercase, and capitals are added for names and the start of sentences.
Can I Print A Capital Letter Formation Chart?
Yes. Tap Print above, or make a full set with the worksheet generator.
Do Capital Letters Have Exit Flicks?
Capitals are not joined to the next letter. Whether they carry a flick depends on your school's model.
How Do I Help My Child Write Their Name With One Capital?
Practise the capital and the lowercase letters together, in the same style school uses. See writing their name.