How to Write the Letter G in Calligraphy and Cursive
The cursive capital G looks least like its printed form of any capital. The lowercase g is an oval with a loop below the baseline that turns to the left.
A cursive capital G starts at the baseline with a long undercurve to the top line, loops, then forms a small bump to the right at the midline before the stroke drops to the baseline and ends in a short curve. A lowercase cursive g is an oval at the midline, a straight stroke down below the baseline, and a loop that turns left and comes back up to cross the stem at the baseline.
How to write G in cursive, step by step
The steps follow a Zaner-Bloser-style school cursive. The capital G is one of the letters where models differ most, so compare it with the model you were taught before drilling it. The lowercase g is much more consistent.
Capital G
Start at the baseline and make a long undercurve up and to the right, ending at the top line.
Loop to the left at the top and come back down on a slant, toward the midline.
At about the midline, curve forward to the right, making a small rounded bump.
Come back to the left and make a doublecurve down to the baseline. This is the G's stem.
At the baseline, curve up a little, retrace, and finish with a short curve to the right.
The tall loop on the left and the small bump on the right are the two parts readers use to recognize the G. Keep the loop narrow and the bump clearly at the midline.
Lowercase g
Arrive with an overcurve if joining, or start just below the midline.
Make a downcurve to the left, around the bottom and back up, closing the oval at the midline.
Pull a straight slant stroke down the right side of the oval, past the baseline to the descender line.
Loop to the left at the bottom and curve back up.
Cross the stem at the baseline and exit with an overcurve toward the next letter.
The bottom loop should be about as deep below the baseline as the x-height is above it, and its crossing point should sit right on the baseline.
12 ways to write G
The capital G varies more than most letters. School cursive and Spencerian keep the looped form with the bump at the midline. Copperplate often uses a G closer to a large C with a stem and a crossbar added on the right. Gothic and italic use a printed-style G with a spur, and brush styles tend to blend the two by keeping the C shape and adding a loop below.
For the lowercase, the main difference is the descender. Pointed-pen styles keep a long, narrow loop, while bouncy and brush styles often widen it into a sweep that underlines the next letter.
Common mistakes with G
the bottom loop turns right instead of left, so the g reads as a q
the loop crosses the stem above or below the baseline instead of on it
the descender is too short, so the g looks like an a with a tail
the capital G's midline bump is too small or missing, so the letter reads as an S or L
The g mistake that changes meaning is the loop direction. A g's loop always turns left; turn it right and the letter becomes a q.
Joining G to other letters
The lowercase g exits from below the baseline. The loop comes up and crosses the stem at the baseline, then the exit carries on into the next letter. "Ga", "ge" and "gi" are the easiest. In "gh" and "gl" the exit has to climb from the descender all the way to the top line, so the stroke gets long; keep it on the slant. "Gr" is where the exit most often bends too early and leaves the r without a shoulder. Watch that the crossing stays at the baseline in every pair.
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Ga
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Ge
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Gh
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Gi
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Gl
Hand-lettered exemplar coming soon
Gr
Many school models end the capital G with a short curve and do not join it to the next letter. Leave a small space after it unless your exemplar shows a connecting stroke.
Practice G
The G sheet starts with the capital G on its own, since it needs the most repetition, then the lowercase g and the joins. Trace each row three times before writing it freehand. It prints on US Letter or A4.
Why is the cursive capital G so hard to recognize?
Because it shares almost nothing with the printed G. The school form starts at the baseline with an upward loop, more like a capital S or L, and only the small bump at the midline hints at the printed letter. Many adults write a simplified G instead, a large C with a stem below. That is a reasonable choice in everyday writing. The letter S page shows the capital that starts the same way.
What is the difference between cursive g and q?
Both start with the same oval and stem. The difference is at the bottom: the g loops to the left and crosses back up at the baseline, while the q curves to the right and closes against the stem with a forward loop. Say the direction out loud as you practice: g turns back, q turns forward.
How do you write a fancy capital G?
Start from the C-shaped G and enlarge the top curve into a loop, then add a heavy shade on the left side. Drop the stem below the baseline and finish it with a loop or a long hairline that runs under the name. In copperplate, keep the shade on the curve and the crossbar or bump thin.
Where does the letter G come from?
G was made by the Romans. Early Latin used C for both the k and g sounds, and around the third century BC a small bar was added to C to create a separate letter for g. The bar is still visible in the printed G.
