Cursive Writing — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. If your cursive letters lean in different directions on the same line, you have an inconsistent slant.
Inconsistent slant (letters leaning different ways) reduces the neat, uniform appearance of cursive.
2. Tilting your paper slightly helps right-handed writers maintain a natural and comfortable slant.
Tilting the paper slightly to the left helps right-handed writers naturally produce a consistent right slant.
3. When tall and short letters are the same height, the writing has a sizing problem.
All letters being the same height is a sizing error — tall letters should be taller than short letters.
4. A common error is forgetting to close the loop on letters like a, d, and g.
Letters a, d, and g have loops that must be closed for the letters to be legible.
5. If words are hard to read because letters run together, the writer needs more spacing between words.
Insufficient word spacing causes letters and words to run together, reducing legibility.
6. Practicing on lined paper helps students keep letters the correct height.
Lined paper provides visual guides that help maintain consistent letter height and baseline alignment.
7. When checking your own cursive, look at slant, size, spacing, and baseline alignment.
The four main legibility factors to self-assess are: slant, size, spacing, and baseline alignment.
8. Letters that do not connect smoothly may have incorrect exit strokes that stop too early or too late.
Incorrect exit strokes interrupt the flow of cursive writing and create disconnected-looking letters.
9. Reading your cursive writing aloud can help you spot errors you might otherwise miss.
Reading aloud while following your cursive writing helps identify legibility problems.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Letters lean left, right, and straight on the same line
→ Inconsistent slant — letters lean in different directions
Uneven letter sizing — tall and short letters are not differentiated
Tall letters like b and h are the same height as short letters like a and c
→ Uneven letter sizing — tall and short letters are not differentiated
Poor baseline alignment — letters do not rest on the line
Letters within a word have gaps where connections were skipped
→ Missing connections — exit strokes are incomplete between letters
Inconsistent slant — letters lean in different directions
Some letters float above the writing line instead of sitting on it
→ Poor baseline alignment — letters do not rest on the line
Missing connections — exit strokes are incomplete between letters
Mixed lean = inconsistent slant; same height = sizing error; gaps in connections = missing connections; floating = poor baseline.