Among free fonts, English cursive is one of the most popular. The design and atmosphere will vary greatly depending on the cursive font you choose, so you need to choose it according to the situation in which you will use it.
Therefore, in this article, we will give an overview of cursive, introduce situations in which cursive is used, and introduce stylish and cute free fonts. Please use this as a reference to help you master cursive writing.
What is English cursive?
First, let’s start with an overview of cursive. Cursive refers to the typeface used to connect letters in alphabetical notations such as English. To begin with, there are two main types of fonts used when writing English: block fonts and cursive fonts. Block font refers to writing each letter clearly and distinctly, rather than connecting letters.
Cursive has the image of handwritten letters that are written in succession in a single stroke, or a typeface that resembles handwritten letters. Also, block letters and cursive letters give very different impressions to the other person. Block fonts make it easier to convey a formal image to others, and are used when companies send letters to others or when they want to convey a polite image.
On the other hand, cursive is used when you want to create a stylish atmosphere or when creating designs that emphasize creativity. By being able to use each of them clearly, you will be able to further improve the original quality of your work.
history of cursive
The beginning of writing is said to be “calligraphy,” and it was written with pictures and misshapen fonts. This is the origin of the current cursive font, and it followed a pattern of development in which various fonts were developed from the cursive font. In other words, cursive is the oldest typeface.
Dating back to the ancient Roman era B.C., the Latin alphabet was created, developed into the Greek alphabet, and then changed to the italic alphabet. Although it is a typeface with a very long history in Europe, it is relatively new in the United States and became popular from the early 17th century to the late 18th century.
Since then, cursive has come to be used in many situations, but due to the spread of word processors, the need to write in cursive is disappearing, and it is in decline.
History of cursive in Japan
In the current Japanese educational scene, block fonts are mainly taught. When writing text in school classes or businesses, block fonts are often used. However, there was a time in Japan when cursive was taught in school classes. Cursive writing has been taught as a compulsory subject since 1947, and there was a time when cursive writing was more important than block writing.
However, since 2002, the curriculum guidelines have been revised and the policy has been changed to “teach with consideration to the student’s learning burden”, so block letters are now mainly used. Furthermore, in recent years, the shift away from cursive writing is accelerating not only in Japan but also in the English-speaking world itself. One of the main reasons for this is the widespread use of computers.
In the United States, students learn cursive handwriting starting in the third grade of elementary school, but after the spread of computers, keyboard input was also included in classes. And as cursive lessons are gradually being replaced by computer lessons in various fields, the number of people who write in cursive is decreasing. As of 2024, even in the United States, where English is the native language, cursive writing is not included in the curriculum guidelines.
Cursive writing is a technique used to shorten the time it takes to write, and as writing is no longer necessary these days, cursive writing is on the decline.
Main types of cursive
We will explain the types of cursive that are often used in Japan.
Cursive Script
Cursive script refers to the so-called American English cursive script. Connect the letters and write as if in one stroke. It has been valued in many fields for its elegant appearance and ability to write quickly.
italic
Italic refers to the letters of the alphabet that are tilted slightly to the right. However, although it is an italic character, it is not a designed character that simply adds a slant to the character, but is a character that is specially designed as an italic type, so it is different from a simple italic character.
Rules for writing well in cursive
There are some rules to keep cursive writing looking nice and neat. Below are the rules for writing well in cursive.
Be aware that the flow of the pen is connected.
Cursive is a typeface that is characterized by the continuous flow of the pen, like a single stroke. Therefore, each letter is basically connected smoothly without being separated, giving it a relaxed and attractive appearance.
As explained in the section below, “If the letters don’t connect, don’t force them to connect”, there is no need to force them to connect, but in order for the font to look beautiful, the letters need to be connected naturally.
If the letters don’t connect, don’t force them to connect.
Cursive is a typeface that was originally intended for writing quickly with minimal effort. Therefore, in terms of appearance, if the letters do not connect, there is no need to force them to connect. It doesn’t necessarily have to be connected, but if it’s easier to write without connecting, you can prioritize that way.
Uppercase and lowercase letters are written differently
Cursive fonts, like block fonts, have different alphabets for uppercase and lowercase letters. Therefore, you need to memorize uppercase letters and lowercase letters separately. For example, you need to be careful that even if you reduce the size of uppercase cursive, it may not be written correctly in lowercase.
The first letter of the sentence is capitalized
When writing English sentences, there is a general rule that the first letter should be capitalized. This is the same when writing English in cursive. In addition, names of specific places, people, objects, and other so-called proper nouns, nationalities, days of the month, days of the week, languages, historical facts, etc. are written with the first letter capitalized, just as in English.
Tips for writing in cursive
Here are some tips for writing in cursive:
Align text height
Cursive writing looks better by making the letters the same height. To achieve this, draw a standard ruled line and align the height of the letters above and below that line to create a uniform cursive font.
Align the slope
A characteristic of cursive writing is that it is generally written with a slight tilt to the right. By aligning this slope overall, a uniform cursive handwriting will be created.
write with all your strength
Cursive, like calligraphy’s gyosho, can be written quickly by relaxing the shoulders and arms to create a supple and stretchy typeface. Cursive handwriting has a characteristic that if you try to write as neatly and well as possible and write with a sense of tension, like when writing block fonts or block fonts, you will not be able to write well.
write fluently
Cursive writing is characterized by a supple and stretchy font that exudes elegance, so you can write it well by moving your hand in a fluid manner. Cursive writing has many parts made up of circles, and curves make up the majority of the letters. Due to these characteristics, if you always write in a circular manner, you will end up with a nice-looking cursive handwriting.
Don’t pay too much attention to fonts
The secret to improving in cursive writing is not to be too particular about the shape of the letters. The purpose of cursive is to write quickly and without much effort. Unless the characters are extremely difficult to read, even if you are a little bad at it, it will vary from person to person.
In fact, even if you look at the cursive handwriting of native speakers, there are a wide variety of cursive handwriting, some of which are badly distorted, and some of which are unreadable. For this reason, I would say that it is best not to be too particular about the shape of the letters and just write with momentum.
Scenes in which cursive is used
The main uses of cursive are as follows.
When signing
In Europe and America, cursive is often used for signatures, etc. It has the same effect as what is called a seal in Japan, and in Europe and America, signatures are written in cursive instead of a seal. In Japan, where there is a culture of seal impressions, obtaining a seal registration certificate proves that the seal belongs to the person in question.
However, in Europe and the United States, where there is a culture of signatures, a notary public witnesses the signing to prove that it is the signature of the person in question. Cursive is still used today when making these signatures.
If you want to take notes quickly
As explained in the above item “If the letters don’t connect, don’t force them to connect”, cursive is a typeface that is suitable for writing quickly with minimal effort. A certain amount of shorthand is possible, and a group of words can be written in one stroke. These characteristics make it useful when you want to quickly take notes in meetings, study sessions, etc.
If you want good-looking design text
Cursive fonts have a cool font and are widely recognized as “cool designed letters.” Due to this background, it is also a suitable typeface when you want to use good-looking design characters. For example, if you use it for design drawings such as message cards, greeting cards, and invitations, or when creating posters and product packages, the text will stand out.
25 stylish and cute free cursive fonts
So far, we have introduced the occasions and situations in which cursive is used. From here, we will introduce stylish free cursive fonts.
Eustache Brush Handwritten Font
Eustache Brush Handwritten Font is a cursive font that looks like a handwritten font. Recommended if you want to create a cool image or a more one-stroke image.
Rockville Brush Font
Rockville Brush Font is a handwritten brush font. Even though it is handwritten, it is characterized by its ability to create a bold and strong image.
Smooth Stone Free Handwritten Font
Smooth Stone Free Handwritten Font is a free font that can express soft and supple images. This font is useful for any occasion, including wedding invitations, logos, and homepage images.
Honey Bee
Honey Bee is a free font that allows you to express cute characters that look like they are splashing in water. As the font name Honey suggests, it is useful when you want to create a sweet image. It is also useful when you want to add an accent to images or logos.
Emmeline – Free Brush Script
Emmeline – Free Brush Script is a handwritten brush font. Even in handwriting, it is possible to create an image that looks like a woman signed a signature, so it is used in the design of services and products that target women.
Escafina
Escafina is a cute free font with a retro-modern image. Therefore, it can also be used on the homepages of long-established stores and stores that sell foreign luxury cars.
Bahagia Typeface
Bahagia Typeface is a free font that gives a soft and powerful image. It can be used as logos and designs for various services, regardless of industry or business type.
Viana Script Typeface
Viana Script Typeface is a free font that goes well with floral designs. It also has an elegant appearance, so it is useful when you want to create a chic image.
Befindisa Script Font
Befindisa Script Font is a free font that stands out for its simplicity. This works best when you want to draw the user’s attention to the text rather than the image or logo.
Aamonoline Handwritten Font
Aamonoline Handwritten Font is a free font consisting of a single thin line. It can be used in a wide variety of situations, including logos, homepage designs, wedding invitations, and letters.
MademoiselleNS Script
MademoiselleNS Script is a cute free font that can express a retro atmosphere. The design conveys the image of the 1950s and 1960s.
Antro Vectra Script Font
Antro Vectra Script Font is a free font that looks like it was written with a fountain pen. It is useful when you want to create a strong image, such as branding, logos, and homepage design.
The Artisan Hand Drawn Font Duo
The Artisan Hand Drawn Font Duo is a font style that is conscious of handwriting, and is characterized by a texture that looks as if it was written by a person with a pen. Just like the title, it gives the impression of “The Artisan Hand Drawn”.
Rampage Script
Rampage Script is a vintage-style free font with a retro feel and a rough, rock-like texture.
Arkipelago
Arkipelago is a free font that looks like it was scribbled with a marker. Although it has an imperfect hand-drawn feel, it has a strong impact and has a presence that catches your eye.
Little Bird: Vintage Script Font
Little Bird: Vintage Script Font is an emotional font created with the theme of nostalgic summer love. It is characterized by a thick font with beautiful flowing curves, and is recommended for logos such as advertisements and illustrations that want to attract attention.
Rockstar
Rockstar is a dynamic font that is designed for freehand use. It is characterized by a font that looks like it was scribbled with a brush, and the blurring of the letters also gives it a nice flavor. This free font is recommended for creating advertisements with artistic designs.
Lemon Tuesday
Lemon Tuesday is a font that gives the impression of adding a “faint” to handwritten letters. The writing style has an atmosphere that makes you imagine graffiti on a wall, with the letters looking like they were scribbled with a brush, but even more broken down. This free font is also recommended for logos for content such as horror games and videos.
Emmeline – Free Brush Script
Emmeline – Free Brush Script is a free font recommended when you want to reproduce the image of handwritten text with thin lines. The letters have a handwritten feel and are well-defined, making them suitable for expressing the text of a letter.
Southpaw Font
Southpaw Font is a free font that looks like it was written with a brush, making it look like the typeface you would use when taking notes in a hurry. Depending on the combination of letters, the letters are connected, so you can create a logo that looks natural and looks like it was actually written by a person.
Connoisseurs Typeface
Connoisseurs Typeface is a free handwritten brush font that is somewhat elegant even though it has a scribbled feel, and has thin lines but strong characters. It is also recommended for advertisements such as cosmetics and apparel, and for creating studio posters.
Sattin
Sattin is a free font duo that comes in two types: a block serif font and a cursive font. Both fonts have a rough, scratchy texture that can give off the feel of stone or rusted metal. Using both fonts together can also create visual gaps and expand your design creativity.
Bimbo Type Family
Bimbo Type Family is a free monoline lettering font that resembles a little girl writing in a picture diary with a felt-tip pen. It gives the impression that it was written by a child, so it is recommended when designing advertisements for products and services aimed at children.
Christopher Hand Font
Christopher Hand Font is a free font that allows you to feel the pen pressure and hand movements of a native English speaker scribbling notes. The typeface is similar to that seen in Europe and the United States, is legible, and is moderately broken. Recommended for use in situations where you want the text to be read clearly while also giving a sense of the design.
Azkia Script
Azkia Script is a free font with beautiful flowing curves that gives you the feel of Japanese calligraphy’s “stops”, “splashes” and “harai”, even though it is written in English. Fashionable and stylish, it is recommended when thinking of advertising logos for products aimed at young people.
A tool that allows you to easily convert to cursive with just copy and paste.
We will also introduce a tool that allows you to easily convert your favorite characters into cursive by simply copying and pasting them.
LETTY Web – Free tool to convert into stylish fonts
LETTY Web is a free tool that allows you to convert text input into stylish and cute fonts. It supports English and Japanese, and includes popular fonts. It can be converted into “Hetaji”, “Gyaruji”, “Ateji”, etc., and cute icons such as “flowers” and “hearts” can also be embedded between the characters.
Cursive Font – Cursive Font Conversion
Cursive font is a tool that easily converts input alphanumeric characters into cursive. A wide variety of fonts are available and you can convert it to your favorite writing style. You can also specify the font size and color, as well as apply effects such as shadows, gradations, and outlines. This is a recommended tool if you want to create an elaborate writing style.
Cursive writing conversion site – Converting English cursive writing [Model search]
The cursive conversion site is a tool that easily converts input alphanumeric characters into cursive. Three types of fonts are available (as of May 2024), and you can change the size and background color (black and white only). It’s a very simple tool and doesn’t have any fancy features, so it’s recommended if you just want to convert block fonts to cursive fonts.
egao21
With egao21, just enter the characters you want to write in cursive, and it will automatically convert them into stylish cursive. There are multiple fonts available, and you can select the font that represents the image you want to convert. If you want to convert block fonts to stylish cursive fonts, we recommend egao21.
Cursive font conversion tool [Free font conversion app] – Hirameki Development
Cursive font conversion tool [Free font conversion app] is a tool that converts text into cursive in real time as you input it. This is useful when you want to input text while checking the text and writing style. There is no export function for input text, and it is not equipped with any sophisticated functions, so it is a recommended tool if you want to refer to cursive fonts.
summary
In this article, we introduced stylish free cursive fonts. Cursive fonts are also used in homepage designs, and the way you choose them can greatly change the overall design. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right one according to the overall design and the image you want to achieve. Why not start by choosing your favorite font from among the free fonts introduced in this article?