Walk into two different schools and you might see two completely different versions of cursive being taught. The letter shapes are different. The starting positions are different. Even the way students transition from print to cursive is different.
That's because there are two dominant cursive handwriting systems in the United States - D'Nealian and Zaner-Bloser. Both work. Both produce legible cursive. But they take very different approaches, and choosing the right one can make a real difference in how quickly a student learns.
The Core Difference
D'Nealian was designed to make the transition from print to cursive as smooth as possible. The print letters themselves are slightly modified - they have tails and curves that look a lot like cursive. When students switch to cursive, they're basically connecting letters they already know how to write.
Zaner-Bloser takes the opposite approach. Print letters and cursive letters look completely different. Students learn traditional manuscript printing first, then learn cursive as a separate skill. There's no attempt to bridge the two.
D'Nealian: The Bridge Approach
Donald Thurber created D'Nealian in 1978 while teaching first grade in Michigan. He watched his students struggle with the jump from print to cursive and thought - why not design print letters that naturally lead into cursive?
D'Nealian manuscript letters are written on a slight slant. Many have small tails or entry strokes. The lowercase 'a' has a gentle curve at the end. The 't' has a slight hook at the bottom. These little additions mean students are already practicing cursive-like movements before they ever start "official" cursive instruction.
When cursive time comes, students mostly just need to learn to connect the letters they're already writing. The letter shapes themselves barely change.
D'Nealian Advantages
- Smoother transition from print to cursive - less to relearn
- Students can start cursive earlier since the foundation is built into print
- Fewer letter shapes to memorize overall
- Cursive letter forms tend to be simpler and more rounded
- Less frustration during the switch because letters feel familiar
D'Nealian Drawbacks
- The modified print letters can look sloppy to some parents and teachers
- Print letters with tails are harder for very young writers (ages 4-5)
- Some educators feel the print letters are less legible than traditional print
- Not as widely adopted as Zaner-Bloser, so resources can be harder to find
Zaner-Bloser: The Traditional Approach
Zaner-Bloser has been around since 1888. It's the more traditional system and still the most widely used in the US. Charles Zaner and Elmer Bloser founded their penmanship company in Columbus, Ohio, and their method has been refined over more than a century.
In Zaner-Bloser, manuscript (print) letters are written straight up and down with ball-and-stick construction. They look like the letters you see in books. Clean, vertical, and simple.
Cursive is taught as a completely separate skill, usually starting in late second or third grade. Students learn a new set of letter formations from scratch. The cursive letters use more traditional, formal shapes with distinct slant and flourishes.
Zaner-Bloser Advantages
- Print letters are very clean and easy to read
- Ball-and-stick print is simpler for very young children to learn
- Cursive forms are more traditional and elegant looking
- More teaching materials and workbooks available
- Widely recognized across school districts
Zaner-Bloser Drawbacks
- The transition from print to cursive is a bigger jump
- Students essentially learn two complete handwriting systems
- More letter forms to memorize total
- The switch can be confusing and frustrating for some students
- Cursive letter formations can be more complex
Side-by-Side Letter Comparison
Some letters look almost identical in both styles. Others are noticeably different.
Lowercase letters that look similar: a, c, e, i, l, m, n, o, u. These basic letter forms are pretty consistent across both systems.
Letters that differ more: r, s, z, f, b. D'Nealian versions tend to be more rounded and flowing. Zaner-Bloser versions often have sharper angles and more defined strokes.
Capital letters show the biggest differences. Zaner-Bloser capitals are more ornate with traditional calligraphic flourishes. D'Nealian capitals are simpler and more closely resemble their print counterparts.
Which One Should You Choose?
If your child hasn't started learning either system yet, consider these factors:
Choose D'Nealian if your child is younger (ages 5-6 starting print) and you want to minimize the difficulty of transitioning to cursive later. The smoother bridge between print and cursive means less frustration down the road.
Choose Zaner-Bloser if your child is already writing in standard print and you don't want to change their print habits. If they're starting cursive in third grade with solid print skills, the "clean break" approach works well.
If your school already teaches one system, stick with it. Consistency matters more than which system you use. Mixing styles creates confusion.
What We Use on This Site
CursiveLetters.com uses the D'Nealian style for all our letter guides, videos, and worksheets. We chose D'Nealian because it's more approachable for self-learners and produces cursive that's natural and easy to read.
That said, the core skills transfer between styles. If you learn D'Nealian cursive from our guides and later need to read or write in Zaner-Bloser style, the adjustment is minor. The fundamental stroke patterns - curves, loops, slants, connections - are the same across both systems.
The Bottom Line
Don't overthink this decision. Both systems produce legible, functional cursive handwriting. The best style is the one your student will actually practice consistently.
D'Nealian makes the transition easier. Zaner-Bloser is more traditional. Both get the job done. Pick one, commit to it, and focus your energy on practice rather than debating styles.