One of the most common questions parents ask us is whether their child should learn print or cursive handwriting. The honest answer is: follow your child's school. But it helps to understand how the styles differ, and why schools choose different ones.
The three styles you'll see in Indian schools
Print letters are written separately, without joins, and look much like the letters in a printed book. Many schools start with print because the shapes are simple and easy to read, and children learn to recognise and write the same letters.
Cursive
In cursive, letters are joined with loops and flowing strokes, so the pencil stays on the paper for most of a word. Cursive is traditionally taught from around age 6 or 7, and many students use it all the way through school.
MR Script (Marion Richardson)
MR Script, named after the English teacher Marion Richardson, is a simple joined style. Letters are joined with short, plain strokes instead of loops, so it sits between print and cursive. Many CBSE and ICSE schools in India teach MR Script. Read more in our guide: What is MR Script?
Which comes first?
Most children start with print, usually between ages 4 and 6, because the shapes are simple and match what they read. Some schools introduce a joined style (cursive or MR Script) from the beginning. Others move children from print to joined writing between ages 6 and 8.
There's no single right answer. What matters most is that your child:
- forms each letter correctly, starting in the right place,
- keeps letters a consistent size and spacing, and
- practises the same style at home that they use at school.
Practising a different style at home from the one taught at school can confuse young children, so always check with the teacher or look at your child's school notebook first.
The case for learning a joined style
Once a child is comfortable with letter shapes, joined writing (cursive or MR Script) has some practical benefits:
- Speed: the pencil lifts less often, so many students write faster, which helps in exams.
- Spacing: letters in a word stay together, which makes spacing between words clearer.
- Flow: many children find a smooth, joined style more comfortable for long answers.
Print stays important too. It's needed for forms, labels and diagrams, and neat print is perfectly acceptable for everyday writing.
How to tell which style your child's school uses
- Print: letters stand apart, like in a book.
- Cursive: letters are joined with loops, for example a looped "l", "b" and "f".
- MR Script: letters are joined, but with simple straight or curved strokes and no loops.
Our books for each style
- Ages 4 to 6: 3-Part Series and Beautiful Handwriting, in print, cursive and MR Script.
- Ages 6 to 9: Speed Writing Book A.
- Ages 9 and above, including adults: Speed Writing Book B.
Still unsure? Our 1-minute book finder suggests the right book for your child's age and school script.