Capital Q in Cursive. Which one do you like and why?

[3 ladybugs]

I noticed that many of the current cursive programs use a upside down olive for the letter capital Q. This looks more like the manuscript "Q". However I learned (as well as DH) that a capital Q in cursive looks more like a "2". 

 

So what is your preference and why?

 

Also what programs teach the "2" method?

[Paige]

I've always used the 2 for Q which is what I was taught and what I see most often. I usually see the more manuscript type Q in printed fancy fonts than handwritten cursive. I prefer the 2 for no better reason than it's what I'm used to. I'm picturing it right now and I think that the hand motions to make it are more in line with quick cursive writing, and I think trying to do a regular looking Q in the middle of a cursive letter would feel awkward and would cause a pause or disruption of my hand flow. That may just be because I'm not used to it and haven't been taught how to make it flow with the rest of my letters. 

[mamaraby]

This site might help - http://familyphonics.com/handwriting/table.htm

 

They make a judgment about which ones are "positive," "neutral," or "negative." I just ignore that part. It's nice to have all the fonts in one place for a handy reference. I happen to like some of the things they dislike.

 

I prefer when the Q looks more like a manuscript Q. :)

[Aiden]

I've always hated that 2-looking thing :) It makes no sense to me, since it bears no resemblance at all to a manuscsript 2, and for most cursive letters I can at least see how the cursive and manuscript forms are related.

 

My usual handwriting is a combination of cursive and manuscript, so I usually just write a manuscript "Q." If for some reason I felt the need to be more formal and do all-cursive, I'd do something similar to the Zaner-Bloser capital cursive "Q," but maybe add a flourish to the tail or something.

[Syllieann]

I prefer the q listed under loops and other groups in mamaraby's link. I have always thought the 2 style was hideous. I hated it when I learned it and printed it whenever I could. I also have a strong dislike for the ZB "T" and "F".

[marbel]

I've despised the 2-shaped Q since I learned cursive, I think.   I never use it.  I just make a capital O and stick a line in it.  But then I rarely need to write out Q in cursive. :-)

[Ellie]

I use the traditional one, because that is how English is written. I don't know why it is so. Many things in life are like that. :D

[Mergath]

I use the traditional one, because that is how English is written. I don't know why it is so. Many things in life are like that. :D

 

It's how Modern English was written when you learned, but there is no official "Q" in English. Old English didn't have it at all, and the oldest examples in Latin that I've seen look much more like Q than 2.

[momma2three]

I like the 2 version, because it's so random and weird, and how often do you really get to write it?  So I always make a point to, on the rare occasions it pops up.

 

Perhaps this is the worst reason ever, but it's good enough for me :)

[purpleowl]

I learned the 2-ish version, and that's what my kids learn as well (A Beka's handwriting style).  I can see the relationship though - if you imagine the initial loop being enlarged to a full circle, it looks very much like a manuscript Q.  

[TXBeth]

I learned the 2-ish version, and that's what my kids learn as well (A Beka's handwriting style).  I can see the relationship though - if you imagine the initial loop being enlarged to a full circle, it looks very much like a manuscript Q.  

:iagree:   I hated it as a child, but now I see the relationship and like it better than sticking a vertical manuscript "Q" in the middle of a page of cursive. But I alter it to make it even more "Q-ish" by starting lower (almost at the bottom) to complete the oval.

[ikslo]

The "2" style Q really bothered me, so one day I sat and tried to figure out how they "decided" a Q would be a Q, and realized it probably just evolved that way out of need for expediency. Start at the Upper left corner/left side of your printed O for the Q, and when you reach the other side GOING CLOCKWISE (I learned to make O's counterclockwise, but cursive makes more sense to me starting the O for the Q clockwise), instead of lifting your pen move right into the slash.  Use a fluid motion instead of a straight line so you can flow right into your next letter.  If you do it quick enough repetitively the O opens up and it starts to look more like a 2.  Then add a curly at the starting point to make it look fancier.  Voila.  Cursive Q.

 

Anyway, the "2" style Q bothers me less now, because it at least makes sense.

[Ellie]

It's how Modern English was written when you learned, but there is no official "Q" in English. Old English didn't have it at all, and the oldest examples in Latin that I've seen look much more like Q than 2.

 

And that's enough reason for me to write it that way. I don't live in the Old English time period, nor do I write Latin, so there you go. :001_smile:

[Mergath]

And that's enough reason for me to write it that way. I don't live in the Old English time period, nor do I write Latin, so there you go. :001_smile:

 

The words might not be Latin, but most of the letters are. ;)

[Sarah0000]

I like the 2 version because it's quicker.

 

[KSinNS]

I learned the 2-we were taught the most formal, flowy handwriting you can imagine. I, however, agreed with Ramona and thought a regular manuscript Q was much cooler :-}

[alisoncooks]

I showed my DD both and let her choose the one she liked best.  

For myself, I tend to do many capitals in print, even when I am writing cursive.

[alisoncooks]

I learned the 2-we were taught the most formal, flowy handwriting you can imagine. I, however, agreed with Ramona and thought a regular manuscript Q was much cooler :-}

 

LOL, but only if you add whiskers and ears. :p

[Tanaqui]

The Q debate doesn't bug me, but man oh man did I hate the G we were taught in school.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I prefer the more modern version of making it look like the printed Q.  I just wonder how many people will know the "2" version is a Q.  I learned it as the "2" myself, but I never write it that way because I don't want to confuse anyone.

 

And really, Q does not come up very often at all.

 

 

[tm919]

I like the 2 because it's so weird. We use Peterson Directed and it has the 2 for Q.

[umsami]

I hate the 2 Q.  The kids did HWOT cursive which uses the "2" but we all agreed to use more of a fancy manuscript Q instead.  

[SeaConquest]

I am anti-2Q and pro-New American Cursive or Getty-Dubay.

[boscopup]

I can go either way (was taught 2), but T and F are what kill me. I don't like most versions of them, especially the version I was taught.

[BatmansWife]

I never liked the 2 for a Q.  Makes no sense.  I have my own style of cursive, which is kind of a combination of printing and cursive.  Hey, I should write my own cursive book and call it Printsive (I wouldn't want to call it Cursing  :lol:).  Here would be my instructions, in my Printsive book, on how to make the upper case Q: "In one fluid motion, start at 11:00 and circle counterclockwise until you come to the 11 again and immediately, without lifting your pencil, shoot diagonally landing at 5:00.  Voilà...a capital Q."  

[Chelli]

One of the main reasons I chose New American Cursive for my kids to learn is because it gets rid of almost all the weird upper case letters including the 2-Q. The only one that I dislike that they didn't get rid of is the G which I hate so I taught my kids to write it the way I do which is a loopier version of a print G, but still one stroke.

[SeaConquest]

One of the main reasons I chose New American Cursive for my kids to learn is because it gets rid of almost all the weird upper case letters including the 2-Q. The only one that I dislike that they didn't get rid of is the G which I hate so I taught my kids to write it the way I do which is a loopier version of a print G, but still one stroke.

 

Yes!! We just did G the other day, and my son was like, "What the heck is that thing!"  

[Tanaqui]

The weird cursive G is a very stylized "large" lowercase g. You can actually work out the evolution of that G on a piece of paper if you like. It's still ugly, though.

[Arcadia]

My boys and I prefer the italic manuscript style.

[EKT]

I've taught my children the "2" for Q. I don't have a good reason, really, other than I like it and this is what I learned when I was a child.  

 

(We used a book called Teaching Cursive! This Method Works by Linda Corson to learn cursive. IIRC, the book teaches both Q's. I highly recommend the book, though! It's cheap, easy, and super effective! My older daughter now writes with gorgeous cursive.) 

[Jackie]

One of the main reasons I chose New American Cursive for my kids to learn is because it gets rid of almost all the weird upper case letters including the 2-Q. The only one that I dislike that they didn't get rid of is the G which I hate so I taught my kids to write it the way I do which is a loopier version of a print G, but still one stroke.

This, except I just kept the NAC G.

 

I like their Q enough better than the floppy 2 version that I switched my own version to the NAC style.

[fdrinca]

Olive Q, all the way.

 

True story: while in graduate school (so, you know, reasonably exposed to the world and a thinking person in general), my roommate wrote something on our communal white board with the 2-Q. I sincerely had NO IDEA what it was she'd written. I'd never seen that letter before. 

[daijobu]

Can we all agree that the cursive capital L is the best?  I loved the efficient looping and it actually looks like an L.  I wished I had a name beginning with an L so I could write it more often.  Plus, it's right there on all of Laverne's sweaters.  

[momma2three]

Can we all agree that the cursive capital L is the best?  I loved the efficient looping and it actually looks like an L.  I wished I had a name beginning with an L so I could write it more often.  Plus, it's right there on all of Laverne's sweaters.  

 

 

My oldest child's name starts with an L specifically because that's the most fun letter to write in cursive, and I always wished my name started with L.

 

I didn't want to be too Duggar-ish, though, so the other kids start with different letters.  

[EKT]

Can we all agree that the cursive capital L is the best?  I loved the efficient looping and it actually looks like an L.  I wished I had a name beginning with an L so I could write it more often.  Plus, it's right there on all of Laverne's sweaters.  

 

Agreed! :laugh: One of my daughters has a name that begins with L and I love writing it out! (She does, too!) 

[tm919]

Can we all agree that the cursive capital L is the best?  I loved the efficient looping and it actually looks like an L.  I wished I had a name beginning with an L so I could write it more often.  Plus, it's right there on all of Laverne's sweaters.  

Ah, L is a great letter.

 

I hate the T and F, in too many scripts they look far too similar.

[daijobu]

 

I hate the T and F, in too many scripts they look far too similar.

 

My name begins with T, and I learned the Palmer Method capital T.  I consoled myself that it looked like it was wearing a big floppy hat.

[...................]

I have hated the 2-Q for 28 years when it was introduced and about 26 years ago I realized I could do my q however I wanted. Which is, what your kid will do also. So, let him or her decide :)

[Tanaqui]

Wow, I never realized before how ridiculous the Palmer F is. Look at it! It's a monstrosity! (And why are there two Es?)

[...................]

And weren't we all jealous of the girls who's names started with "L?" It's like, the only truly beautiful capital!!

 

My sister is an L :)

[Mergath]

Can we all agree that the cursive capital L is the best? I loved the efficient looping and it actually looks like an L. I wished I had a name beginning with an L so I could write it more often. Plus, it's right there on all of Laverne's sweaters.

I like the D too. :)

[CelticHaiku]

The Palmer "F"! What is that. I would never recognize it. Yikes!

 

[Caviar]

Love the "2" Q, it just feels so artistic.  Two programs that use it are "Cursive First" by Elizabeth FitzGerald and a book I found at a bookstore called "Modern Style Cursive Connections" by Kathryn Libby.  It's Book B that I have, so there must be a Book A also.  The ISBN for Book B is 0-9666572-2-5.

[...................]

What? I hated the "D!" It's really awkward the way the bottom is supposed to bubble out. LOL

[purpleowl]

What? I hated the "D!" It's really awkward the way the bottom is supposed to bubble out. LOL

 

I only started liking the D once I greatly enlarged the final loop and redirected it so that it connects to the next letter.  I married into a capital D, so I had to figure out how to make it more likable! :)

[MiMi 4under3]

I like the "2" version because it brings back fond memories of penmanship practice in Catholic school in the 80's.  :)

[...................]

I only started liking the D once I greatly enlarged the final loop and redirected it so that it connects to the next letter.  I married into a capital D, so I had to figure out how to make it more likable! :)

You must have had much better looking D's than me!  :o)

[Paige]

I love the cursive D. I was taught that the little duck goes to get a drink and then he tips over and you have his curly tail at the top. I always feel like I'm drawing a little duck. 

 

[Caviar]

I've always liked the 2 Q as it seems so artistic and flowing to me.  It's used in Cursive First and Modern Style Cursive Connections.