Ascenders And Descenders: Tall And Tail Letters In Handwriting
Ascenders are the tall parts of letters such as b, d, h, k, l and t that rise above the small letters. Descenders are the tails of g, j, p, q and y that drop below the baseline. Type any word to see its letters coloured by zone.
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See The Tall And Tail Letters In Any Word
See The Tall And Tail Letters In Any Word
What Are Ascenders And Descenders?
Ascenders and descenders are the parts of lowercase letters that go above the height of the small letters or below the baseline. Handwriting uses three zones. The National Handwriting Association calls them the attic, the room and the cellar.
Printers call the height of the small letters the x-height. See handwriting lines for paper that shows the zones.
Which Letters Have Ascenders And Which Have Descenders?
In most UK print and pre-cursive styles, the letters split like this:
| Zone | Letters | Child-friendly name |
|---|---|---|
| Ascender (attic) | b, d, f, h, k, l, t | Tall letters |
| Small (room) | a, c, e, i, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x, z | Small letters |
| Descender (cellar) | g, j, p, q, y | Tail letters |
The letter i sits in the room, with its dot above. Capitals and digits sit at ascender height. See letter formation and capital letter formation.
Is f An Ascender Or A Descender?
In print and pre-cursive handwriting, f is an ascender letter. In some cursive styles it also has a descender, a tail that drops below the line, so it touches all three zones. Check your school's model. See cursive handwriting.
How Tall Should Ascenders And Descenders Be?
A tall letter is roughly twice the height of a small letter, and a tail drops about the same distance below the line. The National Handwriting Association says children need to learn to estimate ascenders and descenders at approximately twice the size of the small letters. The letter t is usually shorter than the other tall letters.
When Do Children Learn To Size Letters Correctly?
Children learn to size letters relative to one another in Year 2. The National Curriculum asks Year 2 pupils to form lowercase letters of the correct size relative to one another, and asks Years 3 and 4 to space lines of writing so the ascenders and descenders of letters do not touch. See handwriting and the National Curriculum.
Questions About Ascenders And Descenders
Are Capital Letters Ascenders?
Capitals reach ascender height, but they are not called ascenders. They sit on the line with no tail.
Is t An Ascender?
Yes, but a short one. In most school styles t rises above the small letters and stops below the full height of l and h.
What Lines Help With Ascenders?
Lines that mark the baseline and the top of the small letters. The NHA recommends two lines. Four-line paper also marks the ascender and descender heights. See handwriting lines.