How to write the letter V

Forming the capital V

V is the simplest diagonal capital and the natural way into the diagonal group; it is the same shape and direction as lowercase v, just larger. The single unbroken stroke given here is the common teaching, though some programs do lift the pencil at the point.

Start: Top line, at the left edge of the letter space

1. Slant down and to the right to a point on the baseline at the centre, then, without lifting, slant back up and to the right to finish on the top line.

Forming the lowercase v

v is formed exactly like its capital, only at midline height, so it can be introduced very early. The one thing to insist on is that the point lands precisely on the baseline rather than hovering above it.

Start: On the midline, at the left of the letter space

1. Slide diagonally down and to the right until the pen touches the baseline, then without lifting slide diagonally up and to the right, back to the midline.

Common mistakes with v

These are the errors that actually show up on the page, rather than a generic list. Watching for them while a child writes is far more useful than correcting the finished sheet.

• Rounding the bottom point, which gives u.
• Arms of unequal length or angle, so the letter leans.
• Starting at the point on the baseline and drawing outward and upward instead.
• Spreading the arms so wide the letter sits out of proportion with its neighbours.

And with the capital V

• Rounding the point at the bottom, which makes a U.
• Arms of different lengths, or set at different angles.
• The second arm stopping at the midline rather than climbing all the way back to the top line.
• Starting at the bottom point and drawing both arms upward.
• A point that hovers above the baseline instead of touching it.

Letters that move the same way

Diagonal-stroke letters: Straight slanted strokes rather than curves, every one of them travelling top to bottom. v is the anchor: w repeats it, y extends its right arm below the baseline, x and k cross diagonals against another stroke, and z hangs two diagonally joined horizontals off the same movement.

Teaching these together is more efficient than working through the alphabet in order, because the hand is learning one movement rather than several unrelated ones.

wxykz

Practise V with words

Once the letter is reliable on its own, move to words that start with it. Letters learned in isolation often fall apart the first time a child has to join them to anything.