Home  ›  Cursive Numbers  ›  Cursive 4

Cursive 4 is the number four written with a slanted down stroke, a short crossbar and a tall stem. Many writers leave the top open so it cannot be mistaken for a 9. It is one of the few digits that needs a pen lift. Learn it step by step below.

Four has taken more shapes than almost any other digit, from a cross-like sign to the closed triangle used in many printed fonts, as the history of the number 4 shows. In cursive 4 the most common choice is the open-top version, written in two strokes. The open top is not just a style detail: it keeps the digit clearly different from a 9, which matters when a four appears in a phone number, a price or a date.

Cursive 4 Quick Facts

How to Write 4 in Cursive Step by Step

1. Slant Down: Start at the top line and pull a short stroke down and slightly to the left, stopping just below the midline. This is the left side of the four.
2. Cross to the Right: Without lifting, turn and make a short horizontal crossbar to the right, a little past where the stem will be. Then lift the pencil.
3. Add the Stem: Place the pencil at the top line, to the right of the first stroke, and pull a long straight stem down through the crossbar to the baseline.

The stem is the longest part of cursive 4 and the part that carries the slant, so write it in one confident motion. If you prefer a closed top, start the stem at the top of the first stroke instead of a little to the right; just make sure the closed four still looks different from your nine.

Free Cursive 4 Tracing Worksheet

Worksheet

Cursive 4 Tracing Sheet (PDF)

The cursive 4 tracing sheet fits on one US Letter page and prints cleanly in black and white. It starts with a large model of the digit and a numbered arrow that shows where the pen begins, then a row of 4s that fade from solid to light gray, a row of dotted 4s to trace, blank handwriting lines, and two rows of the word “Four” to copy and trace.

Use it in three passes: trace the dotted row, copy the digit on the blank lines without tracing, then write 4 in cursive from memory. The dashed midline shows where the curves should turn, so keep an eye on it while you work.

Download PDFAll Number Sheets

Cursive 4 vs Print 4

Many printed fonts show a closed four, a small triangle sitting on a stem. Cursive 4 is usually open at the top, slanted to the right and written in two quick strokes, with the stem crossing slightly below the crossbar.

The biggest risk is confusion with 9. A closed, rounded top on a four looks very close to a nine in fast handwriting. Keeping the top open, the crossbar straight and the angles slightly sharp is the simplest way to make cursive 4 unmistakable.

Common Mistakes With Cursive 4

Variations of Cursive 4

Most US handwriting programs teach the open-top 4. A closed-top 4 (a triangle shape) is the typeface version and is also correct — but in fast writing it can be mistaken for a 9.

How to Write Four in Cursive

The word “four” begins with a cursive f, a long letter with an upper loop above the top line and a lower loop below the baseline. It then flows into o, u and r. The o ends high, so the u is joined from the midline. The f is the hardest letter here; practice it alone first if it feels awkward.

If any letter in these words feels unfamiliar, practice it first in the cursive alphabet guides, then come back to the full word.

4 in Cursive: Dates, Times and Prices

Four appears in dates such as the 4th of July, in times like 4:40, in prices such as $4.44 and in many phone numbers. In all of these, the open top is what keeps it readable at a glance.

When fours sit next to nines, as in 49 or 94, compare their tops. The four should be open and angular, the nine round and closed. That contrast is what makes the number easy to read. To preview any date or amount in several cursive styles before writing it by hand, type it into our cursive generator.

10-Minute Practice Routine for Cursive 4

Ten focused minutes a day for one week is enough to make cursive 4 feel automatic. Use the worksheet above or a lined notebook, and keep the pace slow until the shape is steady.

1. Warm-up (2 minutes): draw a row of short horizontal crossbars, then a row of long slanted stems, keeping all stems parallel.
2. Trace (2 minutes): trace one full row of dotted 4s on the worksheet, starting every digit at the top line.
3. Copy (3 minutes): write the digit on blank lines beside the model, checking height and slant after every three or four digits.
4. Use it (2 minutes): write the word “four” and a few real numbers that contain 4, such as 14, 44, 400 and 2024.
5. Check (1 minute): compare your last row with your first. Is the crossbar at the same height in every four? Do all the stems lean the same way and cross the crossbar in the same place?

Teaching Cursive 4 to Children

Children usually find it easiest to learn cursive 4 after they can print the digit confidently. Show the movement slowly first, then let the child trace the dotted digits on the worksheet with a finger before using a pencil. Keep each session short and finish while the child is still enjoying it.

Praise the right things: a start at the top line, a steady slant and a digit that sits on the baseline. Those three habits matter more than perfect curves, and once they are in place the shape improves on its own. Adults can follow the same order, simply moving through it faster.

Practice Cursive 4 With the Other Numbers

Cursive 4 shares its long straight stem with 1, 7 and 9. Practice those stems together so that every straight line in your numbers carries the same slant. The chart below shows all ten digits side by side, so you can check that your 4 matches the height and slant of its neighbors.

Cursive 4: Frequently Asked Questions