The Best Font for Teaching Handwriting

Why the right handwriting font matters more than you think

There are thousands of fonts out there, and choosing one for handwriting practice can feel overwhelming. The real problem shows up at a single letter: the "a." Many fonts we like use the double-storey "a" — the typed-style one — which is not how we teach children to write it by hand. Use the wrong font and you are quietly teaching letterforms your students will have to unlearn.

The font I recommend: KG Primary Penmanship

Luckily, there is a font made specifically for primary handwriting: KG Primary Penmanship, and its companion KG Primary Penmanship Lined. Both use the simple, single-storey letterforms children are actually taught to write, which makes them ideal for phonics lessons and early writing. Since I started using them I feel far more confident in how my materials look on the board — and the kids love them.

How to use it

You will find KG Primary Penmanship in most presentation tools, including Canva and PowerPoint. Two tips for getting the most out of it:

• Use the lined version ("KG Primary Penmanship Lined") with an underscore to show children exactly where each letter sits on the line.
• Layer the plain version on top ("KG Primary Penmanship") and add simple appearing effects so letters can be revealed one stroke or one letter at a time.

Here is an example I built in Canva: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGyffZPZRg/xHDY_lCn8Ss27qkHqycK7Q/edit?utm_content=DAGyffZPZRg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

The takeaway

Pick a font that matches how children are taught to form letters, not just one that looks nice. For primary, KG Primary Penmanship makes that choice easy.