How do you write @ in cursive?

Start with a small cursive 'a' inside the symbol's footprint. Without lifting the pen, sweep upward and around the 'a' in a counter-clockwise spiral that fully encloses it, ending with a short tail at the bottom right. Keep a clear gap between the inner 'a' and the outer enclosure.

Where did the @ symbol originally come from?

The at sign has medieval origins as a scribal abbreviation, possibly for the Latin word 'ad' (meaning 'at' or 'toward'). It was used in commerce to mean 'at the rate of' — '12 apples @ $1' — before Ray Tomlinson chose it in 1971 to separate usernames from hostnames in the first email address.

Why does the @ symbol look weird in some cursive fonts?

Many cursive and script fonts were originally designed without an at sign — it has been bolted on later. As a result the @ may not share the same slant or stroke contrast as the rest of the alphabet. Newer fonts like Dancing Script and Caveat handle the at sign more gracefully than older script fonts.

Vol. IV · Est. 2024

Cursive GenerationThe Art of Beautiful Writing

Medium Difficulty

How to Write the At sign @ in Cursive

Once a quiet bookkeeping symbol meaning 'at the rate of', the at sign exploded into everyday writing with email and then social media. A cursive at sign keeps its distinctive spiral — a lowercase 'a' wrapped in a counter-clockwise enclosure — but lets the enclosing curve flow with the same slant as the surrounding script. It is a favourite addition to handwritten Instagram bios, business cards, and chalkboard signage where a username or email needs visual weight.

The At sign (@) in 18 Cursive Fonts

See how the at sign looks across every cursive font in our collection. Each font gives the symbol a unique personality — from formal calligraphic scripts to casual modern handwriting.

Tangerine

Dancing Script

Great Vibes

Parisienne

Sacramento

Kaushan Script

Alex Brush

Caveat

Mr De Haviland

Satisfy

Allura

Yellowtail

Arizonia

Bad Script

Berkshire Swash

Marck Script

Petit Formal Script

Pinyon Script

Want to see the at sign inside a phrase?

Try our Cursive Generator to type any text containing the at sign and preview it in all 18 fonts instantly.

How to Write the At sign (@) Step by Step

Begin by drawing a small cursive 'a' shape (a counter-clockwise oval with a short tail) at roughly half the x-height. Without lifting, sweep up and around the 'a' in a single counter-clockwise spiral that wraps the letter completely, ending with a small tail that exits at the bottom right. The enclosing stroke should not touch the inner 'a' — leave a clear white channel between the two.

Common Mistakes

✗ Closing the outer spiral so tightly that it touches the inner 'a' and the symbol turns into a blob
✗ Drawing the inner 'a' as a printed lowercase a with a hood, which looks inconsistent inside a script
✗ Making the enclosure a perfect circle instead of slanting it with the rest of the script
✗ Leaving the spiral open at the top so it reads as a 'C' wrapped around an 'a'
✗ Lifting the pen mid-spiral, which produces a visible seam

Stylistic Variations of the At sign

Different ways to draw the at sign

Single-stroke spiral — pen never leaves the paper, popular in modern brush lettering
Two-loop at sign — an inner cursive 'a' drawn first, then the outer enclosure added separately (cleaner but less fluid)
Heart-shaped at sign — the enclosing stroke curves into a heart at the top, used in romantic chalkboard art
Square or rectangular at sign — geometric variants for tech and gaming branding

Where the At sign (@) Is Used

Real-world contexts where this symbol earns its place in cursive lettering.

@Handwritten Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter handles on signage and merchandise
@Business cards and email addresses on letterpress stationery
@Wedding hashtag and social-handle signage at receptions
@Chalkboard menus listing a café's social channels
@Influencer brand marks where the @ sign acts as a logo

Practice Tips for the Cursive At sign

1Drill the spiral motion separately — draw rows of single-stroke spirals before adding the inner 'a'.
2Practise pairing the at sign with usernames in different fonts so you see how each script renders the symbol.
3Match the slant of the at sign to the surrounding letters — a vertical @ in an italic line stands out awkwardly.
4If the spiral keeps colliding with the inner 'a', enlarge the at sign by 20% relative to the x-height to give yourself room.

Ready to practise?

Generate a custom worksheet that includes the at sign alongside letters and numbers using our Practice Sheet Generator, or try the symbol in real phrases with the Cursive Generator.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cursive At sign

Frequently Asked Questions

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