How to Write the Hash # in Cursive
Once known as the 'pound sign' or 'number sign', the hash has been redefined by social media as the hashtag — the on-ramp to every wedding tag, brand campaign, and conference conversation. In cursive and brush lettering, the hash is one of the simplest symbols to render because it is built from just four straight strokes, but the choice of slant, weight, and spacing changes its personality completely.
The Hash (#) in 30 Cursive Fonts
See how the hash 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
Italianno
Niconne
Quintessential
Style Script
Carattere
Ephesis
Luxurious Script
Bilbo Swash Caps
How to Write the Hash (#) Step by Step
Draw two slightly slanted vertical strokes side by side, then cross them with two horizontal strokes. The two vertical lines should match the slope of your script (typically 5–15° from vertical). For a calligraphic feel, give the verticals slight swells or hairlines, and let the horizontals stay thin. Keep all four crossings open — don't fill the inner square.
- ✗ Drawing the hash too small so the four strokes blur into a square
- ✗ Using vertical strokes that don't match the slope of the surrounding script
- ✗ Making the horizontal strokes too thick compared to the verticals (in brush lettering, horizontals stay thin)
- ✗ Spacing the strokes unevenly so the inner square is lopsided
- ✗ Drifting the lower ends of the verticals together so the hash looks like an X
Stylistic Variations of the Hash
- Brush hash — bold downstrokes with hairline horizontals, popular for hashtag signage
- Octothorpe (typographic) — perfectly geometric with equal stroke weights, used in formal print
- Number sign — slightly more vertical, used when the hash means 'No.' (as in '#1 Mom')
- Hand-drawn outline — the hash is drawn as four parallelogram outlines, then optionally filled
Where the Hash (#) Is Used
Real-world contexts where this symbol earns its place in cursive lettering.
- #Wedding hashtag signs at receptions ('#JonesGetsHitched')
- #Conference and event signage with branded hashtags
- #Chalkboard menus and Instagram-style decor
- #Numbering ('#1 Dad', '#5 Best Seller') on greeting cards and posters
- #Music notation context (sharp signs use a similar four-stroke shape)
Practice Tips for the Cursive Hash
- 1Draw rows of four-stroke hash marks at consistent spacing to train your eye for parallel strokes.
- 2Try the hash in three weights — hairline, medium, and bold — to feel how stroke contrast changes its mood.
- 3Always match the slant to the script you are pairing it with.
- 4When lettering a wedding hashtag, sketch the entire phrase first to make sure the hash and letters share the same baseline and x-height.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cursive Hash
Is the hash symbol the same as the hashtag?
How do I make a cursive hash sign?
What is the technical name for the # symbol?
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