Trace the Letter U
Preschool · 3–5Dashed guides and a practice row for the uppercase U and lowercase u. One smooth stroke down, along the bottom and back up to full height, then a second short line straight down the right side. Children often leave that second line off, which turns it into a capital. Upside down the whole letter is an n, so tracing n and u together helps both. U is for umbrella, unicorn and up — say the sound rather than the letter name as your child traces. Print on A4 or US Letter.
Stroke order for U
Lowercase u is one smooth stroke down, along the bottom and back up to full height, then a second short stroke straight down the right side. The second line is what separates it from the capital, and children often leave it off.
Capital U is just the first stroke, which makes it one of the rare capitals that is easier than its lowercase partner.
What to watch for
Upside-down u, which is an n — the same orientation error as on the n sheet, from the same cause. Tracing n and u on the same day, and naming what makes them different, works better than treating them as unrelated letters weeks apart.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my child write u and n the wrong way up?
- They are the same shape rotated, and orientation is the last thing children learn to treat as meaningful. It resolves with reading rather than drilling, usually by seven.
- What is the second stroke on lowercase u for?
- It distinguishes it from the capital. Children often leave it off, which makes the letter read as a capital U in the middle of a word.