ETAOIN SHRDLU

handwriting Sep 30, 2024
Girl in front of colorful brick background with jazz hands. The letters ETAOIN SHRDLU in white overlaying the image.

What is it?

ETAOIN SHRDLU are the twelve most popular letters used in the English alphabet in the order of popularity.

And why is it so valuable when practicing your lettering?

These letters represent all of the possible shapes of the alphabet including curved and straight strokes we make when writing. When we practice the most popular letters for consistency, our handwriting will improve quickly and we can refer to some of the shapes here for the lesser-known letters. For example, want to practice you J? Write the letter U.

Blackwing featured the lesson in their blog here.

Want to learn more?

The Blackwing Foundation features an entire lettering series for grades 3+. The cool thing is that while these online classes are free and specifically designed for school teachers and their students, this resource is available to EVERYONE!

Check out the entire Pathways to Creativity Lettering Series HERE.

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