Cursive Text Generator

Cursive text in Unicode: the script and bold script alphabets

Cursive copy-and-paste text is built on two Unicode alphabets, mathematical script and mathematical bold script. The bold one is a single unbroken run of 52 letters. The light one has eleven letters stored in an older block, which is why it can look uneven.

Two alphabets, one with gaps

Bold script runs without a break from 𝓐 (U+1D4D0) to 𝔃 (U+1D503). Light script starts at 𝒜 (U+1D49C), but the capitals B, E, F, H, I, L, M and R and the small letters e, g and o had already been encoded in the Letterlike Symbols block, where ℬ is U+212C. Unicode does not encode the same character twice, so those positions in the newer block are left reserved.

Because these eleven letters are handled separately from the rest, a light script word can show a few letters with a different weight or slant from their neighbours. Bold script avoids the problem.

Not joined-up handwriting

Each script letter is a separate character with no joining behaviour, so whether the strokes appear to connect depends on the font that draws them. Unicode has no script digits or punctuation, and no accented script letters: numbers and letters such as é stay plain. Script letters in the mathematical block take two UTF-16 units each, so they can reach a character limit sooner than plain text.

Discord, search and screen readers

Discord has no cursive formatting. Its Markdown gives italics, which stay ordinary searchable text. Script characters can be pasted into a message, a display name or a server nickname, but not into the unique username. Screen readers may read script letters one at a time with names such as "mathematical bold script small a", or skip them, and search does not match them to plain letters. Keep names people must find or read aloud in ordinary letters.

More questions

How do I write cursive text on Discord?

Discord has no cursive option, so paste Unicode script characters into the message, display name or nickname. For plain emphasis that stays searchable, wrap the words in single asterisks for italics.

Why do some letters in my cursive word look different from the rest?

Eleven light script letters, including B, E, H, L and R, sit outside the main script range and are often drawn from a different font. Switch to the bold style, which has all 52 letters in one range.

Are there cursive numbers?

No. Unicode encodes script letters only, so digits and punctuation stay in the normal font of the app.

Is ℬ the same character as 𝓑?

No. ℬ is SCRIPT CAPITAL B (U+212C) from Letterlike Symbols and belongs to the light alphabet. 𝓑 is MATHEMATICAL BOLD SCRIPT CAPITAL B (U+1D4D1).