3 Rules on How To Connect Letters When Hand Lettering

Hello lettering friends! Some lettering connections can feel so tricky. Because there are so many different styles, there isn’t just one right way to connect each letter. However, there are some basics that you can apply to any style. Here I have three basic rules to keep in mind to connect letters that will improve your hand lettering and make those tricky connections hopefully a little bit easier. 

Before we dive in on my hand lettering connection tips, I want to put a little disclaimer out there. Remember that you can break all of these rules if you need to as long as you are intentional. We’re not a computer font, so it’s okay if it doesn’t turn out perfectly! The best part of hand lettering is that you get to create it yourself. The goal of these rules is to help you feel confident in connecting your own unique and individual style of letters.

Letter Connecting Rule Number One: The Spacing

You want to make sure your space between each letter is consistent. This is key to having effortless and beautiful letter connections. Building this muscle memory takes a lot of practice while uncovering your lettering style. The spacing size doesn’t matter, but you want to ensure that the amount of space is relatively the same throughout.

Letter Connecting Rule Number Two: The Curve

Just like with the spacing consistency, you want to be consistent with the curve of your connection. Do you like it to be round or sharp? Neither way is the right way as it depends on what you prefer. This is really important when lettering “O,” “V,” “W,” “G,” and “Y” letters. Any letters with a descending stroke will need to have consistent strokes.

Letter Connecting Rule Number Three: The Connection Point

You should be able to draw a straight line through the spot where each letter connects. Once again, it doesn’t matter exactly where the connection point is, just as long as you are consistent. You can play around with going higher or lower as it gives a different feel and style just by moving that connection point. However, some letters don’t have this connection point because you don’t lift your pen before the letter. Instead, it goes straight into the letter. For example, “S”, “R”, “X” and “Z”. Because of this reason is why there are some common tricky letters to connect. For the letter “R” and other tricky connection letters, you want to make sure that you are thinking ahead and extending the previous letter to go far enough to be the start of those tricky letters.

If you are still looking for more connection help, I have an entire chapter dedicated to letter connections in my book “Hand Lettering for Beginners.” Inside the book, there are practice worksheets with different letters grouped, giving you several different ways to connect each type. This is hugely beneficial because sometimes when you’re struggling with a particular connection, it is helpful to try switching up the style since there isn’t only one right way to connect each letter. The book is available now for pre-order on Amazon!

I would love to know if any of these letter connecting tips helped you. Do you have any other tricks that help you as well with connections? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!