Cursive numbers 0 to 9
The Palmer Method of Business Writing (1915) teaches most of the figures in lessons of their own, each with a count to keep time in class drill and a speed to work up to. This page gives the manual’s own words for each figure, quoted exactly.
Only 1 and 6 are drawn. The pictures on this site come from the outlines of one school-cursive typeface, and for the other eight figures that typeface’s shape is different from Palmer’s copies. Rather than show a figure that does not match the words beside it, those sections say where the two differ and give the words alone.
Count and speed for each figure
The count is the one the manual gives for class drill, counted for each figure made. Where the manual gives no count or speed for a figure, the table says so.
| Figure | Count used in class drill | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | not given | not given |
| 1 | not given | not given |
| 2 | “count of three” | “seventy-five a minute” |
| 3 | “Count one, two, three” | “seventy figures a minute” |
| 4 | “Count one, two, three” | “sixty to seventy a minute” |
| 5 | “Count one, two, three” | “About seventy good figures should be made to the minute” |
| 6 | “count of two” | not given |
| 7 | “count of one, two” | “about eighty-five to the minute” |
| 8 | not given | “sixty to seventy a minute” |
| 9 | “count of two” | not given |
Cursive 0 (zero)
No drawing for 0. The 1915 manual has no lesson of its own for zero; it appears only in the mixed figure drills, so there are no words of Palmer’s to quote here. In the manual’s printed copies the zero is about three-quarters the height of the other figures, while the typeface draws it full height.
Cursive 1 (one)
“In making figure one, draw the hand toward you with a quick light motion, sliding on the third and fourth fingers.”
“Uniformity in the height and slant are the two important points to observe.”
Cursive 2 (two)
No drawing for 2. In Palmer’s copies the two ends in a small loop before running out along the line; the typeface’s two has a flat bottom with no loop.
“The development and application of a lateral oval motion will aid in the construction of figure two.”
“In making it in class drill a count of three should be used, thus—one, two, three, one, two, three, etc., or dot, two, three.”
“As soon as fair progress has been made in making figure two, an effort should be made to bring the rate of speed to seventy-five a minute.”
Cursive 3 (three)
No drawing for 3. Palmer’s three starts with a small loop, and the manual has it practised right after a motion exercise; the typeface’s three is two even curves with no loop.
“Notice the exercise preceding figure three in lesson sixty-five.”
“The motion produces the figure; learn this motion thoroughly.”
“Count one, two, three, or dot, two, three, and make seventy figures a minute.”
Cursive 4 (four)
No drawing for 4. Palmer says the last part of the four usually rises above the first; in the typeface both parts end at the same height.
“Four rests on the base line, and usually the last part extends above the first.”
“Count one, two, three, and make from sixty to seventy a minute.”
Cursive 5 (five)
No drawing for 5. Palmer says the top bar of the five is made last, as a separate stroke; the typeface joins the bar to the rest of the figure in one outline, so a drawing here would suggest the wrong order.
“Figure five is in a large measure dependent upon the horizontal stroke at the top for its legibility.”
“This horizontal line should be made last.”
“About seventy good figures should be made to the minute.”
“Count one, two, three.”
Cursive 6 (six)
“A count of three is used in figures four and five also, but for figures six, seven, and nine, use a count of two.”
Cursive 7 (seven)
No drawing for 7. Palmer’s seven goes below the baseline; the typeface’s seven sits on it.
“Seven extends below the base.”
“Make this figure in a count of one, two, at the rate of about eighty-five to the minute.”
Cursive 8 (eight)
No drawing for 8. Palmer’s eight begins with an S-shaped curve and is narrow and slanted; the typeface’s eight is two round loops stacked up. The drill he points to, drill 84, is a printed exercise that is not reproduced here.
“The compound curve at the left on the first line in drill 84, and the arrow in the first figure show how 8 begins.”
“After a few minutes’ drill on figure eight at a speed of sixty to seventy a minute, miscellaneous figures should be introduced.”
Cursive 9 (nine)
No drawing for 9. Palmer’s nine has a tail that runs below the baseline, like his g; the typeface’s nine sits on the baseline.
“A count of three is used in figures four and five also, but for figures six, seven, and nine, use a count of two.”
“The g ending bluntly below the base line, is just like the figure nine.”
What the manual says about all the figures
“It is very important, then, that each figure should be so formed that its value, in groups or by itself, cannot be mistaken.”
“One-eighth of an inch is perhaps high enough for ordinary figures, while in some places it will be an advantage to make them even smaller.”
“No particular order is necessary, but the aim should be to repeat one as often as another.”
“Compare your figures with the copies and make all figures small and disconnected.”
Quotes are checked word for word against the text of the 1915 edition when the site is built. See how this site is made.