The Development of the Twinkl Handwriting Font

The original idea behind the Twinkl Handwriting font was to fulfil a need from users for a high-quality
cursive font that could be used in digital products to help children to develop a cursive handwriting style.

The Twinkl Handwriting font was designed by the highly-respected typography company, TypeTogether,
who create custom type solutions for discerning clients worldwide. Veronika Burian and José Scaglione,
both with Masters degrees in type design from the University of Reading, worked alongside the Twinkl
team to develop this unique typeface.
From many different user requests, we knew that the font would need to cater for a broad
range of handwriting styles currently adopted by schools. This is why there are three main
options for you to choose from:
Downloading and Installing the Twinkl Handwriting Font
How do I install the Twinkl handwriting font in Windows?

1 Extract the files you have downloaded from the Twinkl website.

Click on the “Download” button, save the zip somewhere on your hard disk, go to the place
where it is saved, double-click on the zip to open it, then either click on “Extract all files” or
drag and drop the files elsewhere from the zip window (hold down the CTRL key to select
several files at once).
For older versions of Windows you must install an unzip tool first.
 How do I install the Twinkl handwriting font in Windows?

2 Install the font.

Under Windows 10/8/7/Vista:

Select the font files (.ttf) then Right-click > Install

Under any version of Windows:

Place the font files (.ttf) into the Fonts folder, usually C:\Windows\Fonts or C:\WINNT\Fonts
(can be reached as well by the Start Menu > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Fonts).

Please note that with the internal unzip tool of Windows (unlike Winzip), you cannot install a
font by a simple drag and drop of the .ttf from the zip window to the Fonts window. You must
first drag and drop it anywhere (for example on the desktop) then into the Fonts folder.

You can also go through: File > Install a new font... in the Fonts folder menu then browse the
fonts, instead of drag and drop the fonts into the window. Although this method is laborious, it
would seem that it functions better in some cases.
Downloading and Installing the Twinkl Handwriting Font
How do I install the Twinkl handwriting font in Mac OS?

On Mac OS X files are compressed, you may need a utility like Stuffit Expander.

Under Mac OS X 10.3 or above:

Double-click the font file > “Install font” button at the bottom of the preview.

Mac OS X 10.3 or Below:

Put the files into /Library/Fonts (for all users), or into /Users/Your_username/Library/Fonts (for
you only).

Under Mac OS 9 or earlier:

First, you have to convert the font files (.ttf) you have downloaded. Then drag the fonts
suitcases into the System folder. The system will propose you to add them to the Fonts folder.
How to Use the Twinkl Handwriting Font
There are three styles of cursive available in the Twinkl Cursive fonts; cursive, continuous cursive and
precursive. The steps below explain how to use each of these fonts in Microsoft Word. Unfortunately
Microsoft PowerPoint does not support the ‘joined’ lettering feature.

1.Download Twinkl Cursive from the Twinkl Website.

2.Install the Twinkl cursive fonts. These are named Twinkl Cursive Unlooped, Twinkl Cursive Looped
and Twinkl Precursive.

Twinkl Cursive Unlooped (used for cursive)

1. Type your words, with the font set to ‘Twinkl Cursive Unlooped’.
The joins won’t look correct at this point.

2. Select the text that’s using the font ‘Twinkl Cursive Unlooped’.
 Twinkl Cursive Unlooped (used for cursive)

3. Go to the font menu. You can do this by either right clicking the highlighted text
and selecting font, pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) or clicking the ‘more’
arrow from the font section of the toolbar.

4. Go to ‘Advanced’.

5. To correct the joins, check the box next to ‘Use

Contextual Alternatives’.

6. Once complete, click ‘OK’ and the font should now

have the correct joins.
How to Use the Twinkl Handwriting Font
Twinkl Cursive Looped (used for continuous cursive)

1. Type your words, with the font set to ‘Twinkl Cursive Looped’. The joins won’t
look correct at this point.

2. Select the text that’s using the font ‘Twinkl Cursive Looped’.

3. Go to the font menu. You can do this by either right clicking the highlighted text
and selecting font, pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) or clicking the ‘more’
arrow from the font section of the toolbar..

4. Go to ‘Advanced’.
 Twinkl Cursive Unlooped (used for continuous cursive)

5. To correct the joins, check the box next to

‘Use Contextual Alternatives’.

6. To add lead-ins, set the ‘stylistic set’ to ‘2’.

7. Once complete, click ‘OK’ and the font should

now have the correct joins and use lead-ins (if
required).
How to use the Stylistic Sets
Twinkl Cursive Unlooped (used for cursive)
Within the Twinkl Cursive fonts alternative letters can be accessed in the Stylistic Sets menu. These
sets are made up of predetermined alternative letter and number options e.g. Straight 1’s or looped f’s.

How to apply Stylistic Sets

1. Select the text that’s using the font ‘Twinkl Cursive UnLooped’

2. Go to the font menu. You can do this by either

right clicking the highlighted text and selecting
font, pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) or
clicking the ‘more’ arrow from the font section
of the toolbar.

2. Go to ‘Advanced’
 How to use the Stylistic Sets

4. Click the drop down menu next to Stylistic Sets and choose the set that will fit
your needs based on the information in the table below.
How to use the Stylistic Sets
Twinkl Cursive Looped (used for continuous cursive)

1. Select the text that’s using the font ‘Twinkl Cursive Looped’

2. Go to the font menu. You can do this by

either right clicking the highlighted text and
selecting font, pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on
Mac) or clicking the ‘more’ arrow from the
font section of the toolbar.

3. Go to ‘Advanced’

4. Click the drop down menu next to

Stylistic Sets and choose the set that
will fit your needs based on the
information in the table on the next
slide.
How to use the Stylistic Sets
How to Replace Specific Letters
Twinkl Cursive (Unlooped and Looped)
Rather than using a predetermined stylistic set you can opt to change single letters or numbers instead.

How to Replace Specific Letters

1. Select the text that’s using the font ‘Twinkl Cursive Looped’ or ‘Twinkl Cursive
Unlooped’

2. Go to the font menu. You can do this by

either right clicking the highlighted text adnd
selecting font, pressing Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on
Mac) or clicking the ‘more’ arrow from the
font section of the toolbar.

3. Go to ‘Advanced’

4. Check the box titled ‘Use contextual

alternatives’ and then press ‘OK’
 How to Replace Specific Letters

5. Next, to change specific letters select text and go to ‘Edit > Find > Advanced
Find and Replace’.

6. Go to the replace tab

7. Set ‘find’ to ‘f’ and replace to ‘f’.

 How to Replace Specific Letters

8. Still on the ‘Replace’ section, with the curser within

the ‘Replace with’ section, click the arrow (to the
left of replace all) to show the more options and go
to Replace>Font

9. The Font Options box will appear – go to

‘Advanced’ and select Stylistic Set ‘3’ (which is for
the unlooped ‘f’) and click ‘OK’

9. Once the find and replace has then ran, only the
d
lower case ‘f’ letters should have changed.

10. This should work for any other letters/numbers as

required, if available in the font (Refer to Slides 13
& 15)
How to Use the Twinkl Handwriting Font
Twinkl Precursive

1. You are able to type your words, with the font set to ‘Twinkl Precursive’, without
any further formatting required for the font to work correctly.
The Twinkl Handwriting Scheme!

This scheme offers the choice between two of the Twinkl cursive handwriting styles within
separate activity packs; meaning schools can either choose to follow the ‘Journey to
Cursive Handwriting’ or the ‘Journey to Continuous Cursive’ programme. Both sets of
materials take pupils on a journey that works through the progressive stages suggested in
the National Curriculum. Every activity pack includes an easy-to-follow Handwriting Help
Card, an accompanying Lesson Presentation with illustrative animations, guidance posters,
and corresponding activity sheets.
If you have any difficulties downloading, installing or using the Twinkl cursive font,
or you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our lovely
Twinkl Customer Support Team.