Cursive Z

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Half of the small z is under the baseline: it reaches as far below that line as it rises above it. The capital Z goes just as deep, since both letters touch the descender line. Higher up they separate. The top curve of the small z touches the x-height and the top curve of the capital Z touches the cap height, so above the baseline the small one is 0.51 of the capital. Loop and all, the small z is 0.68 as tall as the capital and 0.69 as wide.

Capital Z, a wide upper curve

A free blunt tip marks the upper left of the capital Z. It lies above the x-height and well under the cap height.

From that tip a wide curve arches over and touches the cap height. The capital Z is furthest right on this curve, well above the x-height, and from there the curve sweeps down to the left. At the left it comes to a sharp turn, roughly as far above the baseline as it is below the x-height.

From the sharp turn a tighter curve swings out to the right and down through the baseline, into a long closed loop. The loop goes down to the descender line, and the furthest-left point of the capital Z is on it.

The left side of the loop rises and crosses the tighter curve at the baseline. Above the baseline the line keeps rising toward the right, and its blunt tip is lower than the sharp turn.

Small z, half hanging below

At the upper left of the small z a blunt tip sits a little under the x-height. A curve arches from it over to the right and touches the x-height. From there the curve sweeps down to the left and comes to a sharp turn, about a quarter of the way up from the baseline.

Out of the sharp turn a short curve bends right and down and passes the baseline. It becomes a long closed loop that reaches the descender line, and the small z has its furthest-left point on that loop. The loop closes at the baseline, where the line coming up its left side crosses the short curve.

On the right the small z finishes in a blunt tip about level with the sharp turn. Nothing else on the letter is as far right as that tip.

A curve, a sharp turn and a loop on both

Both letters have the same parts in the same places: a curve at the top, a sharp turn at the left, and a closed loop below the baseline that crosses back to a tip at the right. They differ in where the furthest-right point is. On the capital Z it is on the upper curve, and on the small z it is the tip where the line ends.

A t before the z in hertz and waltz

Hertz and waltz have the small z last, after a t, and showbiz has it last after an i.

Capital Z beside capital J

The capital Z has the capital J for a look-alike in this font.

• Capital JDescribed on the page for J