Cursive J

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The capital J and the small j both hang below the baseline. Above the baseline the capital is the higher one: it touches the cap height, and the small j, dot included, rises 0.78 as far. Top to bottom, the small j measures 0.86 of the capital. The widths are closer still, with the small j at 0.91 of the capital.

Capital J, arch over loop

A single line forms the whole capital J. Above the baseline it is an open arch, and under the baseline it is a closed loop.

The arch has a free, blunt tip on its left side. The tip is low down, nearer the baseline than the x-height. From there the arch goes up the left side, touches the cap height, and comes down the right side as a long slanted line.

The slanted line passes through the baseline and widens into a loop shaped like a teardrop, whose bottom rests on the descender line. The other side of the loop cuts back across the slanted line right around the baseline.

Out of the loop the line stops at the right in a blunt tip. This tip is the point of the capital J furthest right, and it is at about the same height as the tip of the arch.

Small j, a dot and a loop

The small j is a slanted line with a dot above it and a loop below. The upper end of the line is blunt and stops at the x-height, and no line leads into it from the left.

The dot is round and separate. It lies up and to the right of the blunt end, above the x-height and short of the cap height.

Under the baseline the slanted line swells into a closed loop, which leans to the left and bottoms out on the descender line. The loop closes just under the baseline, where its left side passes back over the slanted line. Right of that crossing the line pokes out and stops short, and its blunt tip is barely higher than the baseline.

The dot holds the point of the small j furthest right. The point furthest left is out on the leaning loop.

Alike below the baseline, different above

From the baseline down, the capital J and the small j match. Each has a slanted line running into a closed loop, the loop reaches the descender line, and a short tip comes out of it to the right. That loop is the one enclosed space of each letter.

Above the baseline they differ. The capital has an open arch that goes up to the cap height. The small letter has a bare line up to the x-height, with a dot over it.

No word here ends in j

Seven words show the small j, and the list has no word with j at the end.

Capital J and capital Z, small j and small i

The capital J looks like the capital Z of this font. Below the baseline both make the same wide loop out to the left. Both end with a line that rises to the right across the baseline, and both tops touch the cap height. The tops are not shaped alike, though. On the capital J the top is a tall arch whose left side hangs down past the x-height. On the capital Z it is a wide curve that comes back to a sharp point below the x-height.

The small j has a look-alike as well, the small i, and those two are compared on the page for i.

• Capital Z
• Small iDescribed on the page for I