Cursive Fonts in Microsoft Word

Use Word's font menu for a true document font

In Microsoft Word, a cursive-looking document should normally use a real font rather than paste decorative Unicode characters into every word. Select the text, open the Font control on the Home tab, and choose a script or handwriting typeface that is available in your current Word installation.

Microsoft's current cloud-font documentation says cloud fonts are available in supported recent Office/Word apps and lists script or handwriting choices including Segoe Script, Lucida Handwriting Italic, Brush Script MT Italic, Bradley Hand ITC, Cavolini and Monotype Corsiva. Availability can still depend on your Word version, platform, Microsoft 365 access, connected-experience settings and organization policy, so the live font menu is the final check.

Choose by readability, not only by style

• Test capitals, lowercase, punctuation and numbers in the exact phrase you will use.
• Use expressive script fonts mainly for headings, invitations or short display lines unless body text remains easy to read.
• If a recipient may not have a custom local font, prefer a Microsoft cloud font supported by the apps you share with or export the finished layout to a format that preserves appearance.

Official Microsoft references (checked September 23, 2026):

• Cloud fonts in Office — current availability notes and cloud-font list.
• Change the default font in Word — current Word font-selection/default workflow.