Free printable tracing worksheets as PDF

Dot Dot Font: Free Dotted Tracing Font

Type your text to see it in dotted tracing letters on handwriting lines, then print it, save a PDF or download the font.

A dot dot font shows each letter as a line of dots along the path a pen takes, so a child can trace over the dots to practise writing. This page has a free dotted letters generator that runs in your web browser, with no sign-up. Type any text and the preview updates as you type. You can then print the worksheet or download a PDF that prints at true size. You can also download two free font files, if you want dotted letters inside Word or another program. Use the generator for quick tracing sheets, or the fonts for a dotted line font for tracing in your own documents.

How to make dotted letters for tracing

  1. Type your words in Your text. Each line becomes its own handwriting row. You can enter up to 600 characters. The default text is “Practice makes progress.”
  2. Choose a Row size: Extra large (1 in), Large (3/4 in, the default), Medium (5/8 in), Small (1/2 in) or Extra small (3/8 in). The size is measured from the top line to the baseline.
  3. Pick a Tracing style: Dots (the default), Dashes, Grey or Solid black.
  4. Turn options on or off: Handwriting guide lines, Green start dots (on by default, marking where each stroke starts) and Direction arrows (small red arrows showing which way each stroke goes).
  5. Set Rows per line of text from 1 to 5. Turn on Solid black model row first to show a complete example before tracing, and turn on Add an empty row to write on if the child should practise below the dots.
  6. Add a title (the default is “Trace the words”) and a Name and date line if you need them.
  7. Choose US Letter or A4 paper size and check the preview.
  8. Click Print, Download PDF or Copy link.

Print opens your browser’s print dialog with only the worksheet pages. Download PDF builds a vector PDF in your browser that prints at true size. Copy link copies a link that reopens the same settings, including your text. Long text runs onto more pages. Text never shrinks to fit, so it wraps at spaces instead.

What is a dot dot font?

A dot dot font draws each letter as a row of dots along the path a pen would take. A child traces over the dots, so the letter shape is there to follow, and the stroke order is practised at the same time.

The letters in this generator are single-stroke school print, also called ball-and-stick manuscript. This is the style used in many US school handwriting programs. Sticks are straight lines drawn from the top down. Circles are round and start at about 2 o’clock, moving counter-clockwise. The letters a and g have a single storey. Each letter’s strokes follow the usual school order and direction, so the dots teach the same movements a teacher would model on the board.

Other tracing styles show the same path in a different way: Dashes, Grey, or Solid black. A solid black model row gives a child a clear example to copy first. Green start dots mark where each stroke begins, which helps when a child keeps starting in the wrong place.

How do I install a font on Windows or Mac?

Installing a font makes it appear in programs such as Microsoft Word. Download TracingPDF Dots or TracingPDF Dots Lined. Both are TrueType (.ttf) files with the same letter shapes as the generator.

On Windows, right-click the .ttf file and choose Install, or Install for all users. On a Mac, double-click the file and click Install Font in Font Book. Once installed, the font is ready to use in any program that reads installed fonts.

What size should a dotted font be for tracing?

Bigger is better for young children. In the generator, Extra large (1 inch from the top line to the baseline) suits preschoolers, Large (3/4 inch, the default) suits kindergarten, and Medium or Small suit first and second grade. In Word, the font size sets the same height: with TracingPDF Dots at 72 pt, capital letters are about 0.7 inch tall, and at 48 pt about 0.47 inch. With TracingPDF Dots Lined the four handwriting lines grow and shrink with the font size, so keep every line of a document at the same size or the guide lines will not match.

Both font files contain the lowercase and capital letters, the digits 0–9 and common punctuation; other symbols are left out.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a dotted font in Microsoft Word?

Install TracingPDF Dots or TracingPDF Dots Lined, as described above. Restart Word if it was open. Then choose the font name from Word’s font list and set the size to 48–72 pt, so the dots are easy to trace.

Can I use the dotted font in Google Docs?

No. Google Docs can only use its own font list, and it cannot use fonts installed on your computer. Use the text generator on this page instead, then print the worksheet or download the PDF. The same applies on a phone.

Can I make dotted letters without installing a font?

Yes. Type your text into the generator on this page, choose your settings, and then print the worksheet or download the PDF. No font installation is needed.

Is the dotted font free for school use?

Yes. The font is licensed under the SIL Open Font License 1.1 (copyright SKYSEED TECH LLC). This allows free use at home, at school, and in printed or sold worksheets. You may share the font file, but you may not sell it on its own.

Which font file should I choose?

Choose TracingPDF Dots for dotted letters only. Choose TracingPDF Dots Lined if you want the four handwriting lines built into every character, including the space, so a typed line shows continuous guide lines.