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How To Write a Check
How Do Checks Work?
Endorsing a Check
Free Printable Practice Sheet
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Let’s be honest – show of hands, how many of us actually know how to write a check?
According to a recent study, 74% of Gen Z’s members have never written a check. (For reference, Gen Z was born between approximately 1997 and 2012 – generations aren’t an exact measurement!)
While checks are nowhere near as popular as they used to be, being able to write a check is still an important life skill that every adult should have.
If you’ve never written a check before, there’s no judgement here! Everyone has to learn somehow.
Here is a step-by-step guide for how to write a check correctly.
How to Write a Check
Let’s pretend that our name is John Doe. Last week, our friend, Jane Doe, paid for our dinner when we forgot our wallet. We want to write a check to her for $15.27 to pay her back.
Step 1: Date the check
In black or blue ink (no fun-colored gel pens or pencil, please!), write the date on the space labelled “Date.” It doesn’t matter if you abbreviate it (05/05/25) or write it out long-form (May 5, 2025).
Step 2: Indicate who the check is for
You should see a line on your check labelled “Pay to the order of.” This is where you will write the recipient of the check. It could be a person or a business.
Step 3: Indicate the amount the check is for
There are two parts to this step! First, write the amount you want the check to be for in the box toward the right-hand side of the check.
Then, write that amount out again, this time in words (with a fraction for any change).
Suppose you want to write a check for $15.27. In the box, you would write 15.27 and on the line you would write “Fifteen and 27/100.” The fraction is over 100 because each dollar is 100 cents! If your amount doesn’t have any change, you would write 00/100.
Step 4: Indicate what the check is for
On the line labelled “Memo,” you can make a note of what the check is meant to be used for. This is the only part of the check-writing process that isn’t mandatory. Financial institutions will accept checks without a memo, but they will not accept checks missing any of the other elements.
Step 5: Sign the check
Use your best cursive and sign the check on the line at the bottom right!
You’re done!
Now you can give the check to its intended recipient.
How Do Checks Work?
Now that we know how to write a check, let’s talk a little about how they actually let you give and receive money.
At the very bottom of the check are a few strings of numbers (highlighted in red in the image below).
The first set is the routing number. This is a unique string of 9 digits that identifies your financial institution.
For reference, Spero’s routing number is 253279277. Every check issued for a Spero account will have that number printed on it. When a Spero member writes a check for someone at another credit union or bank, that institution will know those funds are coming from Spero based on that routing number.
After the routing number comes your account number. Your account number is a unique combination of numbers that identifies your specific account. This lets your financial institution know which account the funds for the check should come out of. In this example, the account number is 0000000000.
The final string of numbers – 0001 in this case – simply restates the check number from the top right corner of the check.
Bonus Lesson: Endorsing a Check!
When you deposit a check that you have received, you have to endorse it first!
To endorse a check, sign the back of it in the indicated space. Do not write in any other areas of the back of the check – that can lead to the check being voided.
For this example, we will take Jane’s place. Once she receives her check from John, she will need to endorse it to deposit it at her bank or credit union.
Once she has signed the back of the check, Jane can deposit it and she will receive the funds within a few days.
Knowledge Check (See What We Did There?)
Now that you know how to write a check, put your skills to the test! Click the button below to download a practice sheet that lets you try it out without using up real checks.
This material is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
