Writing a cheque feels like a relic from another era. In a world of instant bank transfers, digital wallets, and tapping your phone at the grocery store, pulling out a paper booklet feels almost medieval. But then it happens. Your landlord doesn't take Venmo. You’re settling a large real estate closing. Or maybe you're gifting money to a relative who wouldn't know an app from an appetizer. Suddenly, knowing how to properly write a cheque becomes the most important skill in your financial toolkit.
One tiny slip-up and the bank kicks it back. Now you're dealing with "Non-Sufficient Funds" (NSF) fees or, worse, a late payment penalty because your "7" looked too much like a "1." It’s annoying.
The Anatomy of the Slip
Before you even touch pen to paper, look at the thing. It’s a legal contract. That’s what people forget. A cheque is a formal instruction to your financial institution to move specific assets. If the instruction is vague, the bank protects itself by doing nothing.
The top right corner is for the date. Seems simple? Not always. If you post-date a cheque—meaning you write a future date—the recipient is technically supposed to wait until that day to deposit it. But here is the kicker: many automated banking systems don't even look at the date anymore. They just scan the numbers. If you’re writing a cheque to someone you don’t fully trust, don’t rely on a future date to keep your money safe. Only write the cheque when the funds are actually in the account.
Why the "Legal Line" Rules Everything
Most people focus on the little box for the numbers. That’s the "courtesy amount." But the long line in the middle? That’s where the "legal amount" lives. Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) in the United States, if the numbers in the box and the words on the line don't match, the words win.
Every single time.
If you write $100.00 in the box but accidentally write "One Thousand Dollars" on the line, the bank is legally allowed to process it for a thousand bucks. Talk about a heart attack. When you are figuring out how to properly write a cheque, you need to write the words as far to the left as possible. Don't leave a gap. If you leave a big space before "Fifty dollars," a dishonest person could easily write "Nine hundred" in front of it.
Draw a thick line through any remaining empty space after the words. This "striking through" prevents anyone from adding extra zeros or words to your payment. It’s an old-school security feature that still works in 2026.
The Payee and the Memo
Who is this for? Write the name of the person or organization clearly. If you’re paying a utility company, use their full legal name, not a nickname. "The Electric Co." might get rejected; "Metropolitan Edison Services" will go through.
Then there’s the memo line. It’s optional, but you’re crazy if you don’t use it. If you're paying rent, write "January 2026 Rent." If it’s for a specific invoice, put the invoice number there. It’s your paper trail. When you’re digging through bank statements six months from now trying to remember why you sent someone $400, you’ll thank yourself.
Security Secrets: The Pen Matters
Don’t use a pencil. Don't use a felt-tip marker that bleeds. You want a blue or black ballpoint pen. Why? Because of "cheque washing."
Criminals use chemicals to erase the ink on a cheque and rewrite the amount and the payee to themselves. Experts like Frank Abagnale—the guy the movie Catch Me If You Can was based on—have long recommended using "uni-ball Signo 207" pens or similar gel pens with pigmented ink. These inks actually trap themselves in the fibers of the paper. You can’t wash them off with acetone or bleach without destroying the paper itself. It’s a $2 investment that prevents a $2,000 headache.
The Signature: Your Financial Thumbprint
Your signature is the "Go" signal. Without it, the paper is just a piece of trash. Make sure it matches the signature the bank has on file. If you’ve changed your name or your handwriting has significantly degraded over the last decade, you might want to update your signature card at the local branch.
Interestingly, some people try to be clever by signing with a "restricted endorsement" on the back, but for the front of the cheque, just keep it consistent. Use your standard legal signature.
Common Pitfalls and Myths
I’ve heard people say that if you write "Void after 90 days" on a cheque, the bank has to honor that. Honestly? They might, but they don't have to. Most cheques are legally valid for six months (180 days). After that, they become "stale-dated." A bank can still choose to cash a stale-dated cheque if they believe it’s valid, but most tellers will flag it.
What about writing a cheque to "Cash"?
Just don't.
If you write a cheque to "Cash" and drop it on the sidewalk, anyone who picks it up can walk into a bank and get your money. It’s effectively a blank banknote at that point. If you need cash, go to the ATM. If you must use a cheque, make it out to your own name.
Keeping the Ledger
Every chequebook comes with those little register pages in the back. Use them. The second you rip a cheque out, write down the number, the date, and the amount. In the digital age, we've become lazy. We assume the app will tell us what we spent. But a cheque can take days—sometimes weeks—to clear. If you forget you wrote that $500 cheque and spend that money elsewhere, you’re headed straight for an overdraft.
What to Do If You Mess Up
If you're midway through writing and your hand slips, don't try to "fix" the number. Don't scribble over it and write the correct one above. This looks like fraud.
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Just write "VOID" in huge letters across the front of the cheque. Rip it up and start over. Most banks won't accept a cheque with an alteration unless you initial right next to the change, and even then, it’s a gamble. It’s better to waste a piece of paper than to have your payment denied.
Actionable Steps for Flawless Cheque Writing
- Use a Gel Pen: Get a pen with "fraud-resistant" ink to prevent cheque washing.
- Start at the Far Left: When writing out the dollar amount in words, don't leave any space at the beginning of the line.
- Fill the Gaps: Draw a line through any empty space after the payee's name and after the written amount.
- Match the Legal Amount: Ensure the words on the long line exactly match the numbers in the box. If they don't, the bank will follow the words.
- Update Your Ledger Immediately: Subtract the amount from your balance the moment you hand over the cheque.
- Double-Check the Date: Ensure the year is correct—especially in January when everyone is still writing the previous year.
- Protect the Signature: Never sign a blank cheque. Ever.
Once you have followed these steps, your payment is secure and professional. The paper cheque might be old technology, but when it’s handled with a bit of expert care, it remains one of the most reliable ways to move money.