Handwriting reading

Handwriting is used for such things as legally identifying people. Analyze your handwriting or someone else’s to see what personality characteristics it reveals.

You will need: White, unlined paper and pen.

1. You can analyze your own handwriting or someone else’s. It’s best to try to get a sample of "normal" handwriting; that is, handwriting that wasn’t written specially to be analyzed. If you’re getting a sample from someone else, don’t tell them why you want it until they’re finished writing. This way, they won’t think about their writing, which can change its characteristics.

2. A handwriting sample should be on a sheet of white, unlined paper. Choose a specific topic to write about (e.g. what you did yesterday, a description of your home, your favorite sport, what you would like to do on your birthday). The topic itself doesn’t really matter; what’s important is concentrating on the topic you’re writing about (not on your handwriting!). The sample should be made up of one or two paragraphs, and finished off with a signature. Now you’re ready to analyze the handwriting.

3. Letter Slope: How do the words and letters slant? This feature gives insights into a person’s sociability. The greater the slant, the more extreme the personality characteristic.

   1. Right: Outgoing, open to other people’s ideas and experiences.

   2. Left: Shy, doesn’t feel comfortable with people.

   3. Straight: Very independent, little concern about other people or what they think.

4. Line Slope: How do the lines of handwriting slope (i.e. from left to right) on the page? This feature is influenced by a person’s mood at the time he or she wrote the sample.

   1. Rising: Optimistic and energetic.

   2. Falling: Worried, lack of confidence.

   3. Straight: Self-controlled, reliable.

5. Flow: How are letters in words connected to each other? This feature gives insights into the way a person thinks.

   1. All connected: Rational, logical.

   2. Some connected, others not: Imaginative, depends on hunches and intuition.

   3. Few connected: Dreamer, not always practical.

6. Pressure: How hard does the person press the pen when he or she is writing? Check this by using your finger to feel for grooves and ridges on the underside of the page. This feature gives insights into health and will-power.

   1. Heavy pressure: Healthy, forceful, can be stubborn.

   2. Light pressure: May be physically-weak, sensitive.

7. Capital Letters: How do capital letters look relative to other letters? This feature gives insights into howsomeone views himself/herself.

   1. Very large: Conceited, arrogant, perhaps dishonest.

   2. Same size as small letters: Modest, humble.

8. 'T': Some letters are key in analysing handwriting. What does the "t" look like? How is it crossed? This feature helps a graphologist put other features/personality characteristics into context.

   1. Long line: Aggressive, passionate,may anger easily.

   2. Short line: Fixed ideas, can find it difficult to make decisions, lacks passion.

   3. Thick line: Wants to be in charge.

   4. Thin line: Timid,weak will.

9. 'I': What does the "i" look like? How is it dotted? This feature helps a graphologist put other features/personality characteristics into context.

   1. Dot is high above stem: Unrealistic, focuses on tiny details instead of bigger picture.

   2. Dot close to stem: Doesn’t share easily.

   3. Dot centred above stem: Pays attention to details, over-precise.

   4. Dot to the right of stem: Tends to act very hastily, dynamic.

   5. Dash-like dot: Anxious, sense of responsibility.

   6. Circle dots: Stubborn, fussy.

   7. No dot: Careless, poor memory.

10. Signature: Signatures aren’t usually like normal handwriting. Most people develop and practice a particular signature. Your signature is your own personal stamp. A signature often reveals what a person thinks they are like or would like to be like. Compare the signature to the rest of the handwriting sample. Do letters look the same? What about capital letters? Is the signature decorated in any way? Is it larger than the rest of the handwriting? Is the full first and second name included? Are initials used? What insights can you get into personality?