CHAPTER 2

SCIENTIFIC HANDWRITING
IDENTIFICATION
 INTRODUCTION
Every handwriting can be identified with its author
provided it contains the writing habits, the
individualities, the characteristics of the author in
adequate kind and numbers, and provided further that
such writing is subjected to adequate evaluation and
comparison with adequate exemplars of the hand
writing of its author. No handwriting is susceptible of
identification if it is not identified, if its individualities
remain unrecognized.
What is a Handwriting?
 A handwriting may be defined as the result of a
very complicated series of acts, a combination
of certain forms of visible mental and muscular
habit acquired by long continued painstaking
efforts (PNP Brochure)
 Handwriting is a skill useful to a person because a
person who has learned to write can put thoughts on
paper for others to read. The art and practice of
writing is known as penmanship or calligraphy.
 SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION
PROCESS
Several hand writings become subjects of
questioned document cases such as in
ransom notes, poison letters, alleged suicide
note/letters, anonymous letters and threat
letters in matters of authorship. These cases
are submitted for examination to determine
its authenticity and to identify its author
Procedures of Handwriting Examination
Questioned Document Examination or QDE observes
scientific approaches in examining disputed handwritings
and must follow the suggested phases or steps
in proper sequence, as follows:
1) Recognition of handwriting characteristics
2) Comparison of handwriting characteristics
3) Evaluation of handwriting characteristics for opinion
purposes
4) Findings/Conclusions
 I. RECOGNITION OF HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS
Handwriting examination of a questioned document usually
has the following purposes:
1) To determine whether or not a writing in dispute is a forgery,
and
2) To determine whether or not a writing in dispute is that of
another
In the former, the writing is usually denied, therefore the
examiner's job to find out whether it is genuine or forged. In the
latter, a question of authorship is not the problem intended for
the examiner to solve. This arises when a writing is disguised to
hide the true identity of the author or when the author is different
from a suspected author.
Basics of Handwriting Identification. - Like in any
police sciences, specifically dactylography, every
handwriting is identifiable and distinguished from
other handwritings. The process of identification
depends largely on the expertise of the examiner in
conducting the examination and isolates an individual
who have developed the complex structural product
of modifying normal practice and adapting new
styles. Handwriting is identified on the combination of
common and individual characteristics.
 Common characteristics are usually obvious on cursory
examination. whereas the individual characteristics are
hidden and are diligently sought for in order to cast
unreasonable doubt as to the identity of a writing. To have an
objective approach in handwriting identification, one must
acquire the ability to:
a) distinguish what are the styles and individual characteristic.
b) distinguish characteristics which are normal and disguised:
c) make allowances for the presence of natural variations in
handwriting
d) evaluate the significant number of similarities and
dissimilarties in handwriting
All handwritings contain or exhibit certain
identifying properties of elements which
we label as "characteristics" and these
are generally divided into:
1. Class characteristics - common to a
group of writers
2. Individual - highly personal or
peculiar
Principal Factors Governing
Characteristics. - The following are the
principal factors governing these
characteristics:
1) Slant
2) Alignment
3) Proportion
4) Stroke structure
 It must be remembered that when examining
questioned handwriting, the technique is to
categorize handwriting characteristics first, then
focus on the principal factors governing these
characteristics-the slants/slopes, alignment,
proportion, and stroke structure. Examine the
position of slants of letters or words whether the
tendency of slanting or sloping points to the left or
right. Determine alignment as to whether it
ascends, descends, arched, regular or irregular.
Significant item on the ratio and proportion
of letters or words must also be considered
In this regard, are short and high letters
proportionate with its other in relation to the
baseline? Lastly, how are stroke structures
formed? Examine whether the formation of
strokes are in the form of rounded, arched,
oval or elliptical.
 Aside from the principal factors that govern
characteristics mentioned above as the main
consideration in identifying characteristics, other
factors are also considered, such as, but not
limited to:
• movement in writing,
• variations in writing,
• Line quality,
• influence of the writing instrument, etc.
Various Elements of Handwriting. To perform a
hand writing, various elements are combined to
create a distinctive characteristics in writing from
which the document examiner has the duty to
examine and identify such identifying details in
handwriting. The following are the various
elements of handwriting:
A. Movement or Manner of Execution
B. Distinctive Features
C. Individual Characteristics
A. MOVEMENT OR MANNER OF EXECUTION
Movement or Manner of Execution is related to
the handling position of the writing instrument that
creates certain type of motion affecting the quality of
writing done specifically, the skill, speed, freedom,
hesitations, tremors, line quality and alignment. The
different types of movement in writing is caused by the
manner in which the writing instrument is moved
whether by finger, wrist, forearm or whole arm
movement, the outcome of which identifies the
individuality in writing of a particular person.
Kinds of Movement (Source: Truth Verifier System, Inc.)
1) Finger movement. This is
accomplished by using the thumb, the first,
and slightly the third fingers who are in actual
motion. It is one employed by children and
illiterates. By using finger movement in
writing, the results of hand- writing are: poor
quality, lack of rhythm and speed, letters are
cropped. Indications that show finger
movement was used are the following:
• limited in scope, cramp in manner
• most of the vertical writing
• connecting strokes are irregular
• contains numerous broad curves
• lacks of freedom, clear cut, smooth and
graduated strokes
• slow and labored speed
ILLUSTRATION
 2) Hand Movement or Wrist
Movement. In this kind of movement,
action comes from the wrist with the
combination of fingers. The wrist is the
center of action, but with some action of
the fingers. Results of this kind may
show: regularity of lines and
considerable speed.
The following indications show that wrist
movement was used:
• usually the tops and bottom of letters are
narrow and angular
• writing is often illegible, although rapid
• alignment is uneven
• tendency to go upward
• it has greater freedom compared to finger
movement
ILLUSTRATION
 3) Whole Arm Movement. This is actually
the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm
with the support of the table. The center of the
action is the elbow. The results of this kind of
movement are artistic: design, and similar to
blackboard writing. Indications that would show
whole arm movement was used:
• The strokes are generally rhythmic,
symmetrical and clear-cut
• it is rapid and clear
• it is written with greater fluency and
straight forwardness
• alignment is often straight and elongated
• rounded and lateral strokes sharply
tappered
 4) Forearm Movement. When
writing using the forearm, letters are
formed due to the action of the elbow,
forearm resting on the writing surface.
Results of this kind of movement are
clear cut, fine quality regular
gradiations of heavy and light
pressure.
Indications that show forearm
movement was used are the
following:
• longer and embellished strokes
• letters are usually larger in size
 Quality of Movement. One point considered in
determining handwriting characteristics is the Quality of
Movement. Quality of movement may be categorized
into:
a) clumsy, illiterate and halting,
b) hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness,
c) strong, heavy and forceful,
d) nervous and irregular, smooth, flowing and rapid,
depending upon the motion of the writing instrument
and the manner of execution the writer chose to
employ.
The different movements the writer
employed affect writing in its:
a) Smoothness
b) Directness
c) Uniformity
d) Continuity of strokes
e) Connecting or curves between
letters
 Speed of Movement. Another point considered
in determining handwriting characteristics is the
Speed of Movement. The examiner should be able to
identify and categorize the writer's speed of
movement as they are significant in the writer's
identity. Speed of movement are usually categorized
into:
a) Slow and drawn
b) Deliberate
c) Average
d) Rapid
B. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Distinctive features in writing such as in the
following, serve as bases of identifying
handwriting characteristics. Features appearing
in writings is the manner or habit in which the
writer is accustomed in forming the structures of
his letter strokes and that belongs to no other
person but to him only. Examples of distinctive
features in handwriting are the following:
1. Slope or Slant - is the angle or
inclination of the axis of letters relative to
the baseline.
2. Size of Handwriting - means the relative size of the
letters and length of ascending strokes in relation to the
size of another letter. The proportion of height to the
width of letters, the height of initial letter in proportion to
the others or the height and length of the ending letter in
proportion to the initial one may signify habit of writing.
3. Ratio of Writing - it is the relation
between the tall and short letter.
Two Groups of Letters:
a) Short - these are the letters written entirely
between the lines.
Examples: a, c, e, l, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, x
b) Tall - these are letters with upper or lower loop or
with the projected portions. Examples: d. b. f. g. q, h, j, k, l.
p, t, y, z
When two specimens of handwriting have similar ratio,
they cannot be considered to have one authorship, when
two specimens have a widely different ratio, they are likely
to have been written by the same person. Ratio in
handwriting once fixed is very seldom altered.
4. Initial Stroke- refers to the initiation or start of a
stroke structure

5. Terminal Spur - a short extended stroke on the

terminal stroke
6. Connecting strolkes - strokes that connect between
letters of the word.

Classifications of Connecting strokes:

7. Hiatus - is defined as the failure to complete the junction
between two letters without lifting the pen.

8. Pen Lift - an interruption in a stroke caused by removing

the writing instrument from the paper.
9. Hesitation - is the irregular thickening of the ink line when
the writing slow down or stops while the writer takes stock of
the position.

10. Lateral spacing - in defining spacing, it should be observed from

three points of view: a) the space between the letters; b) space between
words and words; c) space between lines and lines.
11. Line Quality - this may refer to the features of the lines
and curve of the handwriting. Line quality can be either good
or poor.

12. Speed in Writing - writing is executed either

fast or rapid, slow or drawn, deliberate or average.
Principles of Test of Speed:
a) Slow - heavy pressure, pen lifts, blunt
initial and terminal strokes
b) Very rapid - sloping direction, strokes
have short path from start to finish
c) The greater shaded strokes generally
reduce degree of speed
13. Pen Pressure - maybe defined as a weight of
the hand or muscles on the pen during the act of
writing. The following are its classification:
a. Light
b. Heavy
c. Medium
d. Even or uniform
e. Shaded
14. Shading - it is said to be the difference between
the thickest and the finest or thinnest strokes. The
following are the classification of shading:

A) Continuous B) Graduated C) Occasional D)Rough/Irregular

15. Alignment- alignment indicates the line of writing in
relation with the arrangement of letters and words.
Alignment maybe: Straight, Irregular, sloping upward
or sloping downward. It is governed by the baseline:
Relationship of Alignment to Movement in Writing.
Alignment depends on the movement of writing employed
and the position of the writing pivot in relation to the line of
the writing. If the alignment is straight across the paper, it is
considered that the arm is placed at right angles and the
elbow is used as pivot in writing. Those who write with the
wrist movement, the alignment is likely to assume the
position of arms so far so the pen scope permits.
 When the position of the arm and the paper
are not in right angles but remains in opposite
directions to the right or left side, the alignment
of writing will be uneven throughout. Some
persons are in the habit of forming letters in
peculiar type. They sometimes enhance or
losses the height or length of letters and thus
characters are so formed sometimes to produce
an uneven or irregular lines. The following are
the classes of alignment as illustrated:
 The line of writing which has a tendency of rising
upward is called ascending alignment, and the line of
writing which descends is called descending alignment, the
handwriting which regularly proceeds straight without
guidance or ruled lines is called even alignment, and
irregular alignment is characterized by ascending and
descending combinations. In arched alignment, the lines
rise and fall in the shape of arches.
16. Rhythm - is defined as the flowing succession
of motion, stresses or impulses in handwriting.
The essentials of rhythm are:
a) regularity of slope,
b) regularity of size,
c) regularity of curvature
17. Arrangement - - is called the relation of the
letters and characters with each other. The system
of arranging the word, sentences and paragraphs
become so unconscious and automatic that it serves
to identify the writing of particular person(s). Main
points in arrangement examinations are as follows:
a) the spacing between letters, words and lines
whether wide or uniform or irregular, narrow or crisp.
Relations of capital letters with the small letters with
regard to spacing, position and location.
b) the alignment of writing or keeping letters or word on
the base lines in English script or hanging of the letters
below the headlines as Hindu, the writing done on the
actual line or below or shows the line, or sometimes
below and sometimes above it.
c) the size of the margins of the right, left, top or the
bottom of the sheet of paper on which the matter is
written
d) arrangement of paragraphs, the location of the
commencement of the first line with regard to the
subsequent lines of writing
e) arrangement of headings and the
position of signatures put at the end of
the body writing
f) number of letters or words in a line
and location of the punctuation marks
g) relation of capital letters with regard
to small letter
18. Re-touching - may mean to repeat the
contact previously made on the handwriting.

19. Tremor - is defined as a writing weakness

portrayed by irregular, shaky strokes.
20. Natural Variation - this may refer to
deviations or changes found between
repeated specimen of any individual
handwriting.
The following are some causes of variations:
1. due to the lack of machine-like precision in the
human body
2. caused by external factors such as the writing
instrument and writing position
3. influence of mental and physical conditions, such as:
a. fatigue
d. nervousness
b. intoxication
e. age of the writer
c. illness
4. quantity of the writing prepared
5. variations appear in superficial parts
6. not applied to the whole process of writing
7. degree of care given to the act
8. change of slope and size of handwriting superficially
affect appearance of writing
9. nature and extent of variation of letters design
depend on the location - initial, medial, terminal
10. master pattern for any letter design closely
resembles the copy book class characteristics and
of no significance value
11. no two individuals will exhibit similar master
pattern of the same combination of letter design
12. master pattern wildly differ from copybook form
of conventional form are individual
characteristics
13. range of variation of letter design is not the
same for all letters
14. small letter i, e, o have limited variations.
Appreciable modification of the design will
render the letters illegible.
 INDIVIDUALITY OF HANDWRITING
CHARACTERISTICS
The psychological theory of handwriting
explains that handwriting process developmental.
The regular or conventional style of writing is
learned by copying whatever style of writing taught
to children by teachers from textbooks. As the child
grows, the act of writing becomes a subconscious
effort and begins to pick up habitual shapes and
patterns that distinguish it from all others.
 Handwriting has individual characteristics because
of the unconscious behavior which makes handwriting
of two different individuals never identical. Factors
such as mechanical and physical as well as mental
provide reasons why exact same handwriting never
occurs in two different people. It is therefore necessary
that samples, exemplars, or specimens (all
synonymous) be obtained under condition similar as
possible to the conditions present at the time the
disputed, doubtful, or original document was
created.
How does one person acquire individuality of handwriting? The
following factors maybe considered:

1. The influence of writing system. Formal handwriting

instruction is given in schools. Writing is commonly learned in
elementary schools from published systems of letter designs
and methods of instruction. However, even from the outset of
school training, writing individuality creeps in because children
do not have the same sized fingers, the same muscular control,
the same eyesight, the same artistic appreciations of letter
forms, the same attentiveness and concentration, the same
desire for achievement, and the same mental, and manual
coordination.
 2. Constant compulsion to write. The young
writer, who is forced to write daily lessons and
tasks, rarely aims at writing excellence, but
succumbs to a personal legibility which will finally
become his individual handwriting and his alone.
3. Personal legibility. Continued handwriting
usage in one's daily pursuits develops maturity in
each writer's personal characteristics which is the
trademark the aggregate identifier of his
handwriting.
 4. Writing maturity. About the time
the average writer graduates from high
school, his writing individualities have
stabilized in a considerable extent,
taking into account his/her training,
personal and occupational experiences.
This development earmarks each writer
through life.
 With these prime considerations in
handwriting investigation guiding his efforts,
the investigator may then direct his attention
to the following features:
1. Writing skill. Writing skill of the writer
maybe categorized as expert, good,
average, mediocre. If the writing is barely
legible, it indicates limited ability, haste,
carelessness, deception.
 2. Writing speed and freedom of
movement. Speed and freedom of
movement in writing are categorized as very
rapid and rhythmic, average, slow and
laborious. The examiner then raises this
questions: are the speed and movement
uniform or irregular? What particular letters
of combinations are involve in any
departures from uniformity?
 3. Letter sizes. Letter sizes may either be
large, average, small. Are the letter sizes
uniform, proportion or irregular according to
the class of letter? What particular letters or
letter combinations depart from uniformity,
according to the class of letter? For example,
capital, upper loop letter, lower loop letter,
small letter?
 4. Writing strokes. Are the writing
strokes of uniform width and intensity?
5. Pen pressure. Do they vary from
light to heavy pressure?
6. Writing style. Are all letters
connected or does the writer frequently
lift the writing instrument from the paper,
influence of the writing instrument.