CHARACTERISTICS OF HANDWRITING

2 Categories of Handwriting Characteristics

1. Class characteristics are those common to a number of writers

and may result from such influences as the writing system studied,
family associations, trade training, or foreign education as well as
carelessness and haste in execution.

2. Individual characteristics are those, which are highly personal or

peculiar and unlikely to occur in combination in other instances.
 STROKE STRUCTURE
Stroke Structure – letter by letter comparison
1. Initial Stroke – This refers to the starting stroke.
Formation:
a. upward initial stroke
b. initial stroke with a beard stroke
c. downward initial stroke
d. initial stroke with a spur stroke
e. curved upward initial stroke
f. initial stroke with flourishes
2. Connecting Stroke - Stroke that connects letters in cursive writing

a. Rounded connecting stroke – the connecting stroke is rounded in appearance, an

almost copybook form way of writing.

b. Elliptical or Oval connecting stroke - kind of connecting stroke are rounded but
closer. Note the lateral spacing length of the signature is shorter than the rounded
connecting stroke.

c. Angular connecting stroke – stroke shows and angle formation showing a signature
that is shorter in length or a short lateral spacing.

3. Terminal Stroke – the last stroke in a signature.

d. upward tapering terminal stroke

e. downward blunt terminal stroke

c. blunt horizontal terminal stroke

d. tapering curved downward terminal stroke

Kinds:

a. Flying or tapering terminal strokes – kinds of terminal stroke where in the width
of the stroke diminishes in size as the momentum of writing ends.

b. Blunt terminal strokes – this terminal stroke diminishes abruptly.

4. Loops – strokes found in long letters resembles an oblong curve.

5. Eye loop or eyelet – the small loop formed by

stroke that extends in divergent directions.

6. Diacritic – an element added to complete certain letters.

7. Arc or arch – any arcade form in the body of the letter.

8. Beard – a rudimentary curved initial strokes.

9. Blunt ending/beginning – blunt ending and initial strokes are result of the drawing process
in forgery.
10. Buckleknot – the horizontal and looped strokes that are often used to complete such letters.

11. Central part or body – the part of a letter ordinarily formed by a small circle that usually
lies on the line writing.
12. Foot of the letter or oval – the lower portion of any down stroke which terminates on the
baseline .

13. Hitch – the introductory backward stroke added to the beginning and ending of many capital
letters or small letters.

14. Hook or through – the bend, crook, or curve on the inner side of the bottom loop or curve of
a small letter.

15. Hump – the rounded outside top of the bend, crook, or curve in a small letters.

16. Spur – short, horizontal beginning stroke.

17. Knob – rounded appearance at the beginning or ending stroke.

18. Main stroke or shank stem – downward strokes of any letter.