Handwriting analysis

ASISTM ProjectForensic Investigations

Characteristics

Handwriting experts look at 12 characteristics of a person’s writing.

They try and compare a sample of the suspect’s writing to a known original.

On first glance the forgery is quite a good copy.

Original

Forgery

Lets take a closer look!

Line quality

Are the lines smooth or shaky?

Original

Forgery

Spacing - words and letters

Is the spacing size consistent?

Ratio - height, width, size

Original

Forgery

Are the letters consistent in shape & size?

Pen lifts and separation

Are the pen lifts consistent?

Original

Forgery

Connecting strokes

Compare how letters are linked.

Original

Forgery

Beginning and ending strokes

Are the strokes straight, curled, long?

Original

Forgery

Unusual letter formation

Unusual letters - letters written backwards, tails

Original Forgery

Shading or pen pressure

Differences in shading = differences in pen pressure

Original

Forgery

Slant

Is the slant or angle of the letters consistent?

Original

Forgery

Baseline habits

Does the writing go below the line?

There is a tendency for the top author (original) to write above the line while the forgery tends to be on the line.

Original

Forgery

Flourishes and embellishments

Any fancy letters?

Original

Forgery

Diacritic placement - cross i, dot t

Is the line on the “t” in proportion? Are the “i’s” dotted left or right?

Original

Forgery

The i dot and t cross tend to the right of the letter.

The i dot is varied. The t cross is even. The form of the lettert is wider at the base.

References

Deslich, B & Funkhouser, J. 2005 Forensic Science for High School. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, US

Writing samples from J Dook & T. Hutchison, scanned into Adobe Photoshopat 400dpi.

Graphic design for slides by T. Hutchison, DUIT Multimedia, UWA