What Characteristics are Considered During Handwriting Examination?

Many forgery cases are out there in the world of handwriting forensics. Some culprits are disgruntled family members or employees trying to settle a score. Others are professionals that know what they are up to. Unfortunately, there are lots of tricks & tools that forgers use to make their handwriting appear genuine. Luckily, plenty of traits help forensic document examiners tell the difference between the two. Handwriting Examination is the process of verifying the writing features and their genuinity. For handwriting analysis, ten characteristics are taken into consideration by the experts.

10 Characteristics of Handwriting

The following are characteristics dotted during handwriting examination:

1. Line Quality - Do the lines flow, or are they shaky & irregular? This can indicate the writing speed. Often, prolonged writing is a sign that someone is copying another's handwriting or attempting to alter their own way.
2. Word and Letter Spacing - Are the letters & words equally spaced out, or are they grouped together? Or are there seemingly no patterns of spacing?
3. Size Consistency - Is each letter's ratio of height to width consistent?
4. Pen Lifts - Is the writing continuous, or does the writer lift the pen? Excessive pen lifts can hint at the simulation of someone deliberately altering their natural handwriting or copying that of another.
5. Completeness of Letter - Are the letters fully formed, or are parts missing?
6. Pen Pressure - Is the pen pressure equal for upward & downward strokes? When is the pressure applied?
7. Slants - Do the letters slant to the left or the right?
8. Baseline Habits - Is the writing on the paper's baseline above or below the line?
9. Flourishes and Embellishments - Are there any fancy loops, curls, or anything unusual in the writing?
10. Diacritic Placement - Where are the crosses on t's and dots on it's placed? Are the t's crossed on the t at the top, middle, or bottom? Are the I's dotted? If so, are they dotted to the right, the center, or the left of the I?

Other attributes to be considered are spelling, phrasing, and grammar. Analyzers should also consider the following when investigating and comparing the above categories.

Factors resulting in changes to a person's handwriting are:

• Age
• Mood
• Illness
• How much time do they have to write
• The writing instrument used
• Consumption of alcohol & drugs
• Trying to write differently

Why Choose Us for the Handwriting Examination?

We, at DNA Forensics Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., use specialized techniques to examine the documents, like detecting alterations, additions, erasures, obliterations, and the paper, ink, and printing substrate. We can also tell the document's creator, the time frame, the material used, and the modifications made. In addition, we have a team of experts who can identify marks and alterations hidden from the naked eye. Furthermore, we are the only Indian company providing legal DNA tests.

To learn more or book a Handwriting Examination, reach us at +91 8010177771 or leave a message on WhatsApp at +91 9213177771