Handwriting can be used for many things, such as figuring out one's personality. It is often used for crime scenes to be observed for forgery. People can forge signitures on checks and many other things which could be observed using the 12 handwriting characteristics.
12 Handwriting Characteristics:
1. Line Quality: Pen marks = Smooth or shaky? Can give info about speed of writing
2. Spacing of words & letters: Is the spacing between letters & words consistent? Big? Small?
3. Ratio of relative height, width, & size of letters: Is it consistent?
4. Pen lifts & separations: Does the person stop to form new letters and begin words? Forgeries may have lifts in unusual places.
5. Connecting strokes: Are the capital & lowercase letters connected? Do the letters & words have connecting strokes?
6. Beginning & Ending Strokes: Are these straight, curled, long or short, an upstroke or a down stroke?
7. Unusual Letter Formation: Are here any weird capitals or letters that are backward, with a weird tails?
8. Shading or pen pressure: Is the pen pressure
on the upward or the downward strokes?
9. Slant: Is slant left or right or straight up and down?
Is there consistency between the slant of letters.
10. Baseline habits: Is the writing above or below a line?
11. Flourishes and embellishments: Are
12. Diacritic placement: How are the t’s crossed?
11. Flourishes and embellishments: Are
their any? If so what are they?
12. Diacritic placement: How are the t’s crossed?
Take note of the dotting of i’s, j’s. For example, Are the dots to the right or left of the letter?
How can you tell they are forgeries?
Using the 12 Handwriting Characteristics above, you can carefully observe handwriting to tell whether or not it is a forgery.
Handwriting Analysis Template:
In class, we were given a handwriting analysis template and on this sheet, we had to write a sentence and then the same one in cursive. Someone else at our table had to attempt at forgering my handwriting twice. The first time was by observing my handwriting and the second time was an attempt to trace my handwriting. It turned out that the traced forgery looked more like my handwriting then the other one did.
Difference Between Tracing & Free Handing Forgery?
Tracing forgeries are when people trace someones handwriting while free handing forgery is when they carefully observe the other handwriting and attempt at copying it.
Check Forgery Activity:
In class, we were given fake checks which we had to fill out, and then forge a fake signiture. Once this was completed, we were to rip the check up and give it to someone at a different table. The other people would use our handwriting analysis templates to carefully observe which handwriting matched which. The 12 Handwriting Characteristics were very helpful in this activity.
How can you tell they are forgeries?
Using the 12 Handwriting Characteristics above, you can carefully observe handwriting to tell whether or not it is a forgery.
Handwriting Analysis Template:
In class, we were given a handwriting analysis template and on this sheet, we had to write a sentence and then the same one in cursive. Someone else at our table had to attempt at forgering my handwriting twice. The first time was by observing my handwriting and the second time was an attempt to trace my handwriting. It turned out that the traced forgery looked more like my handwriting then the other one did.
Difference Between Tracing & Free Handing Forgery?
Tracing forgeries are when people trace someones handwriting while free handing forgery is when they carefully observe the other handwriting and attempt at copying it.
Check Forgery Activity:
In class, we were given fake checks which we had to fill out, and then forge a fake signiture. Once this was completed, we were to rip the check up and give it to someone at a different table. The other people would use our handwriting analysis templates to carefully observe which handwriting matched which. The 12 Handwriting Characteristics were very helpful in this activity.
Famous Forgery Case:
On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and was never returned. His body was found near home and Bruno Hauptmann was found by tracking bills for a ransom payment of $50,000. Some of the ransom payment was found in Hauptmann's garage. Through handwriting analysis, his writing was matched with the ransom notes which had also led to other clues. Bruno Hauptmann was executed in 1936.
On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and was never returned. His body was found near home and Bruno Hauptmann was found by tracking bills for a ransom payment of $50,000. Some of the ransom payment was found in Hauptmann's garage. Through handwriting analysis, his writing was matched with the ransom notes which had also led to other clues. Bruno Hauptmann was executed in 1936.
I liked how you made everything simple and easy to read but I think you need pictures and also you forgot the famous forgery case.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is very sophistocated and insightful! Add more pictures and it will be perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a very thorough explanation. I concur with Erika's and Charlotte's comments.
ReplyDelete