SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Questioned
Document
Examination

MOVEMENTS IN HANDWRITING
A. KINDS OF MOVEMENT
1. FINGER MOVEMENT
- The thumb, the first, second and lsightly the thrid fingers are in actual motion. Most usually employed by children
and illeterates.
2. HAND MOVEMENT
- Produced by the movement or action of the whole hand with the wrist as the center of attraction
3. FOREARM MOVEMENT
- The movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the support of the table
4. WHOLE FOREARM MOVEMENT
- Action of the entire arm without resting. (Writing In Blackboard)

B. QUALITY OF MOVEMENT
1. Clumsy, illiterate and halting
2. Hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness
3. Strong, heavy and forceful
4. Nervous and irregular
5. Smooth, flowing and rapid

C. SPEED - Slow and drawn; Deliberate; average; and rapid

D. DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS EMPLOYED AFFECT WRITING IN – Smoothness; Directness; Uniformity; Continuity of strokes; and
Connecting or curves between letters

MOTOR COORDINATION ;It is the special way in which the various muscles used in writing work together to produced written forms.

The Characteristics of Motor Coordination are:

1.. Free, smelt rounded curves
2.. Speed and gradual changes of directions
3.. Pressure is always in a state of change, moving from light to heavy or from heavy to light.
4.. The shading impulse is distributed over a considerable length of the line whereas in writing produced with a slow motion
as in the finger movement, the shading often has a "bunchy" appearance, in which the maximum width of the shaded line is
attained abruptly.

Faulty motor coordination’s are characterized by the following:

1.. Wavering and very irregular line or strokes with uncertain and unsteady progress. There is no freedom of movement along
the strokes of the letter-forms. The writing is obviously very slow and is typical of the writing of a young child or for any one who
painstakingly draws a picture of an unfamiliar form.
2.. Angular Line - a very common fault of coordination. Curves, large and small are not smoothly rounded and there is no
gradual change of direction. On the contrary, and angle marks almost every change are direction in the line. Inves¬tigation has
disclosed that angles are accompanied by a lessening of writing speed.
 SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

RHYTHM IN HANDWRITING
Rhythm is a succession of connected, uniform strokes working in full coordination. This is manifested by clear-cut accentuated
strokes, which increase and decrease in which like perfect cones. Pressure is always in a state of change moving from light to heavy or
from heavy to light.

A.. LACK OF RHYTHM

- Characterized by a succession of awkward, independent, poorly directed and disconnected motions.

B. IMPORTANCE OF RHYTHM
- By studying the rhythm of the succession of strokes, one can determine if the writer normally and spontaneously or write
with hesitation as if he is attempting to for another signature.

C. LETTER OF CONNECTIONS
- Determine the essential expression of the writing pattern. It is a mean indicator of the neuromuscular function. Words are
formed by connection letters to one another. Even letters are formed by the joining of the upward and downward strokes. These types
of connections are:

 Arcade - a rounded stroke shaped like an arch. It is a slow mode of connection resulting from controlled movements.
 Garland - Links the downward stroke to the upstrokes with a flowing curve swinging from left t right. It is an easy, effortless
mode of connection, written with speed.
 Angular connective form- When the downward strokes and upward strokes meet directly, angular connection is formed. This
type of connection imposes a check on the continuity of movement which is characterized by an abrupt stop and start in each
turning point.
 The threadlike connective form - the joining of downward and upward strokes is slurred to a threadlike tracing or where
rounded turns used at both top and bottom produce a double curve. These forms appear both in the shaping of letters within
the word.

HANDWRITING STROKE

STROKE is a series of lines or curves written in a single letter; one of the lines of an alphabet or series of lines or curves within a single
letter; the path traced by the pen on the paper.

1. ARC – a curved formed inside the top curve of loop as in small letters “h”, “m”, “n”, & “p”.
2. ARCH - any arcade form in the body of a letter found in small letters which contain arches.
3. ASCENDER - is the top portion of a letter or upper loop.
4. BASELINE - maybe actually on a ruled paper, it might be imaginary alignment of writing; is the ruled or imaginary line upon which the writing
rests.
5. BEADED - Preliminary embellished initial stroke which usually occurs in capital letters.
6. BEARD - is the rudimentary initial up stroke of a letter.
7. BLUNT - the beginning and ending stroke of a letter (without hesitation).
8. BODY - The main portion of the letter, minus the initial of strokes, terminal strokes and the diacritic, of any. Ex: the oval of the letter "O" is
the body, minus the downward stroke and the loop.
9. BOWL - a fully rounded oval or circular form on a letter complete into "O".
10. BUCKLE/BUCKLEKNOT - A loop made as a flourished which is added to the letters, as in small letter "k & b", or in capital letters "A", "K","P";
the horizontal end loop stroke that are often used to complete a letter.
11. CACOGRAPHY - a bad writing.
12. CALLIGRAPHY - the art of beautiful writing.
13. DESCENDER - opposite of ascender, the lower portion of a letter.
14. DIACRITIC - "t" crossing and dots of the letter "i" and "j". The matters of the Indian script are also known as diacritic signs; an element
added to complete a certain letter, either a cross bar or a dot.
15. ENDING/TERMINATE STROKE OF TOE - the end stroke of a letter.
16. EYE/EYELET/EYELOOP - a small loop or curved formed inside the letters. This may occur inside the oval of the letters "a, d, o"; the small
loop form by stroke that extend in divergent direction as in small letters.
17. FOOT - lower part which rest on the base line. The small letter "m" has three feet, and the small letter "n" has two feet.
18. HABITS - any repeated elements or details, which may serve to individualize writing.
19. HESITATION - the term applied to the irregular thickening of ink which is found when writing slows down or stop while the pen take a stock
of the position.
20. HIATUS/PEN JUMP - a gap occurring between a continuous stroke without lifting the pen. Such as occurrence usually occurs due to speed;
may be regarded also as a special form of pen lift distinguish in a ball gaps in that of perceptible gaps and appear in the writing.
21. HOOK - It is a minute curve or a ankle which often occurs at the end of the terminal strokes. It also sometimes occurs at the beginning of an
initial stroke. The terminal curves of the letters "a", "d", "n", "m", "p", "u", is the hook. In small letter "w" the initial curve is the hook; the
minute involuntary talon like formation found at the commencement of an initial up stroke or the end terminal stroke.
22. HUMP - Upper portion of its letter "m","n","h" ,"k" - the rounded outside of the top of the bend stroke or curve in small letter.
23. KNOB -the extra deposit of ink in the initial and terminal stroke due to the slow withdrawal of the pen from the paper (usually applicable to
fountain pen).
24. LIGATURE/CONNECTION - The stroke which connects two stroke of letter; characterized by connected stroke between letters.
25. LONG LETTER - those letters with both upper and lower loops.
26. LOOP - A oblong curve such as found on the small letter "f", "g", "l" and letters stroke "f" has two. A loop may be blind or open. A blind
loop is usually the result of the ink having filled the open space.
 SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

27. MAJUSCULE - a capital letter.

28. MINUSCULE - a small letter.
29. MOVEMENT IMPULSES - this refer to the continuity of stroke, forged writing is usually produced by disconnected and broken movements
and more motion or movement impulses than in genuine writing.
30. PATCHING - retouching or going back over a defective portion of a written stroke. Careful patching is common defect on forgeries.

Take Note:
1. AIRSTROKE – The movement of the pen as it is raised from the paper and continues in the same direction in the air.
2. COVERING STROKE – A stroke that unnecessarily covers another stroke in a concealing action.
3. FINAL – The ending stroke on a letter when it is at the end of a word.
4. UPSTROKE – Movement of the pen away from the writer.
5. SEQUENCE OF STROKES - The order in which writing strokes are placed on the paper is referred to as their sequence.
6. SUPPORTED STROKES – Upstrokes partially covering the previous down strokes. Originally taught in European schools.
7. TRAIT STROKE – a school o handwriting analysis that assigns personality trait manners to individual writing strokes.

QUALITIES OF THE STROKES

1. Expansion - whether the movement is extended or limited in its range with respect to both vertical and horizontal dimension.
2. Co-ordination - whether the flow of movement is controlled or uncertain, smooth or jerky, continuous or interrupted.
3. Speed - whether the movement has been rapid or slow and whether the pace has been steady or variable.
4. Pressure- whether the pressure exerted in the movement and its upward and downward reach.
5. Direction- Left ward and right ward trend of they movement and its upward and downward reach.
6. Rhythm - in the sequence of movements that weave the total pattern, certain similar phases recur at more or less regular intervals.

HANDWRITING PROBLEMS
1.A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality is genuine and corresponds perfectly to the ordinary, and habitual
signatures of that person.
2. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality was written by him but in a way which was different from the ordinary
manner and which is more or less different from the common genuine signatures of that person.
3. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality was written by a third person and which is a forgery written in an attempted
imitation of a model.
4. A spurious signature/handwriting written by somebody who did not attempt to imitate the signature of a person and who uses a ficti-
tious name and this to give his work the appearance of a signature.
5. An uncontested signature/handwriting, in fact, genuine but written by an unknown person whose name must be deciphered by the document
examiner.
HANDWRITING PROBLEMS

1. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality is genuine and corresponds perfectly to the ordinary,
and habitual signatures of that person.
2. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality was written by him but in a way which was different from
the ordinary manner and which is more or less different from the common genuine signatures of that person.
3. A signature/handwriting contested by its author which in reality was written by a third person and which is a forgery written
in an attempted imitation of a model.
4. A spurious signature/handwriting written by somebody who did not attempt to imitate the signature of a person and who
uses a ficti¬tious name and this to give his work the appearance of a signature.
5. An uncontested signature/handwriting, in fact, genuine but written by an unknown person whose name must be deciphered
by the document examiner.

GENERAL CLASSES OF QUESTIONED WRITING

1. Forged or simulated writings in which the attempt is made to discard one’s own writing and assume the exact writing
personality of another person.
2. Those writings that are disguised and in which the writer seeks to hide his own personality without adapting that of another.

HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER IDENTIFYING FEATURES

Writing Habits - Writing by all its thousand of peculiarities in combination is the most personal and individuals thing that a man does
that leaves a record which can be seen and studies. This is what constitutes individuality in handwriting.

A. GENERAL(CLASS) CHARACTERISTICS - These characteristics refer to those habits are part of basic writing system or which are
modifications of the system of writing found among so large a group of writes that have only slight identification value.

B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS - They are characteristics which are the result of the writer's muscular control, coordination, age,
health, and nervous tempera¬ment, frequency of writing, personality and character. They are found in Writing movement, Form and
design of letters, Motor Coordination, Shading, Skill, Alignment, Pen pressure, Connection, Pen hold, Rhythm, Disconnections or pen
lifts between letters, Speed, Slant as a writing habit, Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit, Quality of stroke or
line quality, Variation and Muscular control or motor control -
 SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

a. Loose writing - this is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack of regulation. This is noticed especially in
tall letters forms.
b. Restrained writing - there is lack of freedom and inhibited movements. It gives you the impression that every stroke was
made with great difficulty. This writing is small. There is distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.

Indications of speed (speedy) writing

a. Smooth, unbroken strokes and rounded forms.
b. Frequent signs or tendencies to the right.
c. Marked uncertainty as to the location of the dots of small letters "I", "j" & crosses of small letter "t".
d. Increased spontaneity of words or small letter "t" connected with the following words.
e. Letters curtailed or degenerated almost to illegibility towards the end of words.
f. Wide writing - width of letters is greater than the connecting spaces adjoining it.
g. Great difference in emphasis between upstrokes and down strokes.
h. Marked simplification of letters especially capital letters.
i. Rising line.
j. Increased pen pressure.
k. Increase in the margin to left at the beginning of the line.

Indications of slow writing

a. Wavering forms and broken strokes.
b. Frequent signs or tendencies to the left.
c. Conspicuous certainly as to the location of the dots of small letters "I","j","or "t" crosses with scarcely perceptible deviation
from the intended direction.
d. Frequent pauses by meaningless blobs, angles, divided letters and retouches.
e. Careful execution of detail of letters, toward the end or names.
f. Narrow writing.
g. No difference in emphasis in upstroke and down stroke
h. Ornamental or flourishing connections.
i. Sinking lines

C. EXAMPLES OF COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

1. Ordinary copy-book form
2. Usual systematic slant
3. Ordinary scale of proportion or ratio
4. Conventional spacing

D. CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Permanent characteristics - found always in his handwriting.
2. Common or usual - found in a group of writers who studied the same system of writing.
3. Occasional - found occasionally in his handwriting.
4. Rare - special to the writer and per¬haps found only in one or two persons in a group of one hun¬dred individuals.

E. HOW INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE ACQUIRED

1. Outgrowth of definite teaching
2. Result of imitation
3. Accidental condition or circumstances
4. Expression of certain mental and physical traits of the writer as affected by education, by environment and by occupation.

F. EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Hook to the right and hook to the left
2. Shape, position, size and angle of "i" dots "t" crossing
3. Idiosyncrasies
4. Bulbs and distinctive initial and final pen pressure
5. Embellishment, added strokes and free movement endings
6. Abbreviation of letters
7. Simple and compound curves and graceful endings
8. Labored movement producing ragged lines
9. Terminal shadings and forceful endings
10. Presence and influence of foreign writing, with the introduction of Greek "e"

PRINCIPLE IN HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION

1. When any two specimens of handwritings contain a combina¬tion of corresponding or similar and specifically oriented
char¬acteristics of such number and significance as to preclude the possibility of their occurrence by mere coincidence, and there are
 SOLIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

no unaccounted for difference, it may be concluded that they are similar in writing characteristics and therefore written by one and
the same person.
2. Handwritings are fixed habits.
3. These writing habits like habits of speech become so auto¬matic and unconscious that even by the most strenuous effort, it
is almost impossible to change them. It is one of the most permanent of human habits.
4. No duplication of handwriting by two individuals.

CORRECT CONCLUSION

1. To reach the conclusion that two writings are written by the same hand, characteristics or "dents" and scratches" should be
in suffi¬cient quantity to exclude the theory of accidental coincidence; to reach the conclusion that writings are by different hands,
we may find numerous likeliness in class characteristics but diver¬gences in individual characteristics or we may find divergences in
both but the divergence must be something more than mere superficial differences.
2. If the conclusion of identifying is reached, there must not remain significant differences that cannot reasonably be ex¬plained.
This ignoring of the differences or the failure properly to account for them is the cause of the errors in handwriting identification.
3. Although there is no specific approach, the document examiner always observed: Analysis; Comparison; and Evaluation.

POINTS TO CONSIDER IN EXAMINING EXTENDED WRITING (Anonymous, threat, poison letters)

1. Uniformity- Does the questioned writing have smooth, rhythmic and free-flowing appearance?
2. Irregularities - Does the questioned writing appear awkward, ill-formed slowly drawn
3. Size & Proportion- Determine the height of the over-all writ¬ing as well as the height of the individual strokes in proportion
to each other.
4. Alignment - Are they horizontally aligned, or curving, uphill or downhill.
5. Spacing - Determine the general spacing between letters, spacing between words. Width of the left and right margins,
paragraph indentations.
6. Degree of Slant- Are they uniform or not.
7. Formation and Design of the letters, "t" (-) bars, "i" dots, loops, circle formation.
8. Initial, connecting and final strokes.

HANDPRINTING

The procedure and the principle involved are similar to that of cursive handwriting. In block capital and manuscript writings, personal
individu¬al rests principally in design, selection, individual letter construction, size ratios and punctuation habits. The initial step in
handwriting examination is to determine whether the questioned handwriting and standards were accomplished with:

1. A fluency of movement and a certainty of execution indicative of familiarity with and a measure or skill in handwrit¬ing of
conversely.
2. A conscious mental effort and non-rhythmic execution denot¬ing either unfamiliarity with or disguise in the subject’s
handwriting.