MODULE 7 | Handwriting Elements

• Alignment


  The relation of the parts of the whole of writing or line of individual letters in words to the baseline
• Angular Form


  Sharp, straight strokes that are made by stopping the one and changing direction before continuing
• Arcade Forms


  Forms that look like arches, rounded on top and open at the bottom
• Bow


  The part of the letter or character of signature or handwriting which formed like a bow of an arrow or simply a curved stroke aligned in a vertical direction
• Down Strokes


  The movement of the pen towards the writer
• Form

  • Block form – all capital letters
  • Cursive form
  • Print form
  • Print script form
• Garland forms


  A cup-like connected form that is open at the top and rounded on the bottom
• Hand lettering


  Any disconnected style of writing in which each letter is written separately
• Letter Space


  The amount of space left between letters
• Line direction


  The movement of the baseline
• Word Space


  The amount of space between words
• Line quality


  The overall character of the ink lines from the beginning to the ending strokes
• Line space


  The amount of space left between lines
• Manuscript writing


  A disconnected form of script or semi-script writing
• Margins


  The amount of space left around the writing on all four sides
• Pen pressure


  The average force with which the pen contacts the paper
• Print Script


  A creative combination of print and cursive writing
• Proportion and Ratio


  The relation between the tall and the short letter
• Quality


  Distinct and peculiar characters of the writing, any identifying factor that is related to the writing movement itself
• Rhythm


  The element of handwriting movement which is marked by regular or periodic recurrences, it may be classed as smooth, intermittent, or jerky in it quality, the flourishing succession of motion which are recorded in a written record
• Shading


  The widening of the ink strokes due to the added pressure on a flexible pen point or due to the used of stub pen
• Size


  Refers to how big or small the characters are written
• Slope/Slant


  The angle of inclination of the axis of the letters relative to the baseline
• Thread form


  An indefinite connective form that looks flat and wavy
• Rubric or embellishment


  Refers to the additional unnecessary strokes to legibly of letterforms or writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes
• Collation


  Side by side comparison of two or more handwriting samples, usually a known sample (exemplar) and the suspected sample (questioned)
• Comparison


  The act of setting two or more items side by side to weigh their identifying qualities
• Dextral


  Refers to someone who writes with their right hand
• Disguised writing


  A writer may deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits in an effort to hide his identity
• Gestalt


  "complete", "whole", the overall impression or visual weight of a handwriting sample
• Graphoanalysis

  The study of handwriting based on the two fundamental strokes: the curve and straight strokes
• Graphometry


  Analysis and comparison and measurement
• Graphology


  The art of determining character disposition and amplitude of a person from the study of handwriting
• Sinistral


  Writing with the left hand
• Movement

  • Finger movement
  • Hand movement
  • Forearm movement
  • Whole-arm movement
• Natural writing


  Any specimen of writing executed normally without any attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality and execution
• Natural variations


  These are normal or usual deviations found between repeated specimens of any individual handwriting
• Pen emphasis


  The act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surfaces
• Pen hold


  The place where the writer grasps the barrel of the pen and the angle at which he holds it
• Pen position


  The relationship between the pen point and the paper; the orientation of the writing instrument