How To Analyze Your Own Handwriting

As I've mentioned in earlier writing, I studied handwriting analysis for quite a few years. It's fun! It's informative! But it can also be dangerous if you decide to analyze your friend's handwriting and tell her/him all the negative qualities you see! So be careful with this "little bit of knowledge" contained in this article! It's not worth losing a friend over, that's for sure. Analyze your own handwriting.

Graphology (handwriting analysis) is like analyzing body language, only it's looking at your handwriting samples. The analyst takes a combination of strokes, slants, pressures, rhythms, and patterns in your handwriting. Then the analyst comes to a conclusion based on the combination (or patterns). But if you know just a little, you can figure out what you are projecting to the world through your own handwriting. Here is some fun information to get you started as you look at handwriting you have already done. (Otherwise, you'll be influenced by your new knowledge and write differently than you normally would.) So are you ready to learn just a bit about handwriting analysis? OK! Let's talk about what real graphologists would look at!

They look at the slant of your writing.

Right slant indicates a response to communication. You're more emotional, more friendly, loving and responsive. Those are the positives. But on the negative side, it could also mean you're more manipulative, more intrusive, want to sell them something, or more controlling.

If your handwriting is generally upright, this tells them you're pretty independent.

A left slant tendency shows emotion and reserve. This writer needs to be true to self first and foremost, and can be resentful if others try to push for more commitment from them.

So, left = self, or inward, and right = others, or outward.

They look at the size of your writing.

If your writing is large, you are an extrovert and you're outgoing. Or, it can mean that you put on an act of being confident.

Small size can, logically, mean the opposite. Small size handwriting can also indicate a thinker, concentrator, and an academic (depending upon other features in your writing sample).

If the writing is small and delicate, you are unlikely to be a good communicator with anyone other than those on your own particular wavelength. You do not generally find it easy to break new ground socially.

They look at the pressure of your writing.

If your pressure is heavy it tells them that you are a committed person who takes things seriously. But if your pressure is excessively heavy, it tells them that you can get very uptight at times and react immediately to what you perceive as criticism. In other words, you react first and ask questions later. Light pressure shows sensitivity to atmosphere and empathy to people, but can also, if the pressure is uneven, show lack of vitality. In short, the more the pressure of your writing, the more intense you are.

Think of the page in three zones. Where your vowels go is the middle (on the line). Above that is called the upper zone (above the line) and here's where you show how ambitious you are, how realistic, how spiritual you are, and how critical you are of your self.

The lower zone (below the line) shows how sensual you are, how open to relationships you are, how patient and emotionally secure you are.

Recapping the upper zone (l, t, h)

Tall upper stroke in your writing are reaching towards goals and ambitions. Or, if they are extremely tall, it means you have unrealistic expectations of yourself. But if they are reasonably proportioned, you like to think things through and use your imagination in a "sensible" way. Upper loops also tell how spiritual you are!

Recapping the middle zone – on the line writing (a, c, e, o)

These middle zone shapes are called your "communication circles." Some say it represents the ego, so the information tells them how you feel and act in public settings and what makes you tick socially and at work.

All of these features have potentially positive and negative connotations; the analyst uses the flow and facility (ease, smoothness) of the script to infer a positive or negative interpretation of who you are.

There are also several "styles" of communication circles.

If your writing is Arcade Style, this means that the middle zone of the writing is humped and rounded at the top like a series of arches. It's circular. If you write this way, you can be loyal, protective, independent, trustworthy and methodical. Conversely, you could also be secretive, stubborn and hypocritical when you choose. But the most important characteristic is group solidarity against outsiders.

Garland Style writing is like an inverted 'arcade' and is a people-orientated script. These writers make their m, n and h in the opposite way to the arcade writer - like cups, or troughs, into which people can pour their troubles or just give information. The Garland writer enjoys being helpful and likes to be involved. It is a common style among teenagers.

Angled Style in the middle zone is the analytical style - the sharp points, rather than curves, give the impression of probing. You are extremely analytical by nature. If you are an angle writer, you're better off employing your talents at work, for business or project purposes, rather than nurturing. (Nurturing is the strength of the garland writer.) I call the angled writing "spiky, or pointy."

Thread handwriting is like unraveled wool, waiting to be made up into something fresh. These writers are mentally alert and adaptable, but can also be elusive and lack patience. They are responders, rather than initiators. They can be very clever at drawing together strands of information and making something of them. Therefore they observe and bide their time, so that decisions are made at the most appropriate moment.

Wavyline Style is often a combination of all or most of the other forms and is usually written by people who are mentally mature and skillful. It shows that they can call on a variety of responses, to suit the occasion and indicates good coping mechanisms. They are adaptable and resourceful.

Tepees – Beware of Tepees! This has proved invaluable for employers and prospective daters. If your communication circles, including "c, o, a, g" have little tepees on the tops of them, you are very dishonest! Let's just take the o. If there's a line on the left of the o, going to the top, it shows self dishonesty. In other words, you lie to yourself, or you're deluded. (Remember: left = self) If there's a line on the right of the o, coming from the top down, you are dishonest towards others. (Remember: right = others) So you can see if that person you're dating has both the left and right lines coming to a tepee on the top of the o, you could be dating a pathological liar!

Recapping the lower zone – Loops or no loops! (g, y, p, q)

Those lower loops are varied and have different meanings.

A straight stroke (no loop) shows impatience to get the job done.

A 'cradle' lower stroke suggests an avoidance of aggression and confrontation.

A full loop with heavy pressure indicates energy/money-making/sensuality possibilities, when combined with other features.

A full lower loop with light pressure indicates a need or wish for security.

If the lower stem comes down and then left, you are stuck in the past.

If you have a wide variety of widths and strokes, you feel unsettled and unfocused emotionally.

They definitely look at your word spacing!

They judge the width by the width of one letter of your writing.

Wide spaces between your words are saying, "give me breathing space!"

Narrow spaces between your words show a desire to be with others, but could also mean that you crowd people and can be intrusive, especially if the writing lacks finesse.

They look at your line spacing!

Handwriting samples are always best on unlined paper, because your line-spacing needs to be obvious. Wide-spaced lines of handwriting show a wish to stand back and take a long view. Conversely, closely-spaced lines indicate that that you operate close to the action. For writers who do this and who have writing that is rather loose in structure, the discipline of having to keep cool under pressure brings out the best in them.

Page margins are important, believe it or not!

The left side margin shows the roots and beginnings/family. (left = self)

The right side shows other people and the future. (right = others)

The top is your goals and ambitions.

The foot of the page shows energy, instincts and practicality.

If you have a wide left margin, your interest is in moving on. If it is narrow, you are cautious and want to avoid being pushed before you are ready!

If your right margins are narrow, you're impatient and eager to get on with things! Conversely, if your right margins are wide, you could be harboring some fear of the unknown.

This introduction to graphology is meant only to be entertaining, and to increase your awareness of what your writing could say to a graphologist. It isn't meant to be the last word on graphology! When a qualified graphologist analyzes your writing, you will be asked to submit approximately thirty pages of handwriting. And you'll pay anywhere from $50 to $1,000, depending on their reputation.

So now you're ready to have fun! Enjoy analyzing your own handwriting with this smidgen of information!

© 1989-2008 April Lorier Perspective