Questioned Documents: Handwriting Analysis

Flashcards covering the key handwriting analysis techniques used in questioned document examination.

What does the slant of handwriting refer to?

Analyzing the writing slant: left, right, or straight.

What are some examples of unusual letter formation in handwriting?

Letters with tails or letters written backwards.

What are flourishes or embellishments in handwriting analysis?

Fancy letters, curls, loops, circles, etc.

What does completeness of closed characters refer to in handwriting analysis?

Completeness of closed characters such as 'o', 'e', and 'a'.

What are some specific letter characteristics analyzed in handwriting?

Dotting of 'i' and 'j', and crossing of 't'.

What is one of the factors examiners use to determine handwriting authenticity related to spacing?

Average amount of space between words and letters.

What aspects are analyzed when looking at the relative height, width, and size of letters?

Height of the uppercase and lowercase letters; width of letters and the space between letters and words; size of letters relative to the available space.

What does line quality refer to in handwriting analysis?

Observing if the lines are smooth, free-flowing, or shaky and wavering.

What are connecting strokes and why are they important in handwriting analysis?

Comparing the strokes between upper and lower case letters, and the strokes between the letters and the words.

What does analyzing the beginning and ending strokes reveal about handwriting?

Observing how a writer begins and ends words, numbers, and letters.

What do pen lifts and separations refer to in handwriting analysis?

How the writer stops to form new letters and begin words.

How do pen lifts and separations potentially indicate forgery?

Forgeries may have lifts or separations in unusual places, such as within a letter.

What is shading and pen pressure in handwriting analysis?

The differing amounts of pressure used by the writer that make lines light or dark, narrow or wide.

What are baseline habits in handwriting referring to?

Analyzing if the writer's letters stay straight or move up and down compared to a baseline.