Everyone has one. Quick, grab a pen. Write your name. Now take a good look. Do you think other people can decipher your name embedded somewhere in your signature? Cacography is the Greek word for bad, messy handwriting.
Our handwriting is as unique as we are. Something like our fingerprints some say. In fact, there are forensic experts that specialize in analyzing handwriting as it relates to fraud and other types of criminal activities.
All this talk about messy signatures and handwriting made me want to be a sleuth and figure out what, if anything, did my own scribbling have to say about me.
Time for a self analysis of my own handwriting. I found this quick self-test online and sat down as instructed to write something random.
Of course, given that it is me analyzing me, you can appreciate the unscientific methodology. Here are what clues were revealed:
| Sample valid? | Yes, I wrote it on a table, not an uneven surface, and in a comfortable natural position (had tea even and no one in the house) |
| Size? | My smaller writing seems to indicate a detailed, technical personality |
| Letter-word slope? | The slope in my letters was neither too backward sloping or forward sloping. This would seem to say that I am right in the middle of being introverted (backwards sloping) and extroverted (forward sloping). |
| Line slope? | Slight slope rising to the right would suggest optimism and cheerfulness |
| Flow? | I don’t have many linked words or linked letters. This seems to indicate that I am thoughtful and focused vs. eager or impulsive tendencies |
| Spacing? | The spaces between my words, fairly close together, may be a sign sociability |
| Upper, central, lower case preference? | Mostly my writing is in the central case. Which means that this is the dominant case or personality for me; imagination, logic pragmatism, common-sense, animal appetite |
| Omitted ‘i’ dots and ‘t’ cross strokes | I had a few of theses – means forgetful |
| Position of the ‘i’ dots | Most of mine were way ahead of the actual letter – means active and thinking |
So, in summary, I am someone who likes to drink tea while writing. I can be introverted or extroverted. I am a forgetful optimist who is actively thinking while I socialize with others. I am a no nonsense kind of gal with an animal appetite – not sure how this works with being social with others- which makes life interesting! Ha.
So do you have a certain way of writing your signature? Perhaps a fancy loop at the end or maybe a happy face, crazy swirl? Post a comment and let us know.
P.S. For more information on the graphology, the study of handwriting, click here to read a fascinating article published just last month in BBC News.
As one of those forensic handwriting experts who also analyzes personality, I’d like to say that while tests such as the one you took are fun, they aren’t “real graphology,” which is based on scientific principles. A professional handwriting analyst (graphologist) looks at the whole picture of writing, not just bits and pieces. Your writing is made up of arrangement (the way it’s laid out on the page), writing form (style), and writing movement (speed, pressure, rhythm, and lots of other stuff). I’m always glad to see people interested!
So pleased you read the post Sheila. Thank you for your very important and insightful comments. I appreciate you providing me and all those reading with some clarification. Fun indeed!