What does your handwriting say about you?

My handwriting seems to evolve over the years, and when I look back and compare my handwritten notes from different stages of my life, the changes are surprisingly noticeable. I’ve always wondered whether my handwriting could be a reflection of my internal stage, so I turned to the internet for guidance.

Graphology is the study of handwriting, especially when it’s implied as a means of personality analysis. In the medical field, handwriting analysis is also used to aid the diagnosis of certain diseases. But it is a fun tool to use if you want to learn something new about your friends, family… Or yourself!

Task: Copy this quote from Harry Potter on a piece of blank paper. Write as you normally would. Try not to make your letters look a certain way.

1. Size

• Large: you are people-oriented, outgoing, and enjoys being the center of attention. Or perhaps you are pretending to be confident by putting up a large front.
• Small: you are reserved and meticulous, and they pay close attention to details.
• Average: you are adaptable and quick to adjust to new situations

2. Slanting

• Right: indicates extroversion and openness to new experiences
• Left: indicates introversion, and a preference for working alone. If you are right handed, it may also be a sign of rebellion.
• No slant: indicates a high degree of self-control and an inclination to keep one’s emotions guarded
• Unequal slants: indicates mood swings or psychological ambivalence.

3. Baseline

• Ascending: traditionally associated with optimism. It may also indicate an emotional state, i.e. that you are feeling down when you were writing.
• Straight: reflects a high degree of emotional balance.
• Descending: traditionally associated with pessimism. It may also indicate that you are feeling down.

4. Flow

• Connected letters: indication of a fast mental processing speed and an inclination for logical reasoning
• Separate letters: you rely more on intuition and hunches
• Connected strokes within a letter: you are persistent and takes initiative in activities, without the need to interrupt tasks.
• Disconnected strokes within a letter: you are not always practical

5. Spacing between words

• Wide: you don’t like crowds, and enjoys freedom. It could also be a sign of trust issues. Often times, creative people would prefer a larger personal space.
• Average: you are in harmony with your surroundings, and aware of how much distance to put between themselves and others. You are capable of building a healthy, friendly relationship with others.
• Narrow: you don’t like to be alone, and needs constant contact with people. It could be a sign of insecurity.

6. Shape of the letters

• Rounded letters: indicate creativity and an inclination for artistic endeavors
• Pointed letters: indicate aggression, intensity, intelligence and curiosity
• Connected letters: indicates a logical and careful, systematic approach to decisions

7. Looping

• Narrow “e” loops: the writes is skeptical and not easily swayed by emotions.
• Wide “e” loops: you are open minded and enjoy new experiences.
• Narrow “l” loops: if you write in cursive and you loop your l’s, it might be a sign of restraint or tension.
• Wide “l” loops: indicates a relaxed state. Self-expression comes to you easily.

8. Dotting the i’s

• Distance: in general, a closer “i” dot to the formation of the “i” suggests an attention to details. The farther away the dot, the more to the contrary.
• To the left: a sign of procrastination
• To the right: a sign of impatience and an eagerness to move on
• Very high up: you have a great imagination
• Straight on top: you are organized and emphatic in your endeavors
• Slashing: you are very self-critical
• Circle: indication of a child-like or visionary personality

9. Crossing the t’s

• Long crosses: indicate enthusiasm and determination. You also tend to be stubborn, and have a hard time letting go.
• Short crosses: indicate laziness and a lack of determination.
• Crossing at the top: is an indication of ambition and optimism. You have a high self-esteem.
• Crossing in the middle: is an indication of confidence. You are comfortable in your own skin.

10. Page margins

• Larger left hand margin: indicates a tendency to live in the past and a hard time letting go.
• Larger right hand margin: indicates worries about the future and a fear of the unknown.
• Writing all over the page: is hard for you to stay still or relaxed, because your mind is constantly running

11. Pressure

• Light: you are empathetic and sensitive. It can also reflect a low level of energy or tiredness.
• Heavy: you are good with commitment, but you react quickly to criticism. It can also reflect a high level of energy.
• Very heavy: this may be a sign that you are overly uptight.

12. Speed

• Fast: indicates impatience. You don’t like to waste time.
• Slow: indicates a methodical and self-reliant personality.

Signature

• Not legible: you are private, and hard to read or understand.
• Legible: you are confident and you don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not.

How it Might Relate to Health

• If the pressure is uneven, especially if it goes from light to heavy, it’s a possible indicator of a high blood pressure.
• If the slant of the letters vary frequently within a word or sentence, it may be a sign of a lack of continual contact with reality, and indicate schizophrenia.
• If the pace is slow and the writing shows lots of altered letters and trembling, it may be a sign of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Very cramped and very small (known as micrographia) is a symptom of Parkinson’s Disease.

References:

Cowens, John. “Analyze Your Handwriting, by John Cowens.” Essential Learning Products. Essential Learning Products, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2017.

“Analyzing Handwriting: Are You a Logical or an Intuitive Thinker.” Handwriting & Graphology. Handwriting & Graphology, 23 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 Sept. 2017.

“What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?” National Pen Official Site. National Pen Company, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2017.

Ruby. “Handwriting Analysis: What Do the I – Dots Reveal About Your Personality.” Knoji. ZipfWorks, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2017.