What does your handwriting say about you? Study finds more than 5,000 personality traits are linked to how we write
- People who write letters close together are intrusive and crowd others
- Illegible signatures mean a person is private and difficult to understand
- Words or sentences that vary to the rest of the text suggest it is a lie
- Schizophrenia and high blood pressure can also be identified from writing
By Victoria Woollaston
Published: | Updated:
Are you an outgoing, sceptical people pleaser? Or an arrogant, practical person who has a tendency to lie?
According to research from the National Pen Company in the U.S., your handwriting can give away clues about 5,000 different personality traits based on the way you space your letters, how you sign your name, and even how you connect the letter 'o' and 's' to other letters in a word.
It can even be used to identify potential health problems including schizophrenia, high blood pressure as well as how much energy you have.
Scroll down for the full infographic
According to the National Pen Company in the U.S., the size of someone's handwriting can determine the type of personality they have. People with small handwriting tend to be shy, studious and meticulous, whereas outgoing people who love attention will have larger handwriting
People who leave large gaps between words enjoy their freedom and don't like to be crowded, while people who write words close together can't stand to be alone and might be intrusive
The process of analysing handwriting is called graphology.
It is classed as a pseudoscientific because there are debates about how accurate it can be at determining psychological and even physical attributes.
Some companies use graphology during recruitment processes and the methods have also been used in court cases.
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The research carried out by the National Pen Company brought together a range of graphology studies to create its infographic.
According to the graphic, the size of someone's handwriting can determine the type of personality they have.
People with small handwriting tend to be shy, studious and meticulous, whereas outgoing people who love attention will have larger handwriting.
The type of looping created by the letters 'l' and 'e' can suggest a person's nature, for example, wide loops means someone is relaxed and spontaneous as well as open minded. People who write narrow loops tend to be skeptical of others and may restrict themselves from certain activities, which causes feelings of tension
If the dot of a letter is situated high above the base it suggests the writer has a great imagination. If the dot is close to the base, they are organised and empathetic. Procrastinators tend to dot their 'i's and 'j's to the left of the base letter, while child-like personality types will draw their dots as circles
Long crosses on 't's suggests someone who is determined and enthusiastic, but also stubborn. Short crosses tend to be written by someone who is lazy
If handwriting is an average size - in that the top of the letters sit just below the centre of line - the writer is well-adjusted and adaptable.
Moving onto the spacing of words, people who leave large gaps between words enjoy their freedom and don't like to be crowded, while people who write words close together can't stand to be alone and might be intrusive.
If handwriting slants to the right the person is open to new experiences and enjoy meeting new people. If handwriting slants to the left, that person tends to keep themselves to themselves.
People whose handwriting doesn't slant in either direction are logical and practical.
Personality traits are also identifiable by the way individual letters are written.
People who write rounded letters are more creative and artistic while pointed letters are a sign of aggression or intelligence. Connected letters mean the writer is logical. People who specifically write rounded lowercase 's' letters are people pleasers, although if the bottom is too wide, they're not following their heart in something
According to the graphic, the type of looping created by the letters 'l' and 'e' can suggest a person's nature, for example, wide loops means someone is relaxed and spontaneous as well as open minded.
Alternatively, people who write narrow loops tend to be skeptical of others and may restrict themselves from certain activities, which causes feelings of tension.
The way people dot their 'i's and cross their 't's can also be a personality indicator.
If the dot of the letter is situated high above the base it suggests the writer has a great imagination.
If the dot is close to the base, they are organised and empathetic.
Procrastinators tend to dot their 'i's and 'j's to the left of the base letter, while child-like personality types will draw their dots as circles.
People who place heavy pressure on the pen when they write, which causes darker, thicker handwriting are good with commitment and taking things seriously. Light-handed writers tend to be empathetic and sensitive but lack vitality. If someone writes quickly they are impatient while and slower writers are more methodical
Slashes used in the place of dots mean the writer doesn't have patience for inadequacy or are overly self-critical and are annoyed by people who don't learn from their mistakes.
Long crosses on 't's suggests someone who is determined and enthusiastic, but also stubborn. Short crosses tend to be written by someone who is lazy.
People who write rounded letters are more creative and artistic while pointed letters are a sign of aggression or intelligence. Connected letters mean the writer is logical.
When people write the letter 'o' with a loop or hole at the top of the letter, it means they are talkative and sociable, while closed 'o's indicate someone who is private.
Similarly, a rounded lowercase 's' means the writer is a people pleaser, but if the rounded bottom is too wide it suggests they may not be following their heart either in their career or other pursuits.
People who place heavy pressure on the pen when they write, which can cause darker, thicker handwriting, are good with commitment and taking things seriously but don't respond well to criticism.
Light-handed writers tend to be empathetic and sensitive but lack vitality.
Illegible signatures, left, are a sign that the writer is private and hard to read. More legible signatures, right, are a sign of confidence
If handwriting slants to the right, the writer is open to new experiences. If handwriting slants to the left, that person tends to keep themselves to themselves
If someone writes quickly they are impatient and dislike delays or time wasters, and slower writers are more methodical and self reliant.
The graph also claims that a person's health can be identified from their handwriting, for example, people with high blood pressure tend to have writing that is sometimes heavy and dark, and at other times light.
Schizophrenics tend to have writing that switches direction in the way that it slants, between left and right, and this is supposedly a sign of a person 'not having continual contact with reality'.
One of the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease is very small cramped handwriting, known as micrographia.
Handwriting with heavy pressure is also a sign of high energy levels, whereas light pressure is a sign of tiredness.
In other tests, writing the capital letter 'I' much larger than other capitals is usually written by someone who is arrogant and have a high opinion of themselves.
Writing that changes dramatically over the course of a text is symbolic of lying.
What does your handwriting say about you?
FAQs
What does your handwriting say about your personality? ›
An curved arrow pointing right. Your handwriting says a lot about your personality. For example, if you write large letters, it could mean you are people oriented, whereas small letters could mean you are introverted.
Does handwriting determine personality Why? ›Sorry. Graphology has not been proven in any substantial way to predict or identify the character traits of an individual. Psychologists have researched connections between the elements of handwriting and personality tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and their results have shown no correlation.
Is there a correlation between handwriting and personality? ›It has been found that 17 graphical features of handwriting correlated significantly with psychopathic personality traits [8,9].
Can changing your handwriting change your personality? ›According to researchers, handwritings can reveal even a suicidal tendency and morals of a person. As children grow and mature, their handwriting changes and becomes a unique representation of their individual personality characteristics.
What is the study of handwriting called? ›graphology, inference of character from a person's handwriting. The theory underlying graphology is that handwriting is an expression of personality; hence, a systematic analysis of the way words and letters are formed can reveal traits of personality.
What does it mean when your handwriting changes as you write? ›It could indicate a neurological or muscular problem. “When someone's handwriting changes and becomes messy, sloppy, illegible or shaky, that might be a sign of an essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, writer's cramp or ataxia,” says neurologist Camilla Kilbane, MD.
How do you compare handwriting? ›There are four general categories by which handwriting can be analyzed and compared: Form: The shapes, curves, and angles of the letters themselves. Line Quality: How hard and steadily the pen is pressed on the paper. Arrangement: The spacing and formatting of the words within the paragraph.
What messy handwriting says about you? ›Bad and messy handwriting is a sign of high-intelligence, meaning your pen cannot keep up with your brain. So, don't despair if you have an ugly handwriting. Creative handwriting belongs to people who are highly creative and exceptional in one way or another.
Why is everyone's handwriting unique? ›Cultural environment and the characteristics of the written form of the first language that one learns to write are the primary influences on the development of one's own unique handwriting style. Even identical twins who share appearance and genetics do not have the same handwriting.
How writing can change your life? ›Unlike with talking, when you write you look for more complex words, phrases and expressions to describe what you're thinking about. This helps you build a structure and trains your rhetoric which will allow you to express yourself better and communicate complex ideas in a much more effective way.
Can a person have multiple handwriting? ›
A lot of people who are ambidextrous have very different handwriting with each hand.
How can I change my handwriting as an adult? ›- Choose the right pen. Before you write a word, think about your pen. ...
- Check your posture. Sit with your back straight, feel flat on the floor, legs uncrossed. ...
- Pick the right paper. ...
- Slow down. ...
- Examine your writing. ...
- Check the heights of your letters. ...
- Let yourself doodle. ...
- Copy handwriting you like.
Handwriting is individualistic to a person. No two persons can have exactly same handwriting because their experiences and physical and emotional states are different. Therefore handwriting of a person is unique and this forms the basis of handwriting analysis as part of identification in forensic investigations.
What is the importance of good handwriting? ›Good handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Handwriting is a predictor of success in other subjects, because good handwriting has a positive impact on grades.
What are the characteristics of a good handwriting? ›- Legible: adhering to the characteristic letter shapes.
- Fluid: writing with an even, quick writing rhythm.
- Fatigue-free: writing with little and balanced pressure.
- Efficient: quick and yet fatigue-free writing.
- Individual: a personal writing style.
Graphology is the analysis of handwriting with attempt to determine someone's personality traits. No scientific evidence exists to support graphology, and it is generally considered a pseudoscience or scientifically questionable practice.
What is meant by handwriting analysis? ›handwriting analysis. noun [ C ] us. the examination of someone's writing as a way of learning about the type of person they are: Hopper says employers who use handwriting analysis prior to filling a vacancy can save themselves costly hiring mistakes.
What are the types of handwriting? ›- Cursive Handwriting. Cursive handwriting is 'joined-up' writing where letters are connected, making it faster to write as you needed to take your pen off the page less. ...
- Print Handwriting. ...
- Modern Cursive. ...
- Letter Shapes. ...
- Letter Size. ...
- Letter Spacing. ...
- Letter Angle.
These factors are speed, size, slant, spacing, pressure, and form.
What does Big handwriting mean? ›Large letters: You are outgoing, people-oriented, outspoken and love attention. This can also mean that you put up a front and pretend to have a lot of confidence. Average letters: You are well-adjusted and adaptable. Small letters: You are shy or withdrawn, studios, concentrated and meticulous.
How accurate are handwriting experts? ›
The researchers found that experts are marginally better than novices at estimating how often specific handwriting features occur in the writing of the general population, but they are not able to do so with complete accuracy.
What does it mean if your handwriting changes drastically with every few paragraphs? ›“It's more about the function of writing than it is about the form, and as individuals develop, that's going to change based on whatever works best and is quickest for them.” Sometimes, that means your handwriting will change between contexts within the same period of time: A message on a card, for instance, will look ...
What does it mean when you write your name everywhere? ›Hypergraphia is a behavioral condition characterized by the intense desire to write or draw. Forms of hypergraphia can vary in writing style and content. It is a symptom associated with temporal lobe changes in epilepsy and in Geschwind syndrome.
How does ADHD affect handwriting? ›Handwriting difficulties are common in children with attention deficient hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and have been associated with lower academic achievement and self-esteem [1–3]. Teachers report that the handwriting of both boys and girls with ADHD is immature, messy, and illegible.
How can you tell a fake handwriting? ›- Shaky handwriting.
- Pen lifts.
- Signs of retouching.
- Letter proportions.
- Signature shape and dimensions.
- Letter slants.
- Speed, acceleration, and smoothness of curves.
- Pen pressure and pressure changes.
- Analysis. The step involves a thorough review of the known writing sample as well as the document with an unknown writer for distinctive characteristics. ...
- Comparison. ...
- Evaluation.
If you just want to practice comparing handwriting, ask friends or family members to write samples. Have a few people write 2 or 3 notes each, and ask them to mix the notes up before giving them to you. Then see if you can tell which notes were written by the same person.
What does handwriting say about intelligence? ›Research indicates that handwriting is associated with intelligence and that it can predict reading and writing skills. A recent study indicated that: handwriting automaticity predicted writing quality and production concurrently and across time after accounting for gender and initial word-reading skills.
Why do I write fast? ›The writer's pace of life
Speed in handwriting shows the writer's pace in his day-to-day activities, and even reflects the way he speaks. Those who speak fast tend to write fast as well. The slower speaker, on the other hand, is more deliberate in his writing as he is in his speech.
Few characteristics of handwriting are Line quality, Alignment, Size, Spacing, Connecting strokes, Pen lifts, Pen pressure and Slant [2].
Is handwriting all one word? ›
The former version (handwritten) is the correct spelling but hand-written isn't incorrect too (alternative spelling). As a compound word it used to be hyphened but lost that in years. There are other examples of such words: homegrown and handmade for instance. The noun you're referring to is handwriting.
Which type of handwriting is best for exams? ›Cursive, joined-up handwriting improves speed and processing skills.
What does messy handwriting say about a person? ›People with ugly handwriting are also very creative. Bad handwriting in some cases is a sign of eccentricity too. Bad and messy handwriting is a sign of high-intelligence, meaning your pen cannot keep up with your brain. So, don't despair if you have an ugly handwriting.
Can mental illness affect handwriting? ›Many neurological disorders like apraxia and chorea can affect handwriting. Many psychiatric disorders like Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, schizophrenia are also linked with handwriting change.
What does left leaning handwriting mean? ›Which way does your handwriting slant? A right slant means you like to meet and work with new people, while a left slant means you prefer to keep to yourself. Left slanters also tend to be reserved and introspective.
Is the analysis of handwriting with attempt to determine someone's personality traits? ›Graphology is the analysis of handwriting with attempt to determine someone's personality traits. No scientific evidence exists to support graphology, and it is generally considered a pseudoscience or scientifically questionable practice.
How can I write good handwriting? ›How to Improve Your Handwriting - YouTube
What is the study of handwriting called? ›graphology, inference of character from a person's handwriting. The theory underlying graphology is that handwriting is an expression of personality; hence, a systematic analysis of the way words and letters are formed can reveal traits of personality.
What does handwriting say about intelligence? ›Research indicates that handwriting is associated with intelligence and that it can predict reading and writing skills. A recent study indicated that: handwriting automaticity predicted writing quality and production concurrently and across time after accounting for gender and initial word-reading skills.
Is good handwriting important? ›Good handwriting contributes to reading fluency because it activates visual perception of letters. Handwriting is a predictor of success in other subjects, because good handwriting has a positive impact on grades.
What does it mean when your handwriting changes as you write? ›
It could indicate a neurological or muscular problem. “When someone's handwriting changes and becomes messy, sloppy, illegible or shaky, that might be a sign of an essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, writer's cramp or ataxia,” says neurologist Camilla Kilbane, MD.
How does anxiety affect handwriting? ›The result concludes that-The high stress person has more is pressure in the handwriting. Handwriting shows high pressure if the person has high anxiety. When both the stress and anxiety is there high pressure in handwriting is seen.
What does it mean when your handwriting is straight up and down? ›If your words go straight up and down, you're logical and practical. Slanting to the right, indicates that you are open to new experiences. Slanting to the left, means that you probably keep to your self, you leftward leaning lone wolf.
Why do I have small handwriting? ›Handwriting can change as you age, especially if you have poor vision or stiff hands or fingers, from arthritis or another condition. However, small, cramped handwriting — called micrographia — is characteristic of Parkinson's and is frequently one of the early symptoms.
What does small handwriting mean for a girl? ›Small handwriting is associated with being studious, shy, meticulous and concentrated. Large handwriting is associated with being an outgoing, attention-loving person. Average handwriting is associated with being well-adjusted and adaptable.
What does it mean if you dont dot your eyes? ›In graphology terms, people who never dot their i dots are considered ear minded or auditory people. They remember sounds and music and are easily distracted and disturbed by noises. They remember names well but forgets faces. They do not like to read books, their eyes get sore easily.
Why do I write so big? ›People with large handwriting like to remain the centre of attention in social gatherings. People who have big handwriting do not worry about small things. They are quick to leave behind unpleasant experiences and get on with life.