Handwriting Factors

Handwriting Analysis using Handwriting Factors

All individuals learn how to write by first practicing on and imitating a model. In elementary school usually the alphabet is somewhere in the classroom where the students through repetition can imitate the letter forms and connecting strokes of the various numerals and characters of the alphabet. At first the student is graded on how well they conform to the numeral and alphabet letter forms. Some students will score well and others will do poorly. This is because, just like with any other motor skill activity, some writers are more skilled than others. Regardless of skill level the student eventually has practiced enough that their handwriting becomes a sub-conscious action of the brain and muscles of the wrist, forearm, fingers and hand. The thought process of how the specific character should be produced becomes habitual. As ones handwriting develops, eventually the writer deviates from the model and develops their own specific letter forms, letter spacings, word spacings, baseline agreement, slant, connecting strokes, and height ratios of upper and lower case characters. After time and combining all of the factors that influence handwriting; skill level, handwriting system taught, deviation from copybook style and other individual characteristics, specific identifiable handwriting habits will develop and render ones handwriting unique. This is even more evident when one examines and compares individual signatures.