Handwriting Analysis: What Your Handwriting Says About You

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What can your handwriting tell you about your personality and outlook on life? Graphologists would argue it can tell you quite a bit! Even though you might've been taught to write your letters in a certain way in school, people tend to deviate from that teaching as they get older. Graphology studies how those deviations could be the expression of specific personality traits. [1] Read on to learn what characteristics to look at and what graphology tells you those characteristics mean. If you want to test it on yourself, write out a few sentences on blank, unlined paper so you can analyze as you go.

Analyzing Handwriting

To analyze handwriting, start with the pressure of the stroke. Heavy pen pressure could indicate you're energetic or emotional. The height at which you cross your t's could correspond with the height of your self-esteem. Rounded letters could be a sign that you're relaxed and open-minded.

1

Shape of Letters

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  1. The more loops and open circles in someone's writing, the more relaxed and open they are. In contrast, people who write with straight lines rather than a lot of loops tend to be tenser. The lower-case "L" is a good place to look for this, as well as letters that drop below the baseline (such as "y," "j," and "g"). [2]
    • Rounded letters might also signify someone who's more artistic and creative, while pointy letters indicate someone who's more rational and aggressive.
    • More rounded letters are also seen as more feminine, while strong lines and sharp angles are seen as masculine.
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2

Position and Shape of i-dots

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  1. Generally, the further away from the stem a person dots their i's, the more imaginative and creative they're seen to be. This makes sense if you recall that the top of the page represents dreams and goals. An i-dot closer to the stem means the writer is organized and pays attention to detail.
    • If the i-dot is more of a slash than a dot, it could mean that the person was writing quickly or that they're a pretty rushed and impatient person in general.
    • Is the i-dot a round, open bubble? The writer has a childlike curiosity about the world and is likely very bubbly and creative.
3

Position and Shape of T-bars

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  1. If the person crosses their lowercase T's high on the stem (above the tops of other letters), they have very high self-esteem. If it's crossed very low, that could indicate that they fear failure and resist change.
    • T-bars consistently crossed in the middle, just above the tops of the other lowercase letters, signal a practical and generally successful person.
    • Someone who's a dreamer might cross their T's completely off the stem. Their goals might not be grounded in reality and they might be prone to flights of fancy.
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4

Size and Proportion of Letters

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  1. Graphologists divide a line of writing into 3 zones— the upper, middle, and lower zones. To look at the size of someone's writing, focus mainly on the middle zone, where the majority of lower-case letters are located. Relatively large letters might indicate that someone demands attention, while smaller letters are typically written by someone who is modest and unassuming. [3]
    • Small handwriting can also indicate someone with strong focus and concentration who tends to work on one thing at a time rather than multi-tasking.
5

Letter Slant

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  1. If the letters themselves angle back to the left, the person is likely defensive and fearful of the future. If the letters angle forward to the right, on the other hand, the person tends to be very expressive, intense, and impulsive. People who write their letters straight up and down value rationality over emotion and tend to be fairly independent.
    • How much the letters are slanted also gives you a clue into how far in that direction the person leans—so an extreme right slant could indicate a complete lack of self-control.
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6

Letter Spacing

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  1. Someone who writes with plenty of space between each letter typically doesn't like to be crowded and needs a lot of personal space. If their letters are closer together or even overlapping, it indicates they prefer to be around people and get lonely easy.
    • People whose letters are crowded close together might also have a hard time giving others the personal space they need.
7

Word Spacing

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  1. A writer who leaves a wider space between their words usually avoids a crowd and is pretty introverted. In contrast, someone who writes their words close together probably enjoys crowds and is more extroverted and outgoing.
    • Some graphologists interpret a narrow space between words to indicate the writer has a tendency to pry into others' personal lives or ask intrusive questions.
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8

Line Spacing

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  1. Someone who leaves wide, even spaces between their lines tends to have clear, organized thinking and a good sense of boundaries. Narrow spacing between lines that causes letters to overlap, on the other hand, shows a person who might be overly familiar with others and have trouble with personal boundaries. [4]
    • Narrow-based lines can also indicate a tendency toward knee-jerk reactions, while someone with wide-spaced lines is more likely to hold back until they've cooled off. [5]
9

Baseline Slope

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  1. A person whose writing slopes upward from the left is generally optimistic, while someone whose writing slopes downward is considered more pessimistic. If their writing is generally level, they tend to be a pretty balanced person. [6]
    • The baseline slope is usually more of an indicator of the person's mood while they were writing, rather than their overall personality. [7]
    • If you want to analyze a person's overall personality, get several different samples from different days and times.
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10

Pen Pressure

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  1. People who write with heavy pressure tend to have strong vitality and intense emotions. Those who write with very light pressure, on the other hand, are more passive or sedentary and likely avoid confrontation. Most people write with medium pressure, indicating more of a balance. [8]
    • Someone who writes with heavy pressure usually also writes pretty slowly, while people who write with light pressure are often writing very quickly. [9]
    • As with the baseline slope, you need several handwriting samples to interpret the writer's personality as a whole. Otherwise, this just reflects how they're feeling in the moment.
11

Margins

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  1. Writing far to the left indicates a person who stays rooted in the past, while writing all the way to the right edge tells you the person is eager and impatient to do new things. Writing close to the top of the page means a person is an imaginative dreamer, while writing all the way to the bottom tells you they're very grounded and practical. [10]
    • Some graphologists interpret the writing of a person who leaves little to no margins all the way around to mean that person is insecure. [11]
    • Those who leave a very even margin around all sides of their writing are thought to be balanced and self-disciplined people. [12]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I make my handwriting more elegant?
    Swetha Shenoy
    Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist
    Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago.
    Swetha Shenoy
    Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist
    Expert Answer
    Start by finding a style you admire and browse platforms like Pinterest or search for worksheets that showcase the styles you want to emulate. Study these styles and choose elements from each of them that appeal to you. Practicing is crucial, remember to dedicate time each day to hone your chosen style. Be prepared for initial results that may not meet your expectations; this is a natural part of the learning process. Embrace the imperfections of your writing, as these are essential for your improvement.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I improve my handwriting?
    Swetha Shenoy
    Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist
    Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago.
    Swetha Shenoy
    Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist
    Expert Answer
    Consider adopting calligraphy style by slowing down, taking your time, and focusing on each letter. Treat each letter as a small piece of art, paying attention to its shape and structure to create more consistent and aesthetically pleasing handwriting. For a particular style, use worksheets to trace over the letters repeatedly and build muscle memory that will help you naturally replicate the style. Consistent practice is key—rather than practicing sporadically for long periods, aim for shorter, daily sessions of about 10 minutes and improve on that.
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
  • Question
    I write using both print and cursive. Sometimes a word will contain both printed and cursive letters. What does that indicate?
    Community Answer
    If you just write in printed letters but connect them like cursive letters, it shows that you are an efficient person and like to save time. If it's a mix of print and cursive words, it means you're unpredictable and can be a bit antisocial.
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      Warnings

      • Graphology is not a hard science. While it might give you insight into someone's personality, avoid using it to pass judgment.
        Thanks
        Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
      • The associations in this article apply primarily to the handwriting of people who are writing in their native language.
        Thanks
        Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0
      • This article analyzes English writing, but many of the characteristics are present in any language that uses the Latin alphabet.
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        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.britishgraphology.org/about-british-institute-of-graphologists/what-is-graphology/
      2. ↑ https://blog.hocking.edu/how-to-study-your-handwriting-and-what-it-means
      3. ↑ https://media.lanecc.edu/users/mitchella/rd_wr/Handwriting%20Analysis.pdf
      4. ↑ https://media.lanecc.edu/users/mitchella/rd_wr/Handwriting%20Analysis.pdf
      5. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20229925/
      6. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20229925/
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676206/
      8. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/016794579190005I
      9. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/016794579190005I
      1. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0191886987900456
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE7j0x-8d4k
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpeqmVMeigY

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To learn graphology, or how to analyze handwriting, look at the pressure of the stroke. High pressure means high emotional energy, average pressure means a calm but anchored person, and light pressure could mean the person is an introvert. Next, examine the slant of the strokes—a right slant shows confidence, a left slant could mean a desire to hide emotions, and no slant could mean the person tries to keep emotions in check. Also, upward writing means optimism and downward writing could mean discouragement. To learn what you can find out from the size of the letters, keep reading!

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