1. Handwriting Comparison
Form, line quality, and arrangement

2. Origin of Handwriting
Class Evidence – the handwriting system that a person learns (in school) - copybook
Individual – Distinctive or peculiar features that develop later
Individual inventions and developments
Due to personal taste, artistic ability, education, musculature, nerve tone, etc.

3. Form
Characteristics related to the shape of the elements in the handwriting
Formation of letters – the shape of the individual upper- and lower-case letters and numbers
Movement – fingers, hand, or forearm
Proportion – relative height of letters
Slant – axes of certain letters deviate from general slant of the writing

4. Retrace – staffs of certain letters (such as t) are retraced rather than looped.
Angles, straight lines, and curves
Connections – linking one letter to another
Trademarks – distinctive noncopybook features

5. Line Quality Writing instrument Pen position Pressure exerted
Speed and rhythm
Beginning and ending strokes
Continuity – connecting strokes between letters

6. Arrangement Spacing – distance between letters, words, and lines
Alignment – relationship to base line
Margins
Formatting – arrangement of parts of a letter, including signature on a page
Spelling, punctuation, and corrections

7. Steps in handwriting analysis
Examine carefully questioned writing (without reference samples) to avoid bias
Examine known or standard writings to learn handwriting habits
Compare the two samples for common characteristics
Must be similar with no significant unexplained differences

8. Common Disguising Methods
Change direction of slant
Change writing hand
Writing upside down
Altering size of writing
Substituting hand printing for cursive writing
In General, the handwriting can still be matched due to established writing habits