QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION

What is document?
• A document is any material which contains marks, signs, or symbols,
which are visible, partially visible or invisible that may presently or
ultimately convey a meaning or message to someone.
• A document becomes a questioned document when it is being questioned
as to its originality, authorship, source and genuineness and when it is
placed under scrutiny to determine whether or not it is disputed.
• Pencil or ink typewriting, or printing on paper are the most usual forms of
document.
• Applies to writing, to words printed, lithographed, photographed, to maps
or plans, to seals, plates or even stones in which inscriptions.
• Plural form means deeds, agreements, contracts, title, letters, receipts and
other documents.
What is questioned document?
• It is any document about which some issue has been raised or placed
under scrutiny.
• It is a document that has been questioned in whole or in part with respect
to its authenticity, identity, origin, or its relation among its parts and to
other things.
• It is also defined as any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other mark
whose source or authenticity is in dispute or doubtful.
• Questioned documents may be disputed or not.
• Not all questioned documents are disputed .
Most common questioned documents
• Checks
• Certificates
• Wills
• Passports
• Licenses
• Money
• Letters
 • Contracts
• Suicide Notes
• Receipts
• Even Lottery Tickets
Disputed Documents
• A term suggesting that there is an argument or controversy over the document,
and strictly speaking this is its true meaning. In this text, as well as through prior
usage, however, disputed document and questioned document are employed
interchangeably to signify a document that is under special scrutiny.
Kinds of Documents
1.Public Document- notarized by a notary public or competent public official with
solemnities required by law. Example: Affidavit, drivers license, cedula, birth certificate
death certificate, and court records.
2.Official Document- issued by the government or its agents or its officers having the
authority to do so and the offices, which in accordance with their creation, they are
authorize to issue and be issued be in the performance of their duties.
3.Private Document- executed by a private person without the intervention of a notary
public or of any person legally authorized, by which documents, some disposition or
agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth.
4.Commercial Document- executed in accordance with the Code of Commerce or any
Mercantile Law, containing disposition of commercial rights or obligations. These are
written records of commercial transactions. example: receipt, insurance.
5.Electronic Document (E-Document)- exist only in electronic form such as data
stored on a computer, network, back-up, archive or other storage media(ra 8792
governed by electronic commerce act)
Questioned Document Examination
• It has been a profession, at least 1870, and it is frequently done in cases of
forgery, counterfeiting, mail, fraud, kidnapping, con games, embezzlement,
gambling, organized crime, white collar crimes, art crime, theft, robbery, arson,
burglary, homicide, serial number, psychological profiling, and deviant sex
crimes.
The examination of questioned documents falls into:
1. Criminalistic Examination – for detection of forgeries, alterations, and
obliterations.
 2. Handwriting Identification – to find out who is the author of the writing.
Criminalistics examination
• is similar also to other laboratory work.
• “An intelligent police investigator can detect 75% of all of his magnifiers
and measuring tools” --- Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British Examiner
• The examination of document in criminalistics laboratory is also a scientific
procedure which can be learned in a very short time.
Handwriting Identification
• It is more difficult procedure and requires a long study and experience.
• No person ever writes a letter exactly the same every time.
• The handwriting expert have to learn differences of forms and structures by a
sort of intuition, which is not easy to reduce to a science.
• The police investigator/laboratory criminalist should confine his work to the
detection of forgeries and erasures and leave the identification of handwriting to
a more qualified document expert.
Scientific handwriting examination consists of:
• 1. Recognition of characteristics (analysis)
• 2. Complete comparison of all characteristics (comparison)(authentic standard
docs and standard writing)
• 3. Correct interpretation of characteristics (evaluation) (conclusion in QDE result
or opinion))
Processes in scientific method of examination
• Analysis – properties or characteristics are observed, measured, and
determined.
• Comparison – properties/characteristics of the unknown items determined thru
analysis are compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
• Evaluation – similarities/dissimilarities in property or characteristics that have
certain value for identification are determined by their likelihood or occurrence.
• Verification – double checking of accuracy and correctness of conclusion

• Document examination consists largely of comparing questioned handwriting

with known handwriting to determine the writer’s identity.
 • It also includes the examination of hand printing, forgeries, type writing, inks,
papers, incented and eradicated writing, rubber stamp impressions, charred
paper and related items.
• No two people write exactly alike; the writing process is so complex that
personal peculiarities always persist in the handwriting of any given individual.
• Detailed examination reveals these hidden characteristics which can the form the
basis for an expert’s opinion.
Forensic questioned document examination
• means the application of this science to law or court litigations.
• Forensic science uses highly developed technologies to uncover scientific
evidence in a variety of fields.
• It identifies the identity of a document in question
• In courts of law a witness is not allowed to give his opinion about certain matters
unless the court has decided that he has the necessary fitness to qualify as an
expert.

Document
The term document came from the Latin word “documentum”, which means lesson, or
example. It may have been derived also from the French word “docere” means to teach.
Any material containing marks, symbols, or signs in which these components may either
be visible or partially visible in conveying message or meaning to someone.
Kinds of Document
1. Public document
A document created, executed or issued by a public official in response to the
exigencies of the public service, or in the execution of which a public official intervened.
(U.S. v. Asensi, 34 Phil. 765)
2. Official document
A document which is issued by a public official in the exercise of the functions of his
office. An official document is also a public document. It falls within the larger class
called public document. (U.S. v. Asensi)
3. Private Document
Every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the intervention of a
notary public or of any person legally authorized, by which the documents some
disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth (US v. Orera,11 Phil. 596).-
4. Commercial Document
Any instrument defined and regulated by the Code of Commerce (People v. Co Beng,
1913) or any other commercial law.

Questioned Document
Is a document or paper/s whose contents have been contested either in whole or in any
part as to their authenticity. A document is questioned when there is a controversy over
its preparation, contents and other circumstances surrounding it.
Questioned Document Examination
Is a term used to refer to the act of making a close and critical study of any document
which is questioned, disputed or attacked, necessary to discover the facts about them.
Two Division of QDE
1. Criminalistics Examination. This involves the detection of forgery, erasure,
alteration or obliteration of documents.
Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British Examiner of questioned documents said that
an intelligent police investigator can detect almost 75% of all forgeries by careful
inspection of a document with simple magnifiers and measuring tools.
2. Handwriting Investigation/Analysis. This is more focused in determining the
author of writing. It is more difficult procedure and requires long study and
experience.
Aspects of QDE
- Handwriting Examination (Graphology/Graphoanalysis)
- examination of signatures and initials
- examination of anonymous letters
- hand printing examination
- Examination of Typewritings and typeprints.
- Examination of Inks
- Examination of Erasures, alterations or obliterations, etc.
- Detection of alteration
 - Decipherment of erased writings
- Restoration of obliterated writings
- Counterfeiting
- Examination of currency bills and coins and the like
- Examination of fake documents
- Miscellaneous aspects
- Determination of age of documents
- Identification of stamps
- Examinations of seal and other authenticating devices
Purpose of QDE
To reveal/ discover the following:
- Identity of the author.
- True contents of the document.
- Origin of the instrument or paper used in making the document.
- Alterations or erasures which have been made.
- Authenticity of the document.
Scientific Examination of QDE
• Analysis (Recognition) - properties or characteristics, observed or measured.
• Comparison - Properties or characteristics of the unknown determined thought
analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
• Evaluation- Similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each
have a certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence. The
weight or significance of each must therefore be considered.
Instruments used in QDE
• Stereoscopic Miscroscope
The stereoscopic microscope, two low-powered microscopes arranged to converge
on a single specimen, provides a three-dimensional image.
• Compound Miscroscope
The compound microscope uses two lenses, an objective lens and an ocular lens,
mounted at opposite ends of a closed tube, to provide greater magnification than is
possible with a single lens. The objective lens is composed of several lens elements
that form an enlarged real image of the object being examined.
• Shadowgraph
An instrument that the images are cast in shadow, an image of a shape made by
casting a shadow onto a surface
• Handwriting Protractor
An instrument for measuring angles: an instrument shaped like a semicircle
marked with the degrees of a circle, used to measure or mark out angles.
• UV Lamp
This is usually used in the detection of counterfeited bills but can actually be used
to detect security features of qualified documents.
• Transmitted Light
A device where light comes from beneath or behind glass on document is placed.
• Photo- enlarger
A device used to enlarge negatives and transfer the image to the photo paper.
• Forensic Comparator
An instrument which captures images and projects them on a black and white
screen for enlargement purposes.
• Electro- Static Detection Device
An Electro Static Detection Apparatus is used to visualize indentations by
applying an electrostatic charge to a transparent film. The film is laid across the
page in question and once the charge has been applied, black toner is passed
across the film and reveals any indentations. This method can also determine if
something has been added to a journal or log after the original entry was made
• Video Spectral Comparator
is used to analyze inks and see whether they are the same or different. This is
done by looking at them under different lighting conditions where some wavelengths
of light are blocked. This technique can uncover layers in documents where words
have been scribbled out or written over
• Thin Layer Chromatography
is used to do a more thorough analysis of ink. The ink is mixed with chemicals
and deposited onto a silicate plate where its constituents can be measured
• Infrared Reflectance
is used to show the residue of pencil marks. This can be done clearly even if the
writing has been erased. Pencils are made of graphite which is a form of carbon –
and this absorbs infrared light well
2 types of Erasure
 Mechanical erasure- caused by rubber erasure, sandpaper, and knife,
remove by friction that causes abrasions, permanent record of abrasions
 Chemical erasure - oxidizing agent to remove part of the writing, causes
discoloration on paper, undergo UV examination and reveal discoloration.
• Magnifying Lens
For increased magnification
• Camera with Macro Lens
To capture the handwriting sample and enlarge the same for court presentation.
Techniques in Examination
1. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION - Any examination or study which is made with
the microscope in order to discover minute physical details. With proper angle
and intensity or illumination, it aids in the decipherment of erasures, some minute
manipulations not perfectly pictured to the unaided eye and the sequence of entries
done by different writing instruments.
2. TRANSMITTED LIGHT EXAMINATION – In this examination, the document is
viewed with the source of illumination behind it and the light passing through
the paper. Documents are subjected to this type of examination to determine the
presence of erasures, matching of serrations and some other types of alterations.
3. OBLIQUE LIGHT EXAMINATION - An examination with the illumination so
controlled that it grazes or strikes the surface of the document from one side
at a very low angle. Decipherment of faded handwriting, determination of outlines in
traced forgery, embossed impressions, etc. are subjected to this type of
examination. (indentation)
4. PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION - This type of examination is very essential in
every document examination. Actual observations are recorded in the photographs
5. ULTRA-VIOLET EXAMINATION - Ultraviolet radiation is invisible and occurs in
the wave lengths just below the visible blue-violet end of the spectrum (rainbow).
These visible rays react on some substances so that visible light is reflected, a
phenomenon known as FLOURESCENCE. This type of examination is done in a
darkroom after the lamp has been warmed up in order to give a maximum output of
the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the ultra-violet light should be to the minimum
duration in order to avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon.
6. INFRARED EXAMINATION - This examination of documents employs invisible
radiation beyond the red portion of the visible spectrum (rainbow) which is usually
recorded on a specially sensitized photographic emulsion.
Classes of QD
- Documents containing questioned signatures. – most common form of disputed
document
- Questioned documents alleged to have been containing fraudulent alterations. –
erasure and substitution
- Questioned or disputed holographic will.- any document signed by one person
without a witness example: will testament, notarial will- legal attorney, holographic
will document is all parts is under suspicious
- Documents investigated on the question of typewriting. Example: writer, typewritten
and printed
- Questioned documents on issues of their age or date.
Ancients document- there is no need to prove and accepted in the court (30 years
old and above.
- Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their production.
- Documents or writings investigated because it is alleged that they identify some
persons through handwriting. Example: anonymous letters and black mailing letters
CHAPTER 2
Various aspects of questioned documents examination
Classes of questioned documents
 Documents containing questioned signatures.
 Questioned documents alleged to have been containing fraudulent
alterations.
 Questioned or disputed holographic will. (signed by one person without
a witness and the entire parts of docs is under suspicious
 Documents investigated on the question of typewriting. (typewritten
docs ex, writer, typewriter and printed)
 Questioned documents on issues of their age or date(Ancient document
30 years old and above)
 Questioned documents on issues of materials used in their production.
(under suspicious is the material, inks and papers)
 Documents or writings investigated because it is alleged that they
identify some persons through handwriting.(anonymous letter and black
mailing letter)
  Genuine documents erroneously and fraudulently attacked or disputed.
(can be disputed by the author itself) example: contract documents
Photography and questioned documents
• Photography is very necessary and useful in every questioned document
examination, especially for those who are required to present the facts in a
court or any investigative body or agency.
• With the help of photography, it is easier for an expert witness to convince
the court or investigative body about the result of his examination whether
the questioned documents is disputed or not.
Purpose of photographs in qde
• Photograph serves as a record of the initial condition of a questioned
document.
• Photograph makes clear what otherwise may be hidden or indistinct.
• By means of photograph, a writing in question can be accurately enlarged so
that every quality and characteristics of it can be clearly and properly interpreted
whether the facts shown point to genuineness or to forgery.
• Any number of accurate reproductions of the documents could be made
thru photographs.
• Photograph can be cut apart as maybe desirable and the various parts
classified for comparison.
• Photographs are also useful in showing delicate discoloration due to
chemical erasures or other fraudulent changes, which may otherwise be
overlooked, denied and misinterpreted.
• Erasures by abrasions made by an ordinary rubber eraser can sometimes be
shown very clearly and recorded in permanent form by a photograph.
• Transmitted light photography is useful in the examination of watermarks,
determining the identity or the difference in papers by showing arrangements of
the fibers and the markings of the wire gauge and dandy roll; showing continuity
of strokes; determining retouching or patching of a writing by showing clearly the
presence of added ink film and the uneven distribution of ink in interrupted
strokes.
• Stereographic photomicrograph shows condition of writing in three
dimensional enlargements and is useful in showing sequences of cross lines or
showing writing across a fold preceded or followed by the folding of a paper.
Instruments &apparatuses needed in questioned document examination
 • MAGNIFYING LENS
- used in the hand lens examination since it is very convenient to handle.
• SHADOWGRAPH – it is a machine which enlarges minute details as much as
20x but with no ocular piece, as in the microscope.
It facilitates examination of hand writing and type writing.
• STEREOSCOPIC BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE provides 3D enlargement
• PAPER THICKNESS GAUGE
-it is used to measure the thickness of the paper if there is insertion or addition
• MEASURING TEST PLATES
This equipment measures the number of characters and letters in typewriter, used
in typewritten documents example: 10- picka type and 12 – elite type
 Protractor – measure the slope, slant of the characters relative to the
baseline, inclination of the handwriting
 TABLE LAMPS – FOR CONTROLLED ILLUMINATION, NEEDED IN SIDE
LIGHT EXAMINATION. (goose neck lamp)
 TRANSMITTED LIGHT GADGET – LIGHT COMES FROM BENEATH OR
BEHIND THE GLASS ON WHICH THE DOCUMENT IS PLACED.
 UV Lamp detection of counterfeited bills
 Infrared viewer to show residue of paper mark pencil
 VSC – VIDEO SPECTRAL COMPARATOR variation of inks use
 CAMERA WITH MICRO AND MACRO LENS
Classes of Disputed Signatures
• 1. Forged signature where no attempt has been made to make a copy or
facsimile of the genuine signature of the person purporting to have signed the
document. This is commonly referred as “simple forgery”.
• 2. Forge signature which closely resembles the genuine signature since they
have been produced by tracing process referred to as “traced forgery”.
• Three different tracing process:
• Transmitted light process – can traced the outline of signature having a
strong light.
• Carbon process – using carbon paper traced by dry pen to have a
carbon outline.
• Indentation process – binabakat, model signature below fraudulent
document then traced with considerable pressure.
 • 3. Forged signature which resembles the genuine signature written freehand,
commonly known as “copied or simulated forgery”.
• 4. Forged signature of fictitious persons
• 5. Genuine signature that the writer is honestly unwilling to accept as
genuine
• 6. Genuine signature obtained by trickery
• 7. Genuine signature deliberately written illegibly or in an unusual manner to
avoid identification
Techniques In The Examination of Questioned Documents
• Microscopic Examination – Stereoscopic examination with low and high power
objectives is used to detect retouching, patching and unnatural pen lift in
signature analysis. With proper angle and intensity of illumination, it aids in the
decipherment of erasures, some minutes manipulation not perfectly pictured to
the unaided eye and the sequence of entries done by different writing instrument
• Stereoscopic Binocular Microscopic Examination – a stereoscopic
microscope is being used in this examination which gives a three dimensional
enlargement of objects.
• Transmitted Light Examination – Documents are subjected to this type of
examination to determine the presence of erasures, matching of serration and
some other types of alteration.
• Oblique Light Examination / Indirect Lighting Examination
• Decipherment of faded handwriting, determination of outlines in traced forgery,
embossed impression, etc. are subjected to this type of examination.
• Indirect Lighting Equipment is being used in this examination, this equipment
has a controlled illumination; wherein the document is viewed with source of
illumination beside it and the light is coming thru the paper.
• Photographic Examination – This type of examination is very essential in every
document examination. Actual observations are recorded in the photography.
• Ultra-Violet Examination – This type of examination is done in a darkroom after
the lamp has been warmed up in order to give a maximum output of the ultra-
violet light. Exposure to the ultra-violet light should be to the minimum duration in
order to avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter ribbon.
• The exposures of a document to ultra-violet light is useful when it consists of
several pages and substitution is being suspected. The color and intensity of
fluorescence reaction is very apparent in case of a substituted page. Mechanical
 and chemical erasures will certainly change the reflectivity and fluorescence of
the area affected.
• Electrostatic Detection Apparatus – Detects indention/ indented writings.
Records transparencies of any indentations.
• Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) Examination
• Used in the examination of masked or obliterated text, watermarks, visible
fluorescence, paper fluorescence and oblique illumination of indented writing and
embossing. Detects variation in the infra-red characteristics of inks. Reveals
alterations by eliminating and interfering background luminescence.
• Photomicrographs are an improvement of the usual enlarged photograph,
because in the process of enlargement many of the characteristics are
minimized. The photomicrograph is a direct enlargement of the specimen in a
single operation. Ultraviolet light may be used to bring out otherwise invisible
details.
• Type angle measurement
• -it is to measure the angle or degree of mal-alignment in horizontal of a
typewriter.
CHAPTER 3
The Study of Handwriting
Objectives
• Define the different operational and basic terms in handwriting.
• Differentiate two kinds of characteristics of handwriting.
• Discuss the development of one’s individual handwriting and the operations in
process of writing.
• Enumerate the different elements of handwriting.
Basic Terms in Handwriting
• Writing – result of a very complicated series of acts, being as a whole a
combination of certain forms, which are very visible result of mental and
muscular habits, acquired by long, continued and painstaking effort.
• Handwriting – is a visible effect of bodily movement, which is an almost
unconscious expression of certain ideas associated with script form.
• System of Writing – is the combination of basic designs of letters and writing
movements as taught in school.
 • Natural Writing – is any specimen of writing executed normally without any
attempt to control or alters its identifying habits and its usual quality of execution.
• Disguised Writing – is a way of writing in which the writer deliberately tries to
alters his usual writing habits to conceal his identity.
• Cursive Writing – is a style of writing in which the letters are for the most part
joined together. Connected strokes
• Hand Lettering – is any disconnected style in which the letters are written
separately.
• Holograph Documents – is a document which is completely written and signed
by one person.
• Signature – is one’s name written by himself on a document as a sign of
acknowledgment.
• Writing Habit – is any repeated element or detail that may serve to individualize
writing.
• Significant Handwriting – is a term applied to any characteristics of handwriting
which is sufficiently unique and well-fixed to serve as a fundamental point in the
identification of a writer.
• Characteristics – is any property or mark which distinguishes and, in questioned
documents examinations, commonly refers to identifying details.
• TWO KINDS OF CHARACTERISTICS
• CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – ARE IDENTIFYING DETAILS
WHICH ARE COMMON TO A GROUP.
• INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS – ARE CHARACTERISTICS
WHICH ARE HIGHLY PERSONAL AND ARE UNLIKELY TO
OCCUR IN OTHER INSTANCES.
Development of Handwriting
1. When a person first begins to learn the art of handwriting, penmanship copybook
form or blackboard illustration of the different letters is placed before him. The first step
is one of imitation or a process of drawing, painstaking, laborious and slow copying of
the letter forms. The forms of each letter, at first, occupy the focus of his attention.
Focus on the design.
• 2. As the person progresses, the matter of forms recedes, and the focus of
attention is centered on the execution of various letters, that is, they are actually
writing instead of drawing.
 • 3. The manual operation in the execution of letters, after more progress, is
likewise soon relegated to the subjective mind and the process of writing
becomes more or less automatic. As the person attains maturity in writing by any
repetitions, writing becomes an unconscious coordinated movement that
produces a record. Attention is no longer given to the process of writing itself
because the subject matter to be written now occupies the focus of attention.
• The manner in which writing is produced is shown by itself, that is, the
appearance of the writing strokes will indicate where attention was focused in the
writing process.
Physiological Basis of Handwriting
• The impulses to form a letter begin in the cortex --- a part of the brain that
controls vision, hearing, talking and walking. It guides the muscles of the hand as
they weave through the complex movement that makes the words.
• Emotions and attitudes influence how we write.
• The pen functions as the extension of the hand.
• The fingers transmit to the pen the directive impulses and the variation in the
muscular tension occur during the act of writing.
• Each writer has his own way of holding his hand, manipulating the pen, and
exerting pressure, the same in different hands will produce entirely different
strokes.
• This center near the motor area of the cortex is responsible for the finer
movement involved in handwriting.
• The importance of this center is that when it becomes diseased as in agraphia---
a person who loses the ability to write although he can still grasp a writing
instrument.
• The ability or power to hold a pen to form symbols and words can be said to
emanate from this cortical center.
• Agraphia persons lose the ability to write.
• The hand contains two groups of muscles which function in the act of writing.
• A group of extensor muscles pushes up the pen to form the upward strokes and
ease the tension produced as a result of flexion by a group of muscles called as
flexor muscles which pushes down the pen to form downward strokes.
• These muscles are combined with lumbrical muscles, extensor and flexor
muscles to form the lateral strokes.
• Away from the author – extensor muscle
 • Approaching to the author – flexor muscels
• Four groups of muscles are employed in writing.
• Those which operate the joints of the fingers; wrist; elbow; and shoulder.
• The delicate way in which the various muscles used in writing work together to
produce written forms is known as “motor coordination”
Various Elements of Handwriting
• Movement/manner of Execution – is related to the handling position of the
writing instrument that creates certain types of motion affecting the quality of the
writing; the skill, speed, freedom, hesitations, tremors, line quality and alignment.
 Kinds of Movement: 1. finger movement; 2. hand movement; 3. whole
arm movement & 4. forearm movement
• Movement/manner of Execution –
• Kinds of Movement:
• 1. Finger movement –
 this is accomplished by using the thumb, the first and slightly the third
fingers which are in actual motion.
 employed by children and illiterates
 results: poor quality; lack of rhythm and speed, letters are cropped
 Limited in scope, cramp in manner
 Most are vertical writing; slow and labored speed
 Connecting strokes are irregular
 Contains numerous broad curves
 Lacks of freedom, clear cut, smooth and graduated strokes
• 2. Hand movement/Wrist movement–
 Action comes from the wrist with the combination of fingers.
 The wrist is the center of action, but with some action of the fingers
 Results: regularity of lines and considerable speed.
 The tops and bottoms of letters are narrow and angular
 Writing is often illegible, although rapid
 Alignment is uneven
  Tendency to go upward
 It has greater freedom compared to finger movement

• 3. Whole arm movement–

 This is actually the movement of the shoulder, hand and arm with the
support of the table.
 The center of the action is the elbow
 Results: artistic design, similar to blackboard writing
 The stroked are generally rhythmic, symmetrical and clear cut
 Rapid and clear
 Written with greater fluency and straight forwardness
 Alignment is often straight and elongated
 Rounded and lateral strokes sharply tapered

• 4. Forearm movement–
 Letters are form due to the action of the elbow, forearm resting on the
writing surface
 Results: clear cut, fine quality, regular gradations of heavy and light
pressure.
 Longer and embellished strokes
 Letters are usually larger in size
 • Movement/manner of Execution –
• Quality of Movement – may be categorized into:
a. clumsy, illiterate and halting;
b. hesitating and painful due to weakness and illness;
c. strong heavy and forceful;
d. nervous and irregular, smooth, flowing and rapid, depending upon the motion
of the writing instrument and the manner of execution.
• Quality of Movement –
 The different movements the writer employed affect writing in its;
• Smoothness
• Directness
• Uniformity
• Continuity of strokes
• Connecting or curves between letters
• Speed of Movement – the examiner should be able tp identify and categorize the
writer’s speed of movement
• Categorized as:
a. slow and drawn;
b. deliberate;
c. average and
d. rapid
Recognition of Writing Characteristics
• 1. Form – this refers to the shape and design of the individual letters.
• The following should be considered as to the factors of form:
 Mere similarities in form are not sufficient indication of identity.
 Basic differences in form of letters are indications of two writings being
made by different writers
1. Form – individual concept of letter form is introduced for the following reasons:
 The endeavor to attain a highly individualized writing
 An effort to make writing simpler and easier
 To acquire greater speed
 2. Slope or slant – is an angle or inclination of the axis of letters relative to the
baseline.
• The slope may be forwardly(left) done; backwards(right) or even vertical sloping.
• Deliberate alteration of slope will greatly affect the rhythm and fluency of the
writing.
2. Slope or slant – a slight persistent difference in slant or slope in two writings
are by two different writers, while a pronounced difference might be the result of
intended disguise.
Disguise writing have the same author , obvious differences

3. Size – it is somewhat divergent under varying condition and may have but little
significance when applied to only one example, or to small quantity of writing .
• In a number of signatures which are claimed to have been produces at different
times are in question and they are like each other in the matter of size,
divergence becomes significant in proportion to its extent.
4. Proportion – of a letter or relative height of one letter to another letter can be found
in different writings.
• It is one hidden features of writing.
• It is unknown even to the writer.
• The average height of a letter remains constant relative to that of other letters
even if the size of writing is changed.
4. Proportion – to deliberately change the size of writing may be simple matter.
• Proportion characteristics become significant as a factor of identification.

• 5. Ratio
• Letters of the alphabet are divided into two groups
 Letters written entirely between the lines are called as short
(a,c,e,i,m,n,o,r,s,u,v,w,x)
 Letters with upper or lower loops or other projected portions are classified
as tall (b,d,f,g,h,j,l,p,t,y,z)
• 5. Ratio – the relation between the short and tall letters.
• The length of the upper and lower loops of the tall letters is twice the length of the
short letters.
• Short letters – letters witten entirely between the line
• Tall letters – letters with upper and lower loop
• The ratio that approximates to that prescribed by the ordinary copybook form is
termed as normal.
• Normal – length of the tall letter is twice of short letter most commonly in copy
book form
• High – tall letter have loops longer than twice the short letter
• Low – tall letters have loops shorter than twice the short letter
• If the tall letters have loops longer than the height of the short letters, the ratio is
described as “high”, otherwise the ratio is “low”.
• When the ratio conforms to the ordinary copy book form, it is considered as
common or style characteristics.
• When the specimen signature have similar ratio, this fact alone cannot be
considered to have one authorship.
• However, when two specimen signatures have widely different ratio, they are
unlikely to have been written by the same person.
• 5. Ratio – it is extremely difficult to disguise or change.

• 6. Connecting Strokes – it refers to the strokes of links that connect a letter with
the one following.
• In signatures, it is a common practice.
• In writing, many writers habitually drop the connection before certain letters.
 • This particular peculiarity in disconnections may occur in connection with any
letter and when this shows consistency in certain writing; it assumes an
importance of high significance in writing identification.
• 6. Connecting Strokes – most writers have fixed habit as to the nature and
placement of their connecting strokes and they are of evidential value when they
diverge widely between two signatures.
• Practice in signature, evidential value in signature
• Consistency in certain writing means it is a writing habit

• 7. Initial(first stroke) and Terminal Strokes(ending stroke)

• When a letter, word or name is completed in a free, natural writing, the pen is
usually raised from the paper while in motion with a “flying finish” or referred as
“vanishing”, “tapering” or “flourishing” terminal strokes.
• The motion of the pen also slightly precedes the putting of the pen on the paper
at the beginning with a “flying start” so that the strokes at the beginning and end
of words gradually diminish or taper t a “vanishing points”
• 7. Initial and Terminal Strokes
• A – Initial stroke
• B – Terminal Stroke/spur
• 8. Pen Lift – means an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the pen from
the paper.
• Also known as disconnections between letters and letter combinations are
maybe due to lack of movement control.
• Those persons who write clumsily or difficulty, the pen is raised frequently to new
adjustment to make a fresh start.
• 8. Pen Lift – it has little significant value because their frequency and location is
largely governed by several conditions:
• slow and carefully executed writing may have so many pen lifts
• rapidly done writing will exhibit no pen lift except at the ends of the words
• 8. Pen Lift – similarities here are not significant indications of identity of two
writings except in combination with other characteristics.
• Numerous dissimilarities in this practically unconscious characteristic are strong
evidence of lack of identity.
• It is one of those inconspicuous and unconscious characteristics. This is a strong
evidence of lack of identity.
• 8. Pen Lift – forged writings how too many pen lifts at wrong places.

• 9. Hiatus – is a gap between strokes due to speed in writing and defective e

writing instruments.
• Most people have no fixed writing habit regarding the inclusion of hiatus.
• It is common to find a slowly written specimen handwriting of a particular
handwriting of particular writer with several gaps, while another specimen written
shortly afterwards is practically devoid of hiatuses.
• 9. Hiatus – these are included or omitted in the handwriting according to the
whim of the writer.

• 10. Lateral Spacing – is considered as a common characteristic when it conforms

to the ordinary copy book form.
• Wide spacing, cramping of letters ---personal characteristics of some value.
• In signatures; when both the first name and surname are written, most writers
have fixed habits in spacing.
• 10. Lateral Spacing – is often a feature in handwriting.
• It remains constant even when the handwriting or written in rather limited spaces.
• Some prefer to reduce the size of their writing to an almost to an almost illegible
manner, rather depart from the usual word spacing habit.
• 10. Lateral Spacing: a. space between letters; b. space between words and
words & c. space between lines and lines or vertical spacing

• 11. Shading – it is the widening of the ink strokes with increase pressure on the
paper surface.
• It is due to the spitting of the pen – nib resulting in the widening of the ink lines as
controlled by the variation in pressure of fine and delicate lines is more
specifically referred to as “unconscious emphasis”.
• A forger will have a difficult times in properly putting the shading in a writing that
will often results to retouching of inclines.
• With adoption of ballpoint pen wherein the width of the inclines is not affected by
change of pressure, shading is rare.
• 11. Shading – difference between the thickest and the finest and thinnest strokes
• Spitting pen nib – tip of our pen result to widening of ink lines
• Its unconscious that HD is genuine
• Retouching forged indication of forgery

• 12. Line Quality – refers to the visible record in the written stroke of the basic
movement and manner of holding the writing instrument.
• This quality of a visible record is derived from a combination of factors: writing
skills speed, rhythm, shading, pen pressure, pen position & freedom of
movement.
• 12. Line Quality – it is the overall character of the writtem strokes from initial to
terminal.
• A signature will either have a good or poor line quality depending upon the reflex
movement of the hand and arm of the writer.
• Good line quality is produced when the writer concentrate his attention on what
he is writing than on how the pen point is being moved.
• When a writer concentrate his attention on the movement of his pen point, reflex
movement are retarded, lines are irregular and there will be no smoothness.

• 13. Alignment – is the relation of the parts of the whole line of writing or line of
individual letters in words or signature to the baseline.
• A signature is written in a more florid style and often associated with greater
degree of misalignment of the letters.
• Persistent errors in the alignment of letters in a signature often considered as
individual characteristics.
• Basis is the baseline , it is good or even

• 14. Rhythm – it is the balanced quality of movements of the harmonious

recurrence of stress or impulse.
 • It is the flowing succession of motion that is recorded in written record.
• It produced a natural and not a constrained or an artificial result.
• 14. Rhythm – a flowing hand (skillful, artistic writing ability)is a coordinated
succession of movement impulses that guide into each other with rhythm.
• A signature executed with fluency and done by the reflex movement will have
good rhythm, otherwise it will possess poor rhythm.

GOOD

POOR

• 14. Rhythm –
• Good – succession of strokes is continuous
• Poor – restriction in hd
• The essentials of this are: 1. regularity of slope; 2. regularity of size and 3.
regularity of curvature

• 15. Writing Skill – it is the relative degree of ability of a writer’s proficiency.

• These are dependent upon many factors, manual dexterity being the most
important of them.
• Skill can be poor, medium or good.
• Ambidextrous – use both hand to write.
• Manual dexterity is either inherent or acquired.
• Dexterity – skills in using hands.
• The bases upon which skill (pleasing pictorial aspect of writing) is judged are:
• legibility
• symmetry
• Skill is usually classified as poor; medium & good.
• 16. Pen Pressure – it is the normal average force in which the pen makes
contact with the paper or the usual force involved in writing.
• Pen emphasis – additional force during writing process
• Thin – light
• Thick – heavy
• Graduated is genuine hand writing
• It is one of the most personal but hidden characteristics in writing.
• It is accurately describes as the proportions of strokes to each other in width as
affected by shading & by unconscious emphasis
• Delicate, controlled pen pressure accompanies developed habitual rhythm that
gives to writing its vitality or life.

• 16. Pen Pressure

• In combined qualities, rhythm and pen pressure in writing there often is free,
harmonious movement and a certain springy, varying pen pressure which
 produces clear cut accentuated strokes that increase and decrease in width &
especially start and terminates in vanishing points with the pen in motion.
• 17. Tremors – means “deviations from uniform strokes due to lack of
smoothness perfectly apparent even without magnification”. Due to lack of
muscular skill
• Lack of muscular skill with the pen is usually describes as tremor and is shown
by:
• Lack of uniformity of speed in making pen strokes
• Pen stops
• Involuntary horizontal and vertical movements---zigzag in character
• 17. Tremors –
• Involuntary pen pressure --- “vertical tremor” ---is the involuntary up and
down movements or changing pressure which produces a line of varying
width or intensity as the pressure is suddenly increased or diminished.
• Cause of tremor:

• 17. Tremors
• Kinds:
 A. Genuine Tremors: 1. tremor of age; 2. tremor of illiteracy(lack of skill) &
3. tremor of weakness natural tremor
 B. Tremor of Fraud
 Tremor of age, illiteracy and of weakness are not always distinguishable
from each other but can always be distinguished from that of frau
• Genuine tremor – natural tremor, being involuntary, is apt to be comparatively
uniform on similar parts of a letter.
 Tremor of Age/Weakness – 1. shows unusual and erratic departures of
the line from each intended course; 2. abrupt recovery; 3. general
indication of muscular weakness and of movements beyond the control of
the writer particularly in downward strokes; 4. shows awkward
 digressions/distortions which may be due to imperfect sight; 5.
abbreviations or even omission of parts of letters, or even whole of it.
 Tremor of Illiteracy – characterized by general irregularity that is not due to
weakness but to lack of skills and mental uncertainty as to the form and a
general clumsiness resulting from unfamiliarity with the whole writing
process. Omissions here are not uncommon. Changes of direction are not
apt to be numerous as in tremors or age/weakness.
 Tremor of Fraud – fraudulent writing which is drawn even thought quite
perfect in general form shows, little, if any, freedom and will often show
hesitation at places where tremor is wrongly placed.
• Characteristics: inequality of movement at any place in stroke or
line with strokes too strong and vigorous combined with weak,
hesitating strokes; frequent interruption in movement; unequal
distribution of ink on upward as well as in downward strokes;
varying pen pressure.
 Tremor of Fraud – shows a painstaking and unnatural care at every point
that indicates an effort to follow an unfamiliar copy.
 In imitation of a writing that is excessively weak and hesitating, the
imitation in some parts shows an inconsistent strength and firmness and
indicates that the writing is not genuine.

• 18. Natural Variations –

 Due to lack of machine-like precision of the human hand;
 Caused by external factors---writing instrument/position;
 Influenced by mental and physical condition---fatigue, intoxication, illness,
nervousness and the age
 Due to quantity of the writing prepared in the course of time;
 Variation in genuine signature appears in superficial parts and does not
apply to the whole writing process.
  Due to lack of machine-like precision of the human hand;
 Caused by external factors---writing instrument/position;
 Influenced by mental and physical condition---fatigue, intoxication, illness,
nervousness and the age
 Due to quantity of the writing prepared in the course of time;
 Variation in genuine signature appears in superficial parts and does not
apply to the whole writing process.
 The degree of care given to the act of writing creates variation.
 Change of slope and the size pf the signature superficially affect the
appearance of the signature.
 The nature and extent of the variation of the letter design depend on the
location: initial, medial & terminal.
 No two individual will exhibit similar master pattern of the same for all
letters.
 The range of variation of letter design is not the same for all letters; small
letters such as “i,e,o” have limited variation because any appreciable
modification of the design will render letter illegible.

• 19. Rubric or Embellishment – refers to additional unnecessary strokes not

necessary to legibility of letterforms or writings but incorporated for decorative or
ornament purposes.
• It is usually added to signatures for “pleasing appearance”.
 • This serves as “security” to make signature more difficult to imitate or forge.

• 20. Hesitation – the irregular thickening of the ink when the writing slows down
or stops while the writer takes stock of the position.
•

• 21. Arrangement – the relation of the letters and characters with each other.
• The system of arranging the word, sentences and paragraphs become so
unconscious and automatic that it serves to identify the writing of a particular
person.
• 22. Re-touching – may mean to repeat the contact previously made on the
handwriting.

23. arrangement – system of arranging of words sentences in hand writing