FUNDAMENTALS OF

Questioned Document
Examination

MIDTERMS
 KINDS OF
HANDWRITING
•Cursiv
e
•S c r i
pt
•B L O C K
 OTHER TYPES OF
HANDWRITING
• DISGUISED WRITING - a writing specimen that is executed
deliberately with an attempt to alter the usual writing habits in order
to conceal its real manner and features.

• GUIDED WRITING - also known as assisted writing. It is executed

while the writer's hand is steadied in a way.

• NATURAL WRITING - a writing that is written normally without any

attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual
quality of execution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxGDysX6ErA (disguised handwriting)

 PRINTING VS.
WRITING
• CURSIVE (WRITING) is the flowing
kind of writing which people often
refer to as “handwriting”

• MANUSCRIPT (PRINTING) is the

kind of the writing which people
often refer as “printed letters”
or “printing.”
 THE HANDWRITING
MOVEMENT
“it is the manner in which the pen moves to form a letter”
1. FINGER MOVEMENT

 this avails the thumb, index, and

middle fingers whhich serves as
pivotal points for changing the
direction of writing.
 usually employed by children or
illiterates
 basically a push-and-pull
movement
2. HAND MOVEMENT

 entails the action of the hand as a

whole, the point of pivot is the
wrist
 a step further from finger
movement, although the span of
writing is still restricted .
 freedom in long strokes and
continuity of motion is not
possible
 3. FOREARM MOVEMENT
 produced by movement of both
hand and arm and fingers in
some cases with the elbow as
point of pivot that changes in
the direction of the strokes
 show the greatest freedom and
speed of writing
 words tend to be connected.
baseline even, size of letters
uniform, with smooth regular
long strokes and curves.
 4. WHOLE-ARM MOVEMENT
 involves the action of the entire
arm without rest and is
employed largely in green board
writing.

 writing produced is different

from the slow drawing motion
employed in simulating a model
or copy.
 ELEMENTS OF WRITING
MOVEMENT
• PENLIFT - an interruption in strokes caused by a sudden removal of
the writing instrument from the paper surface.

• PEN EMPHASIS - the act of intermittently forcing the pen against

the paper surface.

• PEN POSITION - the relative location of the pen in relation to the

paper surface
 ELEMENTS OF WRITING
MOVEMENT
• PEN PRESSURE - the usual or average pressure or weight of hand
applied in writing.

• PEN SCOPE - represents the reach of the hand with the wrist at
rest.

• RETOUCHING/PATCHING - a stroke which goes back over a

defective portion of a writing to correct or repair an error
 ELEMENTS OF WRITING
MOVEMENT
• RETRACING - the strokes which goes back over another writing
strokes or the double back over the same course in writing.

• RHYTHM - is the harmonious recurrence of stress or impulse. It is a

quality of movement that produces a natural result.

• SHADING - the widening of the ink stroke due to the added pressure
on a flexible pen point.
 ELEMENTS OF WRITING
MOVEMENT
• SKILL - the degree of ability or a writer's proficiency in writing.

• SPEED - the speed of writing which can be classified into slow,

moderate and rapid.
 RHYTHM AND HANDEDNESS
IN WRITING
• RHYTHM - is the harmonious recurrence of stress or impulse. It is a
quality of movement that produces a natural result.

• HANDEDNESS - refers to the hand that is typically prefer to write

with. Typically divided into two, the right-handed and left-handed.

• AMBIDEXTROUS - means that the writer can pretty much equally

use either hand.
 THE ZONES IN
HANDWRITING
• MID ZONE - the beginning point for most handwriting
considerations. It is where most things take place in general, where
they tend to start and where they tend to end.

• UPPER ZONE - area where letters and characters reach up toward

the upper part of the page, such as in the top of capitals or in letters a
small “h”.

• LOWER ZONE - area where letters and characters reach down

towards the bottom edge of the page such as in the small
cursive letters “p”, “z” and “y”.
 INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERISTICS
1. SKILL LEVEL
-HIGH LEVEL produces writing that is fluent, rhythmic, perhaps
artistically embellished and, in short, aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
-LOW LEVEL produces a product that is hesitating, slowly
executed, may contain grotesque, although repeated letter
formations, and in general, is not very pleasing to the eye.
2. Slant or
Inclination
• refers to the angle of inclination
of writing or a letter of writing
from the base line of that
writing. It may be forward and
leaning to the right, or
“backhand” if it leans to the
left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9_DrSloI4I (slants)
 3.
FORM
• is the pictorial representation
of a letter or writing movement.
A highly visible dissimilarity in
the form of the same letter
found in both the questioned
and standard material is an
inherent difference in
handwriting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAvG0Kky1U4 (letter forms)

4.
MOVEMENT
• This is the manner in which the pen
moves in order to form a letter.
Some parts of movement have
been historically referred to as
“Garland” if the pen moves
overhand, or clockwise,
producing rounded letter
formations, or “Arcade” if the pen
moves underhand, or counter-
clockwise, producing saw-toothed
letter formations.
 5.
PROPORTION
•S
This concept usually develops a
relationship between one
portion of a letter to another
portion of that same letter.
 6. HEIGHT RATIOS
• are a comparison or correlation of the height of one letter or letter
segment to another letter, usually within the same word or signature.
One would expect all capital letters in the same writing system to
maintain the same height throughout a body of writing. However,
the heights of
capital letters in an individual’s writing may vary from one letter to
another.
7. The “i”
DOT
• A portion of writing as small and
as innocuous as an “i” dot may
at times become a prominent
identifying characteristic. “I”
dots come in all sizes and
shapes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwjk7W45lo (understanding “I”)

8. THE “T”
CROSSING
• “T” crossings occupy much the same
weight, or more, for the document
examiner as the “i” dot does. A
“t”
crossing may go from right to left,
left to
right, it may incline up, incline down, or be
perfectly horizontal. It may be heavily
shaded on the right or heavily shaded on
the left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG1hh3rVsKw (understanding letter t)

 9.
LOOPS
• found in a cursively written
letter may be symmetrical
or may be flat on one
side and therefore be
asymmetrical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zG5l_e5sKU (understanding loops)

10.
PRESSURE/SHADIN
G• This concept is the study of
changing width of a line as
pen pressure
varies. It may
indicate the direction
of movement.
11. ALIGNMENT TO
BASELINE
• This is simply the relationship of the
questioned writing to a baseline.
It
is the adherence of the writing to
either a preformed (printed) or
imaginary baseline.
 12. PEN
LIFTS
• Here we note where the writing
implement lifts from the
paper, usually interior to
a word or signature.
13.
SPEED
Fast Smooth Writing Movements
Elongated & misplaced “i” dots & “t” crossings
Words or initials connected
A “flattened” appearance. Lessened
legibility
Slow Hesitation, tremor, more angular writing
“i” dots & “t” crossings in corrrect position
Sharp delineation between separate pen movements
Blunt starts and stops. Writing is made of individual
letters and legible Movements may be ornamental
14.
EMBELLISHMEN
T
• are most often located at the
beginning of a letter, but may be
throughout the written
material.
15.
RETRACING
• Retracing is the process wherein
the pen reinks a written
portion of the line, usually
in the opposite direction, such
as a downward movement
followed by un upward
movement over the existing
line.
16.
SPELLING/SPACIN
G
• The simple act of misspelling
words can, of themselves, be
individual, in combination, to a
specific individual. EX.,
“because”-“b’cause”, “shoes”-
“schoes, “tennis”-“tenis”,
“sweater”-“sweather”, and
“pajamas”-“pygemas”.
17.
DIACRITICS
• is a glyph added to a letter,
or basic glyph.
• a sign added to complete a
letter
 18. HIATUS
• is a gap between strokes due to
speed in writing and
defective writing
instruments.
 PARTS OF INDIVIDUAL LETTER
STROKES Hitch
• HITCH - introductory
backward stroke found in
most capital letters.

• ARC - the rounded inner

Hitch
part of an upper bend,
crook or curve.
Arc Arc
 PARTS OF INDIVIDUAL LETTER
STROKES
• BUCKLE KNOT - a horizontal or loop
stroke used to complete letters A,
D, E and H.
buckle knot

Blunt
blunt
• BLUNT - part of a stroke
characterized by sudden beginning
or end at which the pen does not
create a diminishing stroke
blunt
 PARTS OF INDIVIDUAL LETTER
STROKES
line quality
• BASE LINE - the imaginary or

baselin
ruled line upon which the
writing rests.

• LINE QUALITY - the visible

record in the written
strokes of the basic

e
movement and manner
of holding the writing
instrument. baseline
PARTS OF INDIVIDUAL LETTER
STROKES
hump

• HUMP - the upper part of

an upper bend, crook or
curve.
hump
eyelet
• EYELET - are small oblong

eyelet
strokes.

ooobbb
PARTS OF INDIVIDUAL LETTER
STROKES Hook

hmni
• HOOK - the bend, crook or
curved on the inner side
of the bottom loop or
curve of small letter.

• SPUR - short, horizontal

beginning strokes
b hf
Spur
 Care Preservation and
Handing of Document
Evidence
• Disputed documents should not be cut, torn in any matter, mutilated in the
slightest degree

• Documents should not be touched with an eraser of any kind, nor with pen,
pencil or sharp instrument of any character.

• Documents should not be folded in any new place

89
Care Preservation and Handing of
Document Evidence
• Except with special permission, no chemicals should applied
papers in any manner that will injure, deface them and test of
this kind should be made only by those properly qualified to
make them.

• Never point closely at letters or any parts or it a pencil.

Care Preservation and Handing of
Document Evidence

• Sharp, pointed dividers or measuring

instruments should not be put on a
questioned writing except with the greatest
case and only by those skilled in the use of
instruments and a direct tracing should not be
made of it by anyone at any time.
 Do’s in Handling and Preservation of
Documents
• Keep the documents unfolded in protective envelope.

• Take disputed papers to document examiner’s laboratory at

the first opportunity.

•If storage is necessary, keep in dry place, away from

excessive heat and strong light.
 Don'ts in Handling and Preservation of
Documents
•Do not handle, disputed papers excessively or carry them in a pocket for a
long time.

•Do not mark disputed documents by pointing/writing with any instruments

or drives.

•Do not allow anyone except qualified specialist to make chemical or other test,
do not treat or dust for latent fingerprints before consulting a document.
 PRINCIPLES OF
HANDWRITING
• No two persons can ever write alike. This is the basis for identification of
handwriting.
• It is never possible for a person to produce handwriting superior to his/her
own but it is possible for a person to produce handwriting inferior to his/her
own.
• Natural variations for inherent part of an individual's handwriting, and its
range is entirely a personal attribute.
• Degeneration in an individual's handwriting is prone to affect all the
handwriting characteristics cumulatively.
 SCIENTIFIC HANDWRITING
EXAMINATION
• ANALYSIS - involves the observation, measurement and/or
determination of properties or characteristics.

• COMPARISON - entails the actual comparison of the properties or

characteritics of an unknown item with familiar or recorded
characteristics of known items.

• EVALUATION - the correct interpretation of charateristics will each

have a certain value of identification determined by its likelihood of
occurence. The weight or significance of each characteristics must
be considered.