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Fountain Pen

Forensic Examination of Handwriting

Elisabeth Briggs and Hannah Pocock are forensic document examiners at QD Examiners, providing expert handwriting analysis for legal and corporate clients. This involves comparing the "questioned" writing against "known" reference material from one or more individuals to determine if the same writer is responsible.

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The examination involves a detailed assessment of handwriting characteristics, including style, size, proportions, spacing, connections between characters and fluency. The significance of similarities and differences between the writings is carefully evaluated.

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How handwriting analysis works

Handwriting examination involves a detailed comparison of writing characteristics. These include letter formation, spacing, proportions, line quality and movement. By assessing both similarities and differences across samples, an examiner can form an opinion as to whether documents are likely to have been written by the same individual.

The examination also considers natural variation within an individual’s writing, as well as the presence of any features that may indicate disguise, simulation or copying.

​An opinion regarding authorship will be expressed using the Range of Opinions shown in the FAQs. The strength of our opinion depends on several factors, including the quality of the documents, the quantity of writing available and the distinctiveness of the handwriting style.  

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Examination of photocopied/scanned documents

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Original documents are always preferred. Copies and scans do not contain the microscopic detail present in originals (such as pen pressure and line quality).

 

You are welcome to email copies of the documents for an initial assessment so we can advise on their suitability.

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Note: Documents scanned at low resolution or saved as highly compressed PDF files are rarely suitable for meaningful analysis.

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Factors affecting handwriting

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Handwriting can be affected by a number of factors including health, age, intoxication, fatigue and therefore it is essential for us to know whether any of these are relevant to the individuals concerned.

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These factors must be considered when assessing handwriting, as variation can occur naturally within an individual’s writing over time and under different conditions.

Lis was recently featured on BBC News North West discussing the forensic examination of handwritten anonymous letters - see our Blog post for more. 

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Handwriting specimens

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In order to carry out an effective comparison, we require suitable specimen handwriting - examples of writing from any individual you wish to identify or exclude as having written the document in question. These documents can include a mixture of originals and copies.

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A handwriting comparison can only be carried out with like-for-like material. That is, cursive (joined up) writing can only be compared with other cursive writing, whilst block capital writing is only comparable with other examples of block capitals.

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Ideally specimens must have been written on different occasions so that the variation within the individual's writing can be assessed. It is also useful if they are contemporaneous with the document in question (written at the same time). If not, it would be useful to see examples from before AND after the date of the document in question. Handwriting from 30 years ago is not the ideal specimen for comparison with a document written recently.

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In the case of joint instructions it is desirable that all parties involved agree the authorship of any documents submitted for use as specimens.

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Examples of suitable documents might include notebooks, address books, letters, diaries, greetings cards, cheques, business documents, loan applications, council tax forms and banking documents

HANDWRITING SPECIMENS REQUESTED:

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  • Same style (joined up or capitals)

  • Written on different occasions, preferably similar documents

  • Should be contemporaneous, or pre and post-date the document in question

  • Can be on both original and copy documents

 

EXAMPLE DOCUMENTS

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  • notebooks

  • address books

  • letters

  • diaries

  • greetings cards

  • cheques

  • business documents

  • loan applications

  • council tax forms

  • banking documents

 

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