QUESTIONED

What is document? documents some disposition or

A document is an original piece of written agreement is proved, evidenced
or printed matter conveying information or or set forth.
evidence. It may include photograph, 4. Commercial Document
plates or lithographs, as well as writing, Any instrument defined and
figures, marks or printed matters. Any regulated by the Code of
written, printed or type material is Commerce or any other
considered a document. When it is commercial law.
introduced as evidence, it is known as 5. Electronic Document (E-Document)-
documentary evidence. exist only in electronic form such as
The term document came from the Latin data stored on a computer, network,
word “documentum”, which means lesson, back-up, archive or other storage
or example. It may have been derived also media.
from the French word “docere” means to
teach. What is Questioned Document?
It is a document or paper/s whose
Kinds of Document contents have been contested either in
1. Public document whole or in any part as to their authenticity.
A document created, executed or Thus, if the origin of a document is
issued by a public official in unknown or its authenticity is in doubt the
response to the exigencies of the article is considered a “questioned
public service, or in the execution document.”
of which a public official A document is questioned when there is a
intervened. controversy over its preparation, contents
2. Official document and other circumstances surrounding it.
A document which is issued by a
public official in the exercise of Questioned Document Examination
the functions of his office. An Is a term used to refer to the act of
official document is also a public making a close and critical study of any
document. It falls within the document which is questioned, disputed or
larger class called public attacked, necessary to discover the facts
document. about them.
3. Private Document
Every deed or instrument Two Division of QDE
executed by a private person 1. Criminalistics Examination. This involves
without the intervention of a notary the detection of forgery, erasure, alteration
public or of any person legally or obliteration of documents.
authorized, by which the

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 QUESTIONED

Dr. Wilson Harrison, a noted British 4. Documents Attacked on the Questioned of

Examiner of questioned documents their Date and Age
said that an intelligent police 5. Documents Attacked on the Questioned of
investigator can detect almost 75% of Materials Used in their Production
all forgeries by careful inspection of a 6. Documents that Identify the Handwriting
document with simple magnifiers and 7. Genuine Documents Erroneously or
measuring tools. Fraudulently Attacked
2. Handwriting Investigation/Analysis. This is 8. Documents to Identify Typewriting
more focused in determining the author of
writing. It is more difficult procedure and Fraudulent Alteration on Documents
requires long study and experience. What are fraudulent alterations on documents?
1. Mechanical Erasures
Scientific Examination of QDE Mechanical Erasures are alteration that
 Analysis (Recognition) - properties or produce an abrasion on the paper. The
characteristics, observed or measured. abrasion makes the paper porous by
 Comparison – Properties or characteristics disturbing the fiber arrangement and by
of the unknown determined thought removing the coating and sizing from the
analysis are now compared with the surface of the paper.
familiar or recorded properties of known 2. Chemical Erasure
items. When skillfully done, chemical erasures
 Evaluation- Similarities or dissimilarities in are difficult to detect by ordinary
properties or characteristics will each have observation, but such erasures to leave
a certain value for identification, their mark. Chemical eradicators have a
determined by its likelihood of occurrence. tendency to stain paper. Chemically erase
The weight or significance of each must writing may be detected by the use of
therefore be considered. ultraviolet light or use of infra-red
photography.
Classes of Questioned Document 3. Additions
Documents are questioned, disputed, and In this type of case, new pages of writing,
attacked on different reason. However, for typewriting or printing may be inserted.
purposes of discussion, Albert Osborn Perhaps only a few lines are added to alter
classifies questioned paper as follows: the original meaning of the document. It
1. Documents with Questioned Signatures becomes the problem of the investigator to
2. Documents containing Alleged Fraudulent establish the authenticity or fraudulence of
Alteration the addition.
3. Holograph Document Questioned or 4. Interlineation
Disputed An interlineation is the writing between the
lines of an instrument for the purpose of
QUESTIONED
adding a part to it or correcting what has - Examinations of seal and other
been written. authenticating devices
5. Substitution
It is another kind of fraudulent alteration Instruments used in QDE
that is committed when an entire page has
 Stereoscopic Miscroscope
been remove from an instrument and has
The stereoscopic microscope, two low-
been replaced by another piece containing
powered microscopes arranged to
matters different from those of the remove
converge on a single specimen, provides a
page.
three-dimensional image.
6. Obliteration
The blotting out or smearing over of writing  Compound Miscroscope
to make the original invisible or The compound microscope uses two
undecipherable. lenses, an objective lens and an ocular
lens, mounted at opposite ends of a closed
Aspects of QDE tube, to provide greater magnification than
is possible with a single lens. The
- Handwriting Examination
objective lens is composed of several lens
(Graphology/Graphoanalysis)
elements that form an enlarged real image
- examination of signatures and
of the object being examined.
initials
- examination of anonymous letters  Shadowgraph
- hand printing examination An instrument that the images are cast in
- Examination of Typewritings and shadow, an image of a shape made by
typeprints. casting a shadow onto a surface
- Examination of Inks
 Handwriting Protractor
- Examination of Erasures, alterations or
An instrument for measuring angles: an
obliterations, etc.
instrument shaped like a semicircle
- Detection of alteration
marked with the degrees of a circle, used
- Decipherment of erased writings
to measure or mark out angles.
- Restoration of obliterated writings
- Counterfeiting  UV Lamp

- Examination of currency bills and This is usually used in the detection of

coins and the like counterfeited bills but can actually be used

- Examination of fake documents to detect security features of qualified

- Miscellaneous aspects documents.

- Determination of age of  Transmitted Light

documents a device where light comes from beneath
- Identification of stamps or behind glass on document is placed.

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 QUESTIONED

 Photo- enlarger of graphite which is a form of carbon – and

A device used to enlarge negatives and this absorbs infrared light well
transfer the image to the photo paper.
 Magnifying Lens
 Forensic Comparator For increased magnification
An instrument which captures images and
 Camera with Macro Lens
projects them on a black and white screen
To capture the handwriting sample and
for enlargement purposes.
enlarge the same for court presentation.
 Electro- Static Detection Device
What is signature?
An Electro Static Detection Apparatus is
It is one’s name written by himself on a
used to visualize indentations by applying
document as a sign of acknowledgement.
an electrostatic charge to a transparent
film. The film is laid across the page in Classes of Disputed Signature
question and once the charge has been
1. Forged signature where no attempt has
applied, black toner is passed across the
been made to make a copy or facsimile of the
film and reveals any indentations. This
genuine signature of the person purporting to
method can also determine if something
have signed the document. This is commonly
has been added to a journal or log after
referred as “simple forgery”.
the original entry was made
2. Forge signature which closely resembles the
 Video Spectral Comparator
genuine signature since they have been
is used to analyze inks and see whether
produced by tracing process referred to as
they are the same or different. This is done
“traced forgery”.
by looking at them under different lighting
conditions where some wavelengths of 3. Forged signature which resembles the

light are blocked. This technique can genuine signature written freehand, commonly

uncover layers in documents where words known as “copied or simulated forgery”.

have been scribbled out or written over 4. Forged signature of fictitious persons

 Thin Layer Chromatography 5. Genuine signature that the writer is honestly

is used to do a more thorough analysis of unwilling to accept as genuine
ink. The ink is mixed with chemicals and
6. Genuine signature obtained by trickery
deposited onto a silicate plate where its
constituents can be measured 7. Genuine signature deliberately written
illegibly or in an unusual manner to avoid
 Infrared Reflectance
identification
is used to show the residue of pencil
marks. This can be done clearly even if the
writing has been erased. Pencils are made
QUESTIONED
Techniques in the Examination of Questioned avoid fading of some writing ink and typewriter
documents ribbon. The exposures of a document to ultra-violet
light is useful when it consists of several pages and
Microscopic Examination – Stereoscopic
substitution is being suspected. The color and
examination with low and high power objectives is
intensity of fluorescence reaction is very apparent
used to detect retouching, patching and unnatural
in case of a substituted page. Mechanical and
pen lift in signature analysis. With proper angle and
chemical erasures will certainly change the
intensity of illumination, it aids in the decipherment
reflectivity and fluorescence of the area affected.
of erasures, some minutes manipulation not
perfectly pictured to the unaided eye and the Electrostatic Detection Apparatus – Detects
sequence of entries done by different writing indention/ indented writings. Records
instrument. A stereoscopic microscope is being transparencies of any indentations.
used in this examination which gives a three
Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) Examination -
dimensional enlargement of objects.
Used in the examination of masked or obliterated
Transmitted Light Examination – Documents are text, watermarks, visible fluorescence, paper
subjected to this type of examination to determine fluorescence and oblique illumination of indented
the presence of erasures, matching of serration writing and embossing. Detects variation in the
and some other types of alteration. infra-red characteristics of inks. Reveals alterations
by eliminating and interfering background
Oblique Light Examination / Indirect Lighting
luminescence.
Examination
Photomicrographs are an improvement of the
Decipherment of faded handwriting, determination
usual enlarged photograph, because in the
of outlines in traced forgery, embossed impression,
process of enlargement many of the characteristics
etc. are subjected to this type of examination.
are minimized. The photomicrograph is a direct
Indirect Lighting Equipment is being used in this enlargement of the specimen in a single operation.
examination, this equipment has a controlled Ultraviolet light may be used to bring out otherwise
illumination; wherein the document is viewed with invisible details.
source of illumination beside it and the light is
Type angle measurement - It is to measure the
coming thru the paper.
angle or degree of mal-alignment in horizontal of a
Photographic Examination – This type of typewriter.
examination is very essential in every document
examination. Actual observations are recorded in
the photography. The Study of Handwriting

Ultra-Violet Examination – This type of examination Basic Terms in Handwriting

is done in a darkroom after the lamp has been  Writing – result of a very complicated
series of acts, being as a whole a
warmed up in order to give a maximum output of combination of certain forms, which are
the ultra-violet light. Exposure to the ultra-violet very visible result of mental and muscular
light should be to the minimum duration in order to
Page | 5
 QUESTIONED

habits, acquired by long, continued and or a process of drawing, painstaking, laborious and
painstaking effort. slow copying of the letter forms. The forms of each
 Handwriting – is a visible effect of bodily letter, at first, occupy the focus of his attention.
movement, which is an almost 2. As the person progresses, the matter of forms
unconscious expression of certain ideas recedes, and the focus of attention is centered on
associated with script form. the execution of various letters, that is, they are
 System of Writing – is the combination of actually writing instead of drawing.
basic designs of letters and writing
3. The manual operation in the execution of letters,
movements as taught in school.
after more progress, is likewise soon relegated to
 Natural Writing – is any specimen of
writing executed normally without any the subjective mind and the process of writing
attempt to control or alters its identifying becomes more or less automatic. As the person
habits and its usual quality of execution. attains maturity in writing by any repetitions, writing
 Disguised Writing – is a way of writing in becomes an unconscious coordinated movement
which the writer deliberately tries to alters that produces a record. Attention is no longer given
his usual writing habits to conceal his to the process of writing itself because the subject
identity. matter to be written now occupies the focus of
 Cursive Writing – is a style of writing in attention.
which the letters are for the most part The manner in which writing is produced is shown
joined together. by itself, that is, the appearance of the writing
 Hand Lettering – is any disconnected style strokes will indicate where attention was focused in
in which the letters are written separately. the writing process.
 Holograph Documents – is a document
which is completely written and signed by Physiological Basis of Handwriting
one person. The hand contains two groups of muscles which
 Signature – is one’s name written by
function in the act of writing.
himself on a document as a sign of
A group of extensor muscles pushes up the pen to
acknowledgment.
form the upward strokes and ease the tension
 Writing Habit – is any repeated element or
detail that may serve to individualize produced as a result of flexion by a group of
writing. muscles called as flexor muscles which pushes
 Significant Handwriting – is a term applied down the pen to form downward strokes.
to any characteristics of handwriting which These muscles are combined with lumbrical
is sufficiently unique and well-fixed to muscles to form the lateral strokes.
serve as a fundamental point in the
identification of a writer. Four groups of muscles are employed in writing
 Characteristics – is any property or mark Those which operate the joints of the fingers; wrist;
which distinguishes and, in questioned elbow; and shoulder.
documents examinations, commonly refers The delicate way in which the various muscles
to identifying details. used in writing work together to produce written
forms is known as “motor coordination”
TWO KINDS OF CHARACTERISTICS
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – ARE Various Elements of Handwriting
IDENTIFYING DETAILS WHICH ARE COMMON A. Movement/manner of Execution – is related to
TO A GROUP. the handling position of the writing instrument that
creates certain types of motion affecting the quality
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS – ARE of the writing; the skill, speed, freedom, hesitations,
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ARE HIGHLY tremors, line quality and alignment.
PERSONAL AND ARE UNLIKELY TO OCCUR IN Kinds of Movement /manner of Execution –
OTHER INSTANCES. 1. Finger movement –
this is accomplished by using the thumb, the first
Development of Handwriting and slightly the third fingers which are in actual
1. When a person first begins to learn the art of motion.
handwriting, penmanship copybook form or employed by children and illiterates
blackboard illustration of the different letters is results: poor quality; lack of rhythm and speed,
placed before him. The first step is one of imitation letters are cropped
QUESTIONED
- Limited in scope, cramp in manner - Uniformity
- Most are vertical writing; slow and labored - Continuity of strokes
speed - Connecting or curves between letters
- Connecting strokes are irregular
- Contains numerous broad curves C. Speed of Movement – the examiner should be
- Lacks of freedom, clear cut, smooth and able to identify and categorize the writer’s speed of
graduated strokes movement
2. Hand movement/Wrist movement– Categorized as:
Action comes from the wrist with the combination - slow and drawn;
of fingers. - deliberate;
The wrist is the center of action, but with some - average and
action of the fingers - rapid
Results: regularity of lines and considerable speed.
- The tops and bottoms of letters are narrow Recognition of Writing Characteristics
and angular 1. Form – this refers to the shape and design of the
- Writing is often illegible, although rapid individual letters.
- Alignment is uneven The following should be considered as to the
- Tendency to go upward factors of form:
- It has greater freedom compared to finger - Mere similarities in form are not sufficient
movement indication of identity.
3. Whole arm movement– - Basic differences in form of letters are
This is actually the movement of the shoulder, indications of two writings being made by
hand and arm with the support of the table. different writers
The center of the action is the elbow Individual concept of letter form is introduced for
Results: artistic design, similar to blackboard the following reasons:
writing - The endeavor to attain a highly
- The stroked are generally rhythmic, individualized writing
symmetrical and clear cut - An effort to make writing simpler and
- Rapid and clear easier
- Written with greater fluency and straight - To acquire greater speed
forwardness 2. Slope or slant – is an angle or inclination of the
- Alignment is often straight and elongated axis of letters relative to the baseline.
- Rounded and lateral strokes sharply - The slope may be forwardly done;
tapered backwards or even vertical sloping.
- Deliberate alteration of slope will greatly
4. Forearm movement– affect the rhythm and fluency of the
Letters are form due to the action of the elbow, writing.
forearm resting on the writing surface - A slight persistent difference in slant or
Results: clear cut, fine quality, regular gradations slope in two writings are by two different
of heavy and light pressure. writers, while a pronounced difference
- Longer and embellished strokes might be the result of intended disguise.
- Letters are usually larger in size 3. Size – it is somewhat divergent under varying
condition and may have but little significance when
B. Quality of Movement – may be categorized into: applied to only one example, or to small quantity of
1. clumsy, illiterate and halting; writing.
2. hesitating and painful due to weakness In a number of signatures which are claimed to
and illness; have been produces at different times are in
3. strong heavy and forceful; question and they are like each other in the matter
4. nervous and irregular, smooth, flowing and of size, divergence becomes significant in
rapid, depending upon the motion of the proportion to its extent.
writing instrument and the manner of 4. Proportion – of a letter or relative height of one
execution. letter to another letter can be found in different
The different movements the writer employed
writings. It is one hidden features of writing. It is
affect writing in its;
unknown even to the writer. The average height of
- Smoothness
a letter remains constant relative to that of other
- Directness
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 QUESTIONED

letters even if the size of writing is changed. To Also known as disconnections between letters and
deliberately change the size of writing may be letter combinations are maybe due to lack of
simple matter. Proportion characteristics become movement control.
significant as a factor of identification. Those persons who write clumsily or difficulty, the
5. Ratio – the relation between the short and tall pen is raised frequently to new adjustment to make
letters. a fresh start.
Letters of the alphabet are divided into two groups It has little significant value because their
Letters written entirely between the lines are called frequency and location are largely governed by
as short (a,c,e,i,m,n,o,r,s,u,v,w,x) several conditions:
Letters with upper or lower loops or other projected - slow and carefully executed writing may
portions are classified as tall (b,d,f,g,h,j,l,p,t,y,z) have so many pen lifts
The length of the upper and lower loops of the tall - rapidly done writing will exhibit no pen lift
letters is twice the length of the short letters. except at the ends of the words
The ratio that approximates to that prescribed by Similarities here are not significant indications of
the ordinary copybook form is termed as normal. identity of two writings except in combination with
If the tall letters have loops longer than the height other characteristics.
of the short letters, the ratio is described as “high”, Numerous dissimilarities in this practically
otherwise the ratio is “low”. unconscious characteristic are strong evidence of
When the ratio conforms to the ordinary copy book lack of identity.
form, it is considered as common or style It is one of those inconspicuous and unconscious
characteristics. characteristics. This is strong evidence of lack of
When the specimen signature have similar ratio, identity.
this fact alone cannot be considered to have one Forged writings how too many pen lifts at wrong
authorship. places.
However, when two specimen signatures have 9. Hiatus – is a gap between strokes due to speed
widely different ratio, they are unlikely to have in writing and defective writing instruments.
been written by the same person. Most people have no fixed writing habit regarding
6. Connecting Strokes – it refers to the strokes of the inclusion of hiatus.
links that connect a letter with the one following. It is common to find a slowly written specimen
In signatures, it is a common practice. handwriting of a particular handwriting of particular
In writing, many writers habitually drop the writer with several gaps, while another specimen
connection before certain letters. written shortly afterwards is practically devoid of
This particular peculiarity in disconnections may hiatuses.
occur in connection with any letter and when this 9. Hiatus – these are included or omitted in the
shows consistency in certain writing; it assumes an handwriting according to the whim of the writer.
importance of high significance in writing 10. Lateral Spacing – is considered as a common
identification. characteristic when it conforms to the ordinary
Most writers have fixed habit as to the nature and copy book form.
placement of their connecting strokes and they are Wide spacing, cramping of letters ---personal
of evidential value when they diverge widely characteristics of some value.
between two signatures. In signatures; when both the first name and
7. Initial and Terminal Strokes surname are written, most writers have fixed habits
When a letter, word or name is completed in a free, in spacing.
natural writing, the pen is usually raised from the It remains constant even when the handwriting or
paper while in motion with a “flying finish” or written in rather limited spaces.
referred as “vanishing”, “tapering” or “flourishing” Some prefer to reduce the size of their writing to an
terminal strokes. almost to an almost illegible manner, rather depart
The motion of the pen also slightly precedes the from the usual word spacing habit.
putting of the pen on the paper at the beginning Lateral Spacing: a. space between letters; b. space
with a “flying start” so that the strokes at the between words and words & c. space between
beginning and end of words gradually diminish or lines and lines
taper t a “vanishing points” 11. Shading – it is the widening of the ink strokes
8. Pen Lift – means an interruption in a stroke with increase pressure on the paper surface.
caused by removing the pen from the paper.
QUESTIONED
It is due to the spitting of the pen – nib resulting in A signature executed with fluency and done by the
the widening of the ink lines as controlled by the reflex movement will have good rhythm, otherwise
variation in pressure of fine and delicate lines is it will possess poor rhythm.
more specifically referred to as “unconscious The essentials of this are: 1. regularity of slope; 2.
emphasis”. regularity of size and 3. regularity of curvature
A forger will have a difficult times in properly 15. Writing Skill – it is the relative degree of ability
putting the shading in a writing that will often of a writer’s proficiency.
results to retouching of inclines. These are dependent upon many factors, manual
With adoption of ballpoint pen wherein the width of dexterity being the most important of them.
the inclines is not affected by change of pressure, Manual dexterity is either inherent or acquired.
shading is rare. Dexterity – skills in using hands.
11. Shading – difference between the thickest and The bases upon which skill (pleasing pictorial
the finest and thinnest strokes aspect of writing) is judged are:
12. Line Quality – refers to the visible record in the - legibility
written stroke of the basic movement and manner - symmetry
of holding the writing instrument. Skill is usually classified as poor; medium & good.
This quality of a visible record is derived from a 16. Pen Pressure – it is the average force in which
combination of factors: writing skills speed, rhythm, the pen makes contact with the paper or the usual
shading, pen pressure, pen position & freedom of force involved in writing.
movement. It is one of the most personal but hidden
Recognition of Writing Characteristics characteristics in writing.
It is the overall character of the written strokes from It is accurately describes as the proportions of
initial to terminal. strokes to each other in width as affected by
A signature will either have a good or poor line shading & by unconscious emphasis
quality depending upon the reflex movement of the Delicate, controlled pen pressure accompanies
hand and arm of the writer. developed habitual rhythm that gives to writing its
Good line quality is produced when the writer vitality or life.
concentrate his attention on what he is writing than In combined qualities, rhythm and pen pressure in
on how the pen point is being moved. writing there often is free, harmonious movement
When a writer concentrate his attention on the and a certain springy, varying pen pressure which
movement of his pen point, reflex movement are produces clear cut accentuated strokes that
retarded, lines are irregular and there will be no increase and decrease in width & especially start
smoothness. and terminates in vanishing points with the pen in
13. Alignment – is the relation of the parts of the motion.
whole line of writing or line of individual letters in 17. Tremors – means “deviations from uniform
words or signature to the baseline. strokes due to lack of smoothness perfectly
A signature is written in a more florid style and apparent even without magnification”.
often associated with greater degree of Lack of muscular skill with the pen is usually
misalignment of the letters. describes as tremor and is shown by:
Persistent errors in the alignment of letters in a Lack of uniformity of speed in making pen strokes
signature often considered as individual Pen stops
characteristics. Involuntary horizontal and vertical movements---
14. Rhythm – it is the balanced quality of zigzag in character
movements of the harmonious recurrence of stress Involuntary pen pressure --- “vertical tremor” ---is
or impulse. the involuntary up and down movements or
It is the flowing succession of motion that is changing pressure which produces a line of
recorded in written record. varying width or intensity as the pressure is
It produced a natural and not a constrained or an suddenly increased or diminished.
artificial result. Kinds:
Rhythm is a flowing hand (skillful, artistic writing A. Genuine Tremors: 1. tremor of age; 2. tremor of
ability)or coordinated succession of movement illiteracy & 3. tremor of weakness
impulses that guide into each other with rhythm. B. Tremor of Fraud

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 QUESTIONED

Tremor of age, illiteracy and of weakness are not The degree of care given to the act of writing
always distinguishable from each other but can creates variation.
always be distinguished from that of fraud Change of slope and the size pf the signature
Genuine tremor – natural tremor, being involuntary, superficially affect the appearance of the signature.
is apt to be comparatively uniform on similar parts The nature and extent of the variation of the letter
of a letter. design depend on the location: initial, medial &
Tremor of Age/Weakness – 1. shows unusual and terminal.
erratic departures of the line from each intended No two individual will exhibit similar master pattern
course; 2. abrupt recovery; 3. general indication of of the same for all letters.
muscular weakness and of movements beyond the The range of variation of letter design is not the
control of the writer particularly in downward same for all letters; small letters such as “i,e,o”
strokes; 4. shows awkward digressions/distortions have limited variation because any appreciable
which may be due to imperfect sight; 5. modification of the design will render letter illegible.
abbreviations or even omission of parts of letters, 19. Rubric or Embellishment – refers to additional
or even whole of it. unnecessary strokes not necessary to legibility of
Tremor of Illiteracy – characterized by general letterforms or writings but incorporated for
irregularity that is not due to weakness but to lack decorative or ornament purposes.
of skills and mental uncertainty as to the form and It is usually added to signatures for “pleasing
a general clumsiness resulting from unfamiliarity appearance”.
with the whole writing process. Omissions here are This serves as “security” to make signature more
not uncommon. Changes of direction are not apt to difficult to imitate or forge.
be numerous as in tremors or age/weakness. Recognition of Writing Characteristics
Tremor of Fraud – fraudulent writing which is 20. Hesitation – the irregular thickening of the ink
drawn even thought quite perfect in general form when the writing slows down or stops while the
shows, little, if any, freedom and will often show writer takes stock of the position.
hesitation at places where tremor is wrongly 21. Arrangement – the relation of the letters and
placed. characters with each other.
Characteristics: inequality of movement at any The system of arranging the word, sentences and
place in stroke or line with strokes too strong and paragraphs become so unconscious and automatic
vigorous combined with weak, hesitating strokes; that it serves to identify the writing of a particular
frequent interruption in movement; unequal person.
distribution of ink on upward as well as in Recognition of Writing Characteristics
downward strokes; varying pen pressure. 22. Re-touching – may mean to repeat the contact
Tremor of Fraud – shows a painstaking and previously made on the handwriting.
unnatural care at every point that indicates an
effort to follow an unfamiliar copy. Principles of Identification of Handwriting
In imitation of a writing that is excessively weak 1. No two writers write exactly alike.
and hesitating, the imitation in some parts shows 2. The physical writing condition and position
an inconsistent strength and firmness and of the person including his writing
indicates that the writing is not genuine. instrument may affect the handwriting
18. Natural Variations – characteristics but they do not confine all
Due to lack of machine-like precision of the human its identifying elements
3. A writer cannot exceed his maximum
hand;
writing ability or skill without serious effort
Caused by external factors---writing
and training applied over a period of time.
instrument/position; 4. The combination of handwriting
Influenced by mental and physical condition--- characteristics including those derived
fatigue, intoxication, illness, nervousness and the from form and writing movements are
age essential elements of identification.
Due to quantity of the writing prepared in the 5. Individuality in handwriting can only be
course of time; determined through comparative
Variation in genuine signature appears in examination with the standard written
superficial parts and does not apply to the whole prepared under comparable conditions.
writing process. 6. Similarity does not mean identity.
7. Complete identity means definite forgery.
QUESTIONED
8. A. A writing was written by one person CHARRED DOCUMENT- it is document that has
when there is a sufficient number of become blackened through burning or through
identical writing habits and identical writing exposure to excessive heat.
habits and identical primary controlling COMPARISON- it is the act of setting two or more
characteristics and in addition, the items side by side to weigh their identifying
absence divergent characteristics.
qualities.
B. A writing was not written by one person
CONNECTION- it is the combination of writing
when there is a sufficient number of
strokes to form letters or words.
divergent writing characteristics and the
absence of identical primary controlling
DESCENDER- it is the lower portion of the letter.
characteristics.
DEVIATIONS- these are normal or usual variations
found in repeated writings of an individual.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
DISGUISED WRITING- it is when a writer may
ABSENT CHARACTER- a character in which it is deliberately try to alter his usual writing habits in
present in one body of writing but is not present in hopes of hiding his identity.
another body of writing. DISSIMILARITY- it is a characteristic in one body
of writing which is pictorially and/or structurally not
ACCIDENTAL CHARACTERISTICS- a single the same from the corresponding characteristics in
occurrence of a characteristics which is outside the another body of writing.
range of variation of the writer.
ALIGNMENT- it is the relation of the successive DOWNSTROKE- it is the movement of the pen
characters of a word, signature or line of writing to towards the writer.
an actual or imaginary base line.
ALTERED DOCUMENT- It is a document that ELIMINATION- it is a definite conclusion that the
contains change either as an addition or a deletion. questions and known writings were not written by
ANGULAR FORMS- it is sharp, straight strokes the same person.
that are made by stopping the pen and changing
directions before continuing. EMBELLISHMENT- these are grace lines,
flourishes, or beautiful strokes useful only for
ARCADE FORMS- forms look like arches rounded ornamentation and not essential in the legibility of
on the top or at the bottom. writing.

ASCENDER- it is the top portion of the letter. EXEMPLARS- standards is its older term.

BASELINE- maybe actually an imaginary FINAL- It is the ending stroke on a letter when it is
alignment of writing or the line in which the writing at the end of a word.
rests.
BOW- it is a vertical curve stroke as seen capital FORM – it is the writers chosen writing style.
letters.
GOOPING- the accumulation of excessive amount
BOWL- it is a fully rounded oval or circular form on of ink on the exterior of the point assemble of the
a letter complete into “O”. pen as a result of the rotation of the ball.
GRAPHOLOGY- it is the art of determining the
BRAILLE- it is a system representing a letter, characteristics of handwriting, it is also means the
numerals, etc. that is read by a visually impaired scientific study and analysis of handwriting.
person by touch. HANDLETTERING- it is any disconnected style of
CHARACTER- it is any letter, numeral, punctuation writing.
mark, symbol that will be found at a document.
CHARACTERISTICS- it is any property, element, HESITATION- it is the term applied to the irregular
feature or marks of one’s handwritings such as, thickening of ink which is found when writing slows
letter formation, relative size and heights of letters. down or stop while the pen takes a stock in the
position.

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 QUESTIONED

force involved in the writing rather than the period

HIATUS/PEN JUMP- It is a gap occurring between increases.
a continuous stroke without lifting a pen.
PUNCTUATION- refers to the period, commas,
IDENTIFICATION- it is a definite conclusion that etc. which are necessarily an integral part of
the questioned writing and known writing were written language.
written by the same person.
SHADING- It is the widening of the ink strokes due
LATERAL SPACING- writing characterized by a to added pressure of the writing instrument.
wide letter and spacing.
SIGNATORY- it is the name of the signer. A
LEGIBILITY- It is the ease with which the reader person whose name is being inscribe on a
recognized individual characters and letters. document who requires assistance in doing so.
LINE SPACE- it is the amount of space left
between baseline. SIMILARITY- The characteristics in common
between the questioned and known writing.
MAJUSCULE- it is the capital letter. SIMPLIFICATION- It is the elimination of extra or
superfluous strokes in order to simplify a writing
MARGINS- It is the amount of space left around habit.
the writing on all four sides. SKILL- It is the proficiency in the art of writing, it is
MINUSCULE- it is the small letter. usually means legibility in handwriting.
SLANT- It is the angle or inclination of the axis of
MIRROR WRITING- writing that runs in the the letters relative to the baseline.
opposite direction to the normal pattern.
SPACING- it refers to the distance between letters,
NATURAL WRITING- It is any specimen of writing between words and between sentences.
executed normally without any attempt to control or
alter its identifying habits and its usual quality or STANDARDS- these are known writing which can
execution. be legally used as exemplars to compare a
questioned handwriting.
ORTHOGRAPHY- It is the art of spelling.
STRAIGHT LINES- In handwriting, it refers to a
PATCHING- it is the retouching or going back over writing stroke made by a point of writing instrument
a defective portion of a writing strokes. without change of direction.

PEN EMPHASIS- It is the act of intermittently TENSION- The degree of force exerted on the pen
forcing the pen against the paper surfaces. compared to the degree of relaxation.
TERMINALS- It refers to the ending or finishing
PEN FAILURE- it is an interruption in a stroke strokes of letters or words.
caused by the failure of the ink of the writing
instrument to register on the surface of the paper. TREMOR- It is a writing weakness portrayed by
irregular and shaky strokes.
PEN HOLD- It is the place where the writer grasps
the barrel of the pen and how the writer holds the TYPE of WRITING- it refers to hand printing,
pen. whether it is cursive or manuscript.
PEN LIFT- it is an interruption in a stroke caused UPSTROKE- it is the movement of the pen away
by removing the writing instrument from the paper. from the writer.
VARIATIONS- These are normal or usual
PEN POSITION- It is the relationship between the deviations found in repeated comparable writing
pen point and the paper. characteristics.
PEN PRESSURE- It is the average force with WRITING CONDITION- it is the circumstances
which the pen contacts the paper. It is opposed to under which the writing was prepared and the
pen emphasis deals with the usual of average factors influencing the writers ability to write at the
time of the execution. It includes the writers
QUESTIONED
position, the paper support and backing, the writing
instrument, the writer’s health, nervous state, or
degree of intoxication.
WRONG HANDED WRITING- it is any writing
executed with the opposite hand that normally
used, a.k.a the use of awkward hand.

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