Did You Know? There are two types of handwriting analysts: graphologists (see above) and forensic document examiners. Forensic document examiners are professionals who analyze writing (like a celebrity's autograph) for evidence of authenticity or forgery—not personality traits or unconscious desires. They warn that graphologist analysis of handwriting reveals as much about personality as astrology.

Between the Lines
What does your handwriting say about you?

By Jennifer Goddard, Staff Writer

You spent hours analyzing each word of the note he wrote you (when he signed, "Later," did he mean he can't wait to see you later or he thinks of you as a casual friend?)—but what, if anything, can you tell by his handwriting?

Graphologists believe that handwriting analysis can tell you everything you want to know about someone. Despite questions about its scientific validity, some companies assess the character of job applicants through handwriting tests.

Crossing t's and Dotting i's

If these tests are legitimate, what does your handwriting say about you? When analyzing handwriting samples, professionals and self-described "experts" consider things like:

• Loops
• Dotted "i's" and crossed "t's"
• Letter spacing
• Slants
• Heights
• End strokes

The following examples have been analyzed using common standards set forth by graphologists:

Analysis Paralysis

Based on the examples provided, what does your handwriting reveal about you? Are you shy or outgoing? Are you close to your mother or clinging to the past? How accurate is handwriting as a tool for uncovering personality traits?

Because you're taught handwriting by teachers and family, it's hard to say how much of your handwriting style is your own. More often than not, people model their handwriting after someone else's (how many times have you seen "i's" dotted with a bubble or heart?).

If you enjoy checking out your daily horoscope, handwriting analysis could be a fun way to move beyond questions like "Is he into me?" to ones like "Is he worth getting into?"