7.8 SPECIAL LETTER VARIATIONS

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Practically all the letters of the alphabet show variations that lend themselves to personalized interpretation. The question is how far these should be carried, as such analysis can be more time-taking than productive. The best-known of letter variations are the dotted “i” and the crossed “t” which are subject to many Interpretations but other letters have noteworthy differences.

Since these are secondary features, the interpretations are brief, but pointed. In some cases, a single letter will show two features, each with its own significance; for example, a “t” with a long cross-stroke that is also set low. Occasionally, a letter variation may provide a key to some very distinctive trait; but often these variations simply modify the broader findings covered by the more important phases of handwriting analysis. Here are some of the more significant types:

CAREFULLY FORMED LETTERS:

A capable, inventive mind.

STRONGLY LOOPED “b”:

A kindly, understanding manner.

SLIGHTLY LOOPED “p”:

Somewhat individualistic.

NO LOOP WITH “b”:

Decisive, determined personality.

STRONGLY LOOPED “d”:

Shy and easily influenced.

LOW UPRIGHT LINE: Self-effacing, but crafty.

HIGH UPRIGHT “D”: Strongly idealistic nature.

FORMED LIKE MUSICAL NOTE: Great aspirations.

BACK-SWEEP WITH “d”: Intellectual attainments.

WITH ADDED TWIST TO RIGHT:

Independence and imagination.

OVERLY CURVED TO RIGHT: Egotistical tendency.

WIDESPREAD LETTER “d”:

Silent, secretive manner.

WELL-ROUNDED “e”: Natural and unaffected.

NARROWED LIKE AN “i”:

A somewhat uncertain nature.

ORNAMENTAL OR GREEK “E”:

A vain, showy tendency.

A VERY ORNATE “f”:

A self-sufficient individual.

LOOP VERY SLIGHT:

Urge for accuracy and precision.

LONG BELOW THE LINE: A virile, active nature.

SHORT BELOW THE LINE: Lacking in stamina.

A “g” SHAPED LIKE AN “8”:

Good vocabulary and literary ability.

A “g” WITH STRAIGHT DOWN LINE:

Scientific trend.

A “g” LONG AND ROUNDED BELOW LINE:

Fanciful ideas.

A “g” (OR OTHER LETTERS) WITH SMALL LOOP:

Petty Tyranny.

HIGH-LOOPED “h”: Insight and imagination.

LOW-LOOPED “h”: Matter-of-fact nature.

NO DOT TO LETTER “i”: A neglectful nature.

LIGHT DOT OVER “i”:

Willingness to go along with others.

HEAVY DOT OVER “i”: Blunt, aggressive nature.

ROUNDED DOT OVER “i”: A token of affectation.

DOT DIRECTLY OVER “i”:

Careful, methodical ways.

DOT TO RIGHT OF “i” OR “j”: A very quick mind.

DOT TO LEFT OF “i” OR “j”:

A retrospective nature.

DOT HIGH ABOVE:

Imaginative or mystical nature.

DOT PLACED LOW:

A practical, painstaking trend.

STROKED DOT OVER “i”:Impatience and petulance.

CURVED DOT OVER “i”: A keen, clever thinker.

AN “i” POINTED LIKE AN INVERTED “v”:

An eager disposition.

A LOW-LOOPED “j” BELOW THE LINE:

Similar to low “i”.

A HIGH, ROUNDED “k” OR “l”:

Emphasis with exaggeration.

A HIGH, BUT NARROW “l”:Emphatic, but exacting.

A BALANCED, NORMAL “l”:

A balanced, normal nature.

SMALL “l” MISTAKEN FOR “e”:

Haste or indifference.

A WELL-ROUNDED “m” OR “n”:

Precise ways or manners.

ANGULAR “m” OR “n”:

Friendly and highly sociable.

LETTER “o” LIKE AN “a”:

A general lack of system.

A HIGH-LOOPED “p”:

Imaginative, as with high “h”.

A SIMPLE “p” ONLY SLIGHTLY LOOPED:

A practical nature.

AN OPEN “p” LIKE AN “h”:

Love of tradition and old ideas.

LONG-LOOPED “q” BELOW THE LINE:

Similar to low-looped “g”.

A SPECIALLY FORMED “q”:Tendency toward detail.

A WELL-FORMED “r”: Rather careful and precise.

A ROUNDED “r” LIKE AN INVERTED “u”:

Lacking inspiration.

A SHARPLY ANGULAR “r”:

A quick but keen intellect.

AN “r” LIKE A PRINTED LETTER:

Good power of expression.

AN OVERLARGE “s”: Tendency toward excesses.

POORLY OR HASTILY FORMED “s”:

Talkative and dynamic.

AN “s” SHAPED LIKE PRINTED LETTER:

An acquisitive streak.

LARGE PRINTED “s” BELOW AND ABOVE LINE:

A dominating trend.

A SIMPLE, WELL-FORMED “t”:

Good decision and balance.

SIMPLE “t” BUT SMALL: A mediocre tendency.

A LOOPED “t”: Sensitive and easily offended.

A POINTED UPRIGHT PORTION OF “t”:

Blunt and challenging.

A LOW-PLACED CROSSBAR ON “t”:

Easily influenced or guided.

EVEN PLACEMENT OF “t” BAR:

Calm, unassuming nature.

HIGH-PLACED “t” BAR:

Self-willed and opinionated.

BAR OF “t” ABOVE UPRIGHT:

Demanding or overbearing.

A THINLY FORMED “t” BAR:

A kindly, careful nature.

A HEAVY “t” BAR:

Rough, impulsive, and often quarrelsome.

BAR TO LEFT OF “t”:

A hesitant, doubting nature.

BAR TO RIGHT OF “t”:

Good initiative, but overeager.

BAR STARING THICK, ENDING THIN:

Too much enthusiasm.

BAR STARTING THIN, ENDING THICK:

Increasing determination.

NO CROSSBAR ON “t”:

Indifferent, inconsiderate trends.

A “t” FORMED IN ONE ACTION:

Somewhat petulant or hasty.

A RISING BAR ON “t”: A quibbling over trifles.

A DESCENDING “t” BAR: An obstinate streak.

AN UPWARD CURVE OF “t” BAR:

Kindly, amiable manner.

A DOWNWARD CURVE OF “t” BAR:

Desire for authority.

VARIABLE CURVE OF “t” BAR:

Fun-loving and harmonious.

A “u” SHAPED LIKE “n”:

Easygoing, taking things as they come.

A WELL-ROUNDED “u”:Careful and often finicky.

A POINTED “u” LIKE “n”: Overeager to please.

A “v” SHAPED LIKE A “u”:

A somewhat fastidious trend.

A “v” ENDING HIGH AT RIGHT:

A conscientious nature.

AN ANGULAR “w”:Sociable and generally cordial.

A “w” WELL-ROUNDED:Painstaking but thoughtful.

A “w” WITH LOW CENTER: Desire for efficiency.

A CURVED “x” WITH SHORT STRAIGHT BAR:

A hasty manner.

A SHARP “x” WITH LONG BAR:

Challenging and forceful.

A “y” WITH STRAIGHT DOWN STROKE:

A firm or rugged nature.

A “y” OR “z” LONG AND ROUNDED BELOW LINE: Similar to “g”.

A “z” LIKE A PRINTED LETTER:

Care in matters of detail.

Many other variants could be included, so many in fact that some authorities are inclined to reject practically all of them on the ground that their differences are too trivial. This may be true in respect to a more general analysis; but letter forms betray little quirks and represent natural habits that the writer does subconsciously. Regarded as keys to unguarded traits, they may prove of real value in analyzing certain individuals, particularly as a check on more important findings.