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Exploring Handwriting's Multi-Individuality

Apr 27, 2025

The Multi-Individality of Handwriting

Highlights

  • Individuals can use multiple distinct handwriting styles.
  • These styles can be used both spontaneously and intentionally.
  • Identifying the author of such handwriting can be challenging for forensic examiners.

Abstract

  • Handwriting is generally unique to each person, but some develop multiple styles.
  • Multi-handwriting can lead to mistaken authorship attribution.
  • Forensic examiners could provide incorrect opinions if samples don't match the questioned entry.
  • The study aims to explore this under-researched area.

Introduction

  • Writing is a complex skill developed over years, resulting in unique styles.
  • Handwriting generally remains stable but can undergo changes due to external and internal factors.
  • Multi-individuality refers to one person using multiple distinct writing styles.
  • Factors influencing writing styles include emotional states, health conditions, and context of writing.
  • Correct identification of handwriting relies on comprehensive reference materials.

Materials and Methods

  • Examined three entries written by the same person on printer paper in Polish.
  • The writer was a law student who had not developed a stable handwriting style.

Results and Discussion

  • Variations in text layout and spacing were observed across the entries.
  • Different handwriting styles included distinct margins and text distribution.

Example of Casework

  • A case involved a questioned last will document with different handwriting styles.
  • Reference material showed two distinct handwriting types, complicating authorship identification.

Conclusions

  • Multi-individual handwriting can lead to incorrect authorship conclusions.
  • Experts can't easily determine if multiple handwriting styles exist without extensive reference material.

Author Contribution

  • Jaroslaw Moszczynski is the sole author with a 100% contribution.

Funding

  • No specific funding received for this research.

Conflicts of Interest

  • None reported.

References

  • Includes 16 references, with works on handwriting stability, individuality, and applications in forensic document examination.

Cited Works

  • Includes studies on handwriting recognition and the challenges in forensic analysis.

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