TheGraphologistssAlphabet

By

JoelEngel

Eachoftheforegoinglettershassomethingdifferentinitsformand,therefore,intheinterpretation
tobeputuponit.Oftenthesamemeaningcanbederivedfromseveraldifferentlettersinone
person'shandwriting.Thisisbecausethesamecharacteristicformcanappearindifferentletters.
Thereadershouldnowbeabletodiscernthemeaningofanylettersimplybyknowingwhichformit
shouldfitinto.

Herearetwoexamplesofhowitworks:

ConsidertheletterA.Thisletterhastwofactorsthatweareconcernedabout.Itisacapital,anditis
quitethin.Thecapitalletterreflectstheegoofthewriter,andbecausehe"thinshimselfout,"we
saythatheisshy.Thesameinterpretationwouldbetrueof,say,acapitalH:Thisthincapitalalso
impliesthatthewriterisshy.

Picturethelowercasea,thebottomisopenandtheletterisovalshaped.Therefore,therulethat
applieshereappliestoanyovalshapedletterwithanopenbottomperhapsthelettero.

Thelettersaandoarebothmiddlezoneletters,butupperzoneandlowerzonelettersalsobelong
tothiscategory,providingthattheyhaveroundpartsinthemiddlezone;forexample,theletterd.

Onceyouunderstandtheprinciples,itshouldbeeasytointerpretallthepossiblevariationsinletter
shapes.

Whatthegraphologistisreallyseekinginanalyzinghandwritingarethewriter'spersonalitytraits.A
personalitytraitisusuallycomposedofmanydifferentfactors.Forexample,ifthewritingindicated
alackofselfcontrol,passion,impulsiveness,andviolence,thegraphologistwouldsumupthe
personalitytraitastemper.Shouldselfcontrol,passion,andviolencebepresent,without
impulsiveness,temperwouldstillbeindicated,butifviolencewerethemissingelement,the
graphologistwouldhesitatetosayflatoutthatthewriterhasabadtemper.Hemightadmit,
however,thatthepossibilityoftemperexists.

Asimilarsituationexistsininterpretingletters.Beforethegraphologistweighstheformofaletter
intoatotalanalysis,helooksforconsistency.Inotherwords,hemustfindthesameformoften
enoughinthewritingtobesignificantbeforeheincludesitsmeaninginthetotalanalysis.Hereis
theusualruleofthumb:Ifallthemajorcomponentsarepresent,wesaythatthepersonalitytrait
mostdefinitelyexists.Ifallthemajorcomponentsbutonearefound,thereisastrongpossibility
thatthepersonalitytraitexists.Ifonlyonemajorcomponentisfound,thewriterhasatendency
towardthistrait.
Smallminimumletters(i.e.,middlezoneletters)showtheconcentrating,frugal,andmasculine
worker.Smallandcarefullyexecutedminimumlettershavebeenseeninthehandwritingoffirst
rateresearchworkers,teachers,scientists,andthinkers,whokeepthemselvesunderthestrictest
selfcontrolsoastobeabletoaccomplishwhattheyundertake(Nietzsche,Einstein).However,it
shouldbenotedthatinferiorityfeelingsandtemporarydepressionsalsoexpressthemselvesinsmall
minimumletters.

Alettermaynotonlybetallorsmallordeep,butalsowideornarrow;itmaywidenitselfinaleft
tendingorrighttendingdirection,orshrinkfromthesedirections;italsomaywidenitselftoa
reasonableextentorattheexpenseofitsneighbors.

Tojudge,forexample,thewidthofaletterinanindividualhandwriting,wemustknowthe
penmanshipmodelsonwhichthishandwritingisbased.InPalmer'smodelssuchlettersase,i,o,a,
andsaresupposedtobetallerthantheyarewide,them,n,andwwiderthantheyaretall.Only
deviationsfromthesenormscanbeconsidered"wide"or"toowide,""narrow"or"toonarrow."

Thewideletter,theletterthattakesupmorethanits"allotted"spaceasitmovestotheright,is
typicalofthespontaneous,broadminded,and"large"writer,whoissociableandsympathetic,eager
tosharewithyouandwillingtoletyousharewithhim;heis"extroverted."Butiftheletteris"too
wide,"ifitseemstospreadandunfold,asitwere,atourexpense,thewriterisobtrusive,impudent,
orsimplyanintruder.

Thenarrowletter,theletterthathassurrenderedpartofits"allotted"space,ischaracteristicofthe
inhibited,uneasy,narrowminded,economicalwriter,whoisnotsociable,whoispreparedtoshare
withyounordesirousofhavingyousharewithhim;heis"introverted."Butifaletteris"too
narrow,"thenoursubjectistimid,secluded,suspicious,andavaricious.Anarrowinitialletterofa
wordbetraysparticularlythesociallytimid.

Weoftenseenarrowletterswidelyspaced,orwideletterscloselyfollowingeachother.Obviously,
thisisacoincidenceoftwocontradictorytendencies:narrowletterswidelyspacedrevealone
whosesympathyandgenerosityareeithersimulatedorforceduponhimbycircumstances.Wide
lettersnarrowlyspacedbetokentheliberalandsympatheticpersonwhosimulatestheeconomical
andconcentratedworkereithervoluntarilyorbecauseofcircumstances.

Thelettersbetweenthefirstandthelastletter,thebodyoftheword,sotospeak,portraythe
processofthinkingthatleadsthewriterfromanintentiontoanaccomplishment,adecision,anact.
Aclear,wellproportionedlastletterindicatesaclearandtrustworthydecision;anillegible,
neglected,oromittedlastletterisawarning.Adisproportionatelytalllastletterischaracteristicof
thepersonwhonotonlyhasanopinion,butinsistsonitbecausehehascharacter,orbecauseheis
arrogant,opinionated.

Eachsigninananalysishasmeaning,butisreliableonlyasoneaspectofthetotalanalysis.So
althoughthefollowinglettersarestrongindicatorsbythemselves,theycannotberegardedasproof
ofanyfactaboutthewriteruntiltheyareproperlyweighed.
Therearemanydifferentwaysofformingthelettersofthealphabet:

x Picturethelettera(oranyletterforthatmatter)withtwohooks.Ahookbynaturegrabs,hence
itshowsgreed.Thedoublehookimpliesavarice.
x Imaginetheleftlegextendedfartotheleft(past).Thefactthatthereisalsoablotchhintsofa
"blotch"inthewriter'spast,whichisverymuchonhismind.
x Considertheletterthatiscalledablockletter.Itsconstructionissimplified,showingintelligence
andculture.Mostbooksuseblockletters,andthismaybeanunconsciousimitation.
x Themarkingsontopoftheletterareinexactandunnecessary.Thisshowsinexactnessonthe
partofthewriter,butthefactthathedidwritetheletterinsuchamannershowshimtobean
unusualcharacter.
x Picturetheletterthatshowsalargeloopwithaknot.Loopsmadebiggerthannecessarytoread
thelettershowpride.Thisparticularformhasbeenfoundamongwriterswhotakeprideintheir
families.
x Imagineaknotintheletter.Thisshowstoughness,hardnesssomeonewhoisapttobe
thoroughinwhatheundertakesandwillnotgiveupeasily.
x Considerthatthestartingpointoftheletteristhickandclosetothebody,notextendedtothe
left.Thethickwritingshowsamaterialisticnature.
x Capitalletters,amongotherthings,showanimageofego.Thus,thethin,narrowcapitalletter
indicatesshyness.
x Picturetheleftlegconsiderablylongerthantherightone,asifthemanwererunning.Itshows
aggressionandambition.
x Aroundblockletterdepictsaformofconstructionofsomekindandthereforeshowsa
constructivethinker.
x Thelettermaybeconstructedinasquarefashion,showinganinterestinarchitectureorin
mechanicallyrelatedfields.Theshapeitselflookslikeabuildingbrick.
x Imaginetheleftleglongerthantheright,astheletterwespokeofabove,butitdescends
deeper.Thisisthemeddler.Becauseofthepositionhegetshimselfinto,thewriterwillbecome
argumentativewhenthepersonheisannoyingflaresupathim.
x ConsiderthecapitalAintheformofasmalla.Sincethecapitallettershowstheegoofthe
writer,asmallletterindicateshumilityandmodesty.
x WhenthebaroftheAismissing,itshowscarelessnessandneglect.TherearetimeswhentheA
barmaybeomittedandnothavethesemeaningswhenthewriterisinahurry,forinstancebut
ifthewriteralwaysformshisA'slikethis,itimpliesslovenliness.
x Picturethearcthatpointsbacktothecapitalletter(theego)andthereforeshowsegotism.
x Imaginetheleftlegstretchingouttotheleft,showingastrongattachmenttothepast.Often
thesewritershaveadifficulttimegettingstartedonprojectsoreveneverydaythings.
x Consider(a)crossingsthatarebothinexactandtheirlackofcompletionformswhat
graphologistscallopenmouthedovals,whichshowstalkativeness.Themoreopentheovalsare,
themoretalkativethewriteris.Whentheselettersarearegularfeatureofsomeone'swriting,
 hecanbesaidtobebothopenandhonest.However,iftherewerenoovallettersclosed,it
wouldbebestnottotellthewriteranysecretshemayhavedifficultykeepingthem.
x Ofcourse,allthesewritersrepresentonlydifferentdegreesofopenmindednessandopenness;
therearethosewhothirstforknowledge,andthosewhoaremerelycurious;thosewhomwe
callfrank,andthosewhoaretactless;butnoneofthemcanbecalledselfish.Afewoverdothe
openness,too.Toentrustsuchawriterwithadelicatesecretmaybedisastrous,forheprobably
isnotableeventohidehisown;andsincetheopeningexposesthelowerzone,thismay
suggestaqualityofindelicacy,possiblytheexhibitionismofalibertine.
x Picturethelettershowinganangularform.Thisindicatesrigidityandhardness.
x Imaginethelow'A'bar.Likethelowtbar,itshowsaninferioritycomplex.Sincethecapital
letterreflectstheego,thislowbarhintsatreducedselfesteem.
x Considertheletterthatshowsapeculiarshape.Wheneverstrangelookingshapesappear,we
seesexualperversionandastrongsexualimagination.(However,theselettersshouldbe
comparedwiththerestofthewriting.)Ifthisdistortioniswhathethinksthelettershouldbe,
imaginewhathethinksasexualrelationshipshouldbe.
x PicturetheletterresemblinganAbar,whichinrealityisaninturnedarc,piercingthecapital
(theego).Thewriterisdestroyinghisego,showingstrongdepressionandsuicidaltendencies.
x AsimilarmeaningisindicatedwhentheAbarstronglydescendsitsverydirectionimpliesthat
thewriterisdowninthedumps.
x Theletter,whichisencircledseveraltimes,reflectsthefeelingoflivinginone'sownworldof
imagination.Thewriteristryingtoprotecthimselfbynotallowinganyoneelsein.Ifanyoneever
doespenetrate,hewillnotfinditeasytochangethewriter'sideas.
x Loopsbynatureareshowy;therefore,suchawriterdisclosesvanity.(Note:Donotconfuse
loopswithknots,whichshowadifferentmeaning).
x Theupwardroundedstrokerevealstheperformer,theentertainer.Youcanalmostseehim
bowingtotheaudienceashemakesthisflamboyantupwardstroke.
x Imaginetheletter,whichisinkfilled,pasty,andblotchy.Itshowssensuality,asifthewriter's
gutswerepouringoutonthepagefromthepassioninsidehim.
x Considertheovalletteropenatthebottom.(Beforeyoucananalyzethisletter,youmustmake
certainthatitwasnotthewritingtoolthaterred.Pensdosometimes"gap.")Thisshowsthe
embezzler,thecrook,thehypocrite.Thefactthatthereissomethingmissinginitsconstruction
impliesasimilarlackinthewriter'smakeup.Whatismissingishonesty,asthoughtherewerea
holeinsidehim,whereeverythingdecentfellthrough.
x Picturetheleftsideoftheovalopen.Thiswritercleverlyconcealsthissideofhisnature(the
openingistiny),buthismotiveisstrictlyforhimself,andheisgreedy.Obviously,heisalso
untrustworthy.Oftenpeoplewhowritelikethisarefoundtobeneurotic.
x Imaginethepersonwhowritesasifhewerebendingawayfromsomethingthatmayhurthim;
thisrevealshimselfastouchyandsensitive.Theinward,bentrightstrokeshowshimprotecting
himself.
x Considertheletterthatisknotted(nottobeconfusedwithaloop).Theknotshowsthat,
althoughtheletterwasalreadyclosed,thewriteraddedtheknot,justtomakesure.Itshows
secretiveness,reservedmanner,introversion,andonewhorarelyallowspeopletogettoknow
 him.Whencoupledwithothersignsinthewriting,thisformoftenappearsinthewritingof
dishonestpeople.
x Lettersmaybewrittenquitesquareshaped.Peoplewhowriteinthisfashionshowanaptitude
forconstructionandmechanicalability.

x Picturethebottomarcoftheletter'B'inflated.Inflationshowsvanity.Inaddition,theunder
lengthextendspastthebodyoftheletteritselfouttotheleft.Thiswriterputshimselfona
pedestalandtherebycallsattentiontohimself,underlininghisownimportance.Hisegois
representedbythecapitalletterandthepedestalbytheextendedunderlength.Sincethe
bottomarcisinflated,correspondingtothelowerzone,thisalsoshowsmaterialism.
x Imaginethestrokethatextendsupward.Itshowsone,whoiswillingtoundertakeanewproject
ofsomekind,thoughitmayberisky.Theupstrokeappearstobepointingtotheheavens,to
outerspace.
x Theconstantchangesinaletterindicateahypochondriac.Healwaysfeelsthatthereis
somethingwrongwithhim.Whateverhedoesisnotgoodenough,andhereturnsandchanges
theletterrepeatedly.
x Considerthecomplicated,overdone,uglyletter;thisshowsvulgarityonewhoisloud,
correspondingtothegaudyletterheproduces.Hewilloftenbepedanticabouttrivialdetails.
x Picturetheletterthathasasharptop.Whenaparticularpartofalettershouldberoundand
insteadispointed,asifitwereaknife,weseeresentment.
x Whenthepointed(orangular)shapeisatthebottomofaletterthatwouldordinarilyberound,
itindicatesresentment.Inaddition,hereisapiercing,sharppersonality,bentongettinghisown
way.Theangularshaperevealshardnessandrigidity,especiallywhenitdipsintothelower
(physical)zoneforsomestrength.
x Whenthereisacombinationofthesewritings,sharpatthetopaswellasatthebottom,itthus
showsthesametraits.Thereisnowayout,sincebothsidesareangularalso;hence,weseea
personwhowillnotcompromise.
x Imaginetheroundbeginningstroke.Thisshowstalkativenessinthewriter,plusasenseof
humor.Thisextrabeginningstrokewasnotnecessary,butitwasasifthewriterhadtotell
somethingtosomebodypullsomeoneovertowhisperinhisear.
x Whentheendstrokeascendstotheupperzone,itshowsimaginationandhighmindedness.
Manypoetswritethishand.
x Thehookedletter,whichisalsoangular,showsstubbornness.Asweknow,hooksholdonto
something:theydonotwanttoletgo.

C
x Considerthescriptofthefollowing:thebeginningstrokeisin,then,down,around,andover.
Thispersonalityseemstobealwayscomputingsomething.Thewritermaybeintrouble,buthe
persistsandgetsoutofit.Theshapeitselflookslikeasideviewofthehumanbrain.
x Picturetheangularlyshapedletter;thisshowswhatanangularshaperepresents;speed.The
writerisquickandusuallymoreintelligentthantheround(arcade)writer,sowesee
intelligence.

x Imaginetheletterwrittenintwoparts.Weseetheindividualstandingalone.Sincethisletter
(D)isnormallymadeofconnectedlines,thistechniqueofwritingshowsadeficiencyinadjusting
towhatothersmaydo.
x Thesimpleletter(d)withanarcattherightshowstaste.Thewriterhasaflairforthefiner
thingsoflife.Trywritingthisletter.Youwillfeelthegraceofit.
x Theletter,whichiswrittenintheformofamusicalnote,showsmusicalinterest.
x Considertheupperlength,whichextendsquitehighintotheupperzone;thisshowsamoral
personality;thisisapersonwhorespectsspiritualideals.
x Whentheletterislooped,itshowsvanityandsensitivity,asiftheloopswereanaddedshieldof
protectionfromgettinghurt.
x Thereareletters,whicharecalledtheGreekd,e,andg;becausetheyresemblethewaythose
lettersareformedintheGreekalphabet.Whentwoorallthreeofthemappearrepeatedlyin
someone'shandwriting,itisasignofculture,ofaliteraryorientedindividual.Suchlettersare
usuallyfoundamongintellectualsandpeoplewithhighIQs,andtheirpresenceindicatesspeed
andgoodtaste.Ifonlyoneofthesesignsappearsandespeciallyifitisrelativelyinfrequent,we
seesomeonewhoistryingtoappearcultured,butisnotquite.
x Whentheheadoftheletteriswrittendownward,demonstratingthewriter'sfeelings,itshows
pessimismanddepression.
x Whenevertwodifferentwaysofwritingthesameletterappears,itindicatesversatility.(Inthe
capitalI,ithintsatsomeonewhoisnotquitesurewhoheis,sohetriesoutdifferent
personalities.)
x Whentheloopisharmoniouslyswungaround,weseeoneoftwothings:inasuperiorscript,
logicindecisionmaking;inaninferiorscript,anattempttouselogicthatthewriterdoesnot
possess.Asuperiorscriptisonethatoftencontainsoriginalletterforms,simplicity,wordsand
linesclearlyseparatedandusuallyspeedywriting.Aninferiorscriptisonethatoftencontains
lackoforiginality,astrongadherencetocopybookstandard,ostentation,andusuallyaslow
hand,withwordsandlines,whichentangle.
x Whenthereisanice'swing'inwritingtheletter,itreflectsthemind'sabilitytomovein
whateverdirectionisnecessary.
x Whenthelettersareconnected,itshowsthepowerofdeduction.Thiswriteruseslogic,building
factuponfact,justasheplacesletteruponletter.
x Picturecapitalletters,whichareexcessivelylarge.Sincethecapitalletterrepresentstheego,
theyshowpride,vanity,conceit,andjealousy.

E
x Imaginetheletter(e)writtenwithaloopanditselfintheformofagarland.Garlandsindicate
friendliness.Theround,easywayitiswrittenshowscasualness,lightheartedness,even
carelessness.
x Whentheendstrokecomesup,over,anddowntheleftside,itshowssomeonewhodistorts
facts.Picturethebeginningoftheendstroke(attherightsideoftheletter)asthewriter'sright
ear.Bythetimethestrokehastraveledaroundtowhereitends(bytheleftear),thestoryhas
changed.Thetruestorywentinoneearandouttheother.
x Considertheletterastwoconcavearcs.ThiscapitalElooksliketwoeyesstaringatsomething
anditdenotesthekeenobserver.
x Whenthebeginningstroketouchesthetoppartoftheletter,likeaweightofsomekind
pressingdownonit,itshowsthewriter'sdifficultyinhandlinghisconcerns.
x Pictureanunderlengththatwouldunderlinetherestoftheword.Thefashioninwhichthe
writerextendsthiscapital(theego)showsselfadmiration.

x Imaginewavylines(inthecapitalF),aswelearnedfromthetbar,wavylinesindicategaiety,a
senseoffun,oftenthepracticaljoker.
x Whenthetopstrokeextendsoverthewholeword,itshowsafeelingofprotection.Thisisa
masculinequality,butitisfoundinmanywomen,especiallythosebringingupchildrenalone.
x Simplifiedstrokesshowthewriter'surgetospeedandalackofadornmentinhispersonallife
style.
x Whenthelettercontainsaknot,itrevealstoughness
x Considerthe'f'writtenasatriangularshapewiththeendstrokehorizontal.Angles,asweknow,
showhardness,andtherearethreeofthemhere,allinthelowerzone.Thishintsatastrong
resistancetointerferenceabsolutelyanyinterferencewhatsoever.Itisprobablycausedby
sexualfrustration.
Fortheletterg,pleaseviewinthegraphologycourse

x Picturethedownstroke(ofthe'h')extendingunderthebodyoftheletterandtotheleft.This
person,becauseofhisstubbornnature,wouldratherfightthancompromise.Thestubbornness
isdemonstratedbythelongdownstroke,asthoughhewerecloutingsomeone.Thefactthathe
wouldprefertofightforhispositionisshownbytheleftwardtendency.Notonlydoeshenot
endtheletterwitharightwardfinishingstroke(whichisnormalandshowsagoodrelationship
totheotherperson),buthegoestheoppositeway,leftward.Thisdeclaresdefiantlythatheis
withdrawinghissocialattentionsfromtheotherperson.
x Note:Ifanindividual'shandwritingtendstowardaspecificdirectioninoneparticularzone,it
indicatesastrongmeaning.Thisverywritingissuchanexample.Thislettershowsavertical
writingingeneral,butalowerzonewithadistincttendencytowardtheleftreclinedwriting.
Thisshowsthat,althoughthewritermaintainsamoreorlessstablepostureinhisintellectual
 andeverydaylife,inmattersofsexormoneyormaterialisticpleasures,heeffectsacertain
withdrawal.
x Imagineavulgarlookingandornateletter('H')thathasaverticallineaddedinunnecessarily
betweentheleftandrightparts.Obviouslythiswriterdisplaysanundueclaimofself
importance.AdolfHitlerwrotethisway.(Manygraphologistsbelievethattheverticalline
accentuatedhismustache.)
x Considertheupperzonethathardlyexistsatall.Hence,thiswriterdoesnotbelieveinspiritual
ideals.
x Whentheupperzoneislargesaythreetofourtimesthesizeofthemiddlezone,weseean
idealistic,spiritual,andoftenreligiousindividual.
x Picturenoendstroketotheletter.Sincetheendstrokerepresentstherelationshiptoone's
fellowman,weseemeannesshere.
Fortheletteri,pleaseviewinthegraphologycourse

x Imaginethatthe(J)loopistremendousandextendstotheleft.Thiswritingisfoundamong
manymalehomosexuals.Theloopissimilartotheunderlengthofthegandsuggests
masculinity.Thefactthatitveerstotheleft,althoughtheletteritselfinclinestotheright,shows
whatreclinedwritingwouldshowanoppositerole.Ifthewriterismale,weseehimplayingthe
femalerole.Therightwardtendencyoftheothertwozonesshowshimtobequiteextroverted;
theleftwardlowerzonehintsthatheisintrovertedsexually.
x Note:Itisverydifficultforagraphologisttosaydefinitelywhetheranindividualisa
homosexual.Whathecandetectisthatthepersonthinksofhimselfassexuallyunusual.
Distortionsinthelowerzoneorstrangelyshapedlettersshowasexlifethatisofanuncommon
sort,butnotnecessarilyhomosexuality.Rememberthatthisiswhatthewriterhimselffeels.
Thehomosexualwhodoesnotconsiderhomosexualitystrangewillnotreflectthisinhis
writings.Sincetheleftrepresentsthepast(themother),apparentlyinthewriter'syouth,he
becameconfusedabouttheproperrolehewastoplayinlife.Herejectedthefatherroleand
preferredthemotherfigure,whichapparentlyevidencedmorewarmth.Asanadult,theformer
childnowseeksthissamenonviolentwarmth.

x Considertheletter('K')splitintodifferentparts.Itshowssomeonewholacksadjustmentand
canbecomparedtodisconnectedwriting.Itisasthough,throughthespaceswherehedidnot
write,intuitionofsomekindseepedin.Thewriterisusuallyquitecleverandhasmanyideas,
althoughhedoesn'tdothingsasmostotherpeopledo(indicatedbytheunusualsplittingofthe
letter).
x Picturetheendstroke(ofthe'k')asadownstroke,madewithconsiderablepressureand
extendedquitedeeplyintothelowerzone.Thisshowssomeoneonthedefensive;hekeepshis
"hand"athissideinsteadofreachingoutwithit.Hedipsintothelowerzoneforstrengthand
stressesit.Thishintsatbrutalityandstubbornness.

x Imaginethehorizontalstroke(ofthe'L')darkened(technicallycalledshading).Thisunbalanced
distributionofshading(oneareaoftheletterhasit,theothersdonot),showspoorcirculation
plusmoodiness.Thiskindofwritingoftenoccursatpubertyormenopause.Theshadedarea
createdbyheavypressureseemstosuggestaphysicalconditionofwhichthebodyisawareand
towhichitresponds.Sinceonlythemiddlezoneisheavilypressured,theconditionlies
somewhereinmidbody,probablyintheabdominalarea.
x Considertheletter('L')thatlookslikeazero;thisindicatessomeonewithamathematicalbent.
x Picturethedownstroke(inthe'L')severedintotwoparts.Imaginethislettersuperimposed
overthebodyofaperson.Thebreakwouldliesomewhereintheareaoftheheart.Therefore
weseeaweakheartoronethatmaybeabouttohaveanattack.
x Considertheletterwritteninahighlysimplifiedmanner;wheneveraletterissimplifiedandstill
containsallthepartsnecessaryforreading,weseeaquick,sensiblemind.
x Whentheletter('L')isintheshapeofanumber4,itshowsaloveoforderandmethod.The
squareshapeindicatesadesiretoputthingsinsomekindoforder,andtheresemblancetoa
numberaddsonewhoismethodical.

x (Note:Thelettermisconsideredoneofthemostimportantletters.)
x PictureadiagramofthebasicletterM,consistingofitsthreehumps.Thefirsthumprepresents
thewriter'sego;thesecondhumprepresentshissocialstatus;thethirdhumprepresentsother
people.ShouldaparticularhumpnotreflectthebasicM,welookforvariations,aswelooked
forvariationsfromtheschoolmodel(PalmerMethod)andanalyzethedeviations.
x Imaginetheletter('m')thatshowsanarccurvingunderthebodyoftheletter.Itillustratesthe
performer,thespeechmaker;thearclookslikeanarmmakingakindofgesturetotheaudience.
x Whenonlytwo"tops"(humps)aremade,thefirstrepresentstheegoandthesecondtheother
person.Whenthefirstpartishigherthanthesecondis,weseethewriter'segoasofmore
importancethantheotherperson.Heisprobablyproudandconceited.
x Whenthefirstpartoftheletterislowerthanthesecondpart,althoughthewholeletteritself
mountstowardtheend,itshowsambition.Thewriter'segoislowerthantheimagehehasof
theotherperson.Thisindicatesaninferioritycomplex,onethatisdependentonothers'
opinions.
x Imaginetheletter('m')loopedandlarge;loopsareanattentiongettingdevice.Inaddition,the
blownupsizeofthisletterindicatesvanity.
x Considerthecapitalletter('M')that,althoughithasthe'opportunity'toshowoffitsegoby
makingitselflargerthantherestoftheword,doesnotdoso.Thisindicatesawriterwhois
modest,simple,andretiring.
x Obviouslyalettermadeintheformofamusicalnote,showsmusicalinterest.
x Whenthestartingstroke,insteadofbeginningfromtheleft,startsfromtheright,asthoughthe
writerneededsomeextraflourishtocommunicatehisthoughts,weseetalkativenessanda
goodsenseofhumorhere.
x Picturetheuglylookingletter,wherethemiddlestrokedescendssharply,showingmaterialism.
Itsuglyshapeindicatesvulgarity.
x Imaginethemiddlehumpislowerthantheothertwo.Sincethesecondhumpshowsthesocial
statusofthewriter,thisformimpliesdissatisfactionwithhissocialpositionorhisjob.People
whofeelthiswaytendtorelyheavilyonpublicopinionindecidingonacourseofaction.
x Whenthemiddlehumpishighestofthethree,thiswriterreliesmoreonhisownopinionthan
onthatofothers.Becausethesecondhumpis"climbing"abovethefirstandthird,weseean
ambitiousperson,whomaysteponotherstoattainhisgoal.
x Considertheletter('m')writteninawavyfashion,withoutdistinctshape.Thisshows
changeability.Adiplomat,whomustoftenevadeticklishsituations,mightwriteinthismanner.
x Picturetheletterthatiscalleda"threadyconnection."Makingtheproperupstrokesanddown
strokeswastoomuchtroubleforthiswriter.Hetakestheeasywayoutandavoidsthemall.
Peoplewhowritelikethisusuallyfinditdifficulttomakedecisionsandarepronetolapseinto
hysteria.Note:ThisthreadyMisnottobeconfusedwiththethreadydyingoutofaword,which
impliesunwillingnesstocommitoneselfasubtledifference.(SeeChapter11,note5.)
x Imaginetheletterwritteninthegarlandformopenatthetop.Thegarlandbetokensafriendly,
easygoing,kindindividual,whichdoesnotconcealhowhefeels.Itsroundformshowswarmth
andsoftness.
x Whentheanglechanges,weseeapersonwhocannotdecidewhetherhewantstoliveinthe
past,present,orfuture.Whenthewritingshowsonlytwochangesinangletheindecisionisnot
assevereaswhenthewritingchangesanglesinthreedirections.Nevertheless,thewriteris
torn.
x Considerthesmall,crowded'm.'Sincethemrepresentssomanysocialaspectsofthe
individual,thisletterindicatesanarrowmindedpersonwhochoosestocrowdhimselfin.Heis
probablyshy.
x Theroundedletter('m')showssomeonewithaheartofgold.Roundnessimpliessoftness,likea
bouncingball,whereasangularityimplieshardness,sharpness,likethepointofaknife.
x Thereareinstanceswhenitisagoodideatowatchthewriterwhilehewrites.Hemaytakehis
handoffthepageandmakeanearlyconsciousdecisionastohowthelettershouldbe
completed.Ifonegoesovertheletterwithoutliftingthewritingtool,onehastousewhatare
calledcoveringupstrokestheupstrokeandthedownstrokesharethesameline.Coveringup
strokesindicatethatthewriterishidingsomething.Itusuallyinvolvescheatinginonemanner
oranother,andhencethewritertriestoshowaslittleofhimselfaspossible,avoidingseparate
upstrokesanddownstrokes,sinceseparatestrokeswouldshowmoreofhistruepersonality
thanhewantstoreveal.
x Picturestrokeswhicharebroken,althoughthereisnodoubtthattheletterisan'm.'Writing
likethisisfoundamongfrugalpersons(asthoughtheyweresavingbynotfillingintheentire
letter)andamongnervouspeople.Thelatterseemtoneedtoliftthehandfromthepage,
possiblybecauseittrembles.
x Imaginethethirdhumpisthehighestofthethree.Sincethethirdhumpdepictsthewriter's
relationshipwithotherpeople,thisshowsenvy.Hehasplacedothersonapedestalhigherthan
himselfandnowbegrudgestheheightstowhichtheyhaverisen.
x Considertheendstrokegoingtotherightanddown.Sincethenormal,socialthingwouldbeto
extendthefinaltotheright;thisdownstrokebetokensapessimisticattitude.Thiswritersulks
andprobablysuffersfromdepression.Hiswritingisdirecteddownwardtoreflecthisfeelings.
x Picture'tackyelaboration.'Thisreflectsexaggeration,becauseoftheunnecessarystrokesand
surely,alackoftaste.
x Imaginethebeginningstrokeishooked.Ahookcanrevealegotism,greed,andstubbornness.
Herethehookrepresentsego,andbecauseitpointsinwardtowardthefirsthumpoftheM,it
showsselfishness.
x Considerthebeginningstrokethatisbothlargeandflourished.Sincethefirstpartofthe'm'
showstheego,weseesnootiness.Thewriteristryingtogiveanexaggeratedimageofhisown
worth.Whenusedinanungracefulmannerlikethis,flourishstrokesshowfalsepretenseand
affectation.
x Whenthevarioushumpsareauniformheight,weseeintelligence,goodtaste,andagenerally
amiabledisposition.Itssimilaritytotheblockletter,whichshowssimplicity,impliesintelligence,
andgoodtasteisshownbytheveryfactthatthewriterhaschosenthesimplestpossibleform.
Wereadgooddispositionintheequalsizeofthehumpsnonedistortstheothers;socialstatus,
ego,andrelationshiptohisfellowmanareallindueproportion.
x Theenddownstrokemaybesignificantlylighterthantherestoftheletter.Thiswriterhasa
meanstreakinhim.Hecutsoffhisrelationshipswithhisfellowman(theshortenedthirdhump).
Inaddition,sincethelightdownstrokeheadsinthedirectionofthelower(sexual)zone,he
probablycannotenjoymaritalrelationshipsinthenormalway.Thecombinationofmeanness
andinabilitytoenjoynormalsexhintsthatthiswriterisbynatureasadist.(Seechapter6.)
x Picturetheenddownstrokethatisconsiderablymorelightlywrittenthantherestoftheletter.
Ifitcontinuesintothelowerzone,theareawherethestrengthoftheindividuallies,itimplies
fatigueandweakness.
x Theendstroke,whichiswrittenwithheavypressure,indicatesbrutality.Therearetworeasons
forthis:(1)allendstrokesshowthewriter'srelationshiptotheotherperson,and(2)thethird
partofthemalsoshowsthis.Thus,thispersonalitytraitisemphasized.
x Imaginetheendstrokethatgoesupintotheupperzoneandendsinaheavydot.Theupper
zoneindicatestheimaginativeandintellectualaspectofthewriter,andtheleftwardtendency
ofthestrokerevealsnegativismabouthim.(Leftwardtendenciesoftenmeannegativismand
rightwardtendenciespositivism.)Theheavypressureofthedotshowsmaterialism.Addingup
thesefacts,weconcludethatthiswriterengagesincalculatingflattery.
x Considerwhentheendstrokeishooked.Ahookingeneralshowstenacity,andwhenitisfound
attheendofthe'm'(relationshiptoothers),weseesomeonewhosedealingsaremarkedby
stubbornness.
x Picturetheendstrokethatextendsintotheupperzone(spirituality,mysticism).Whenthisend
strokeisfoundatthelastpartofthe'm'(relationshipwithotherpeople),weseeonewho
coucheshishumanrelationshipsinreligiousterms.

x TheletternandthecapitalNareovershadowed,intermsofimportance,bytheletterM.We
usuallyfindthatthewaythewriterwritesthebeginningandtheendstrokesofthenwillbelike
thatofthem.Themandnhavethesameformandtherefore,thesamemeaning.Themis
usuallywrittenintheformofanarcade,andlikewisethen.

x Picturetheletter'o'asaclosedovalatthetop;itshowsapersonwhoissecretive.Thedegree
ofclosednessoftheovallettersreflectsthedegreeofclosednessintheperson.
x Whenweusetheexpression"ovalletter,"wemeana,o,themiddlezonesofgandd,orany
otherlettercontaininganovalshape.
x Theknottedletter'o'indicatesgreatsecrecy.Whenthereismorethanoneknotorwhenthe
ovalis"doubleknotted,"theneedforprivacyisevenmorepowerful.Thisformoftenappearsin
thehandwritingofcriminals,whoobviouslylockthemselvesinwiththeseknotsso(theyfeel)
theywillnotbefoundout.Whenknottedovalsappearthroughoutthehandwriting,weoften
findaparanoidpersonality.Thispersonfeelsthatsomebodyoutthereisagainsthimandhe
mustlockhimselfinforprotection.
x Naturally,themoreclosedtheovals,themoreintrovertedtheindividual.Whenonemakesa
knotorloop(especiallydoubleones),itmeansthattheletterwasnotclosedtightlyenoughfor
thewriter.Bygoingoverit,heconvinceshimselfthathehaspluggedallthe"leaks."
x Whentheovalisopen,theoppositeoftheclosedovalisrevealed.Itsopennessatthetop
indicatestalkativeness,sincerity.Thewriterisnotbottledupbutisthoroughlyextroverted.
x Weoftenseereclined(leftward)writingwithopenovals.Althoughreclinedwritinghintsat
withdrawalandreserve,thereisnocontradiction.Whensuchawriterisapproached,thoughby
naturereserved,heisnonethelessabletorespond.Bycontrast,thereclinedwriterwithclosed
ovalsisusuallyunabletocomeoutofhisshellatall.
x Ontheotherhand,wherethewritingisinclined(rightward)buttheovalsareclosed,weseea
personwhoisreallywarm,butwhenexposedtocertainsituations,inpublicorprivate,he
closesupanddoesnotknowwhattosay.Thisisnotbecauseheiscoldheismerelysubjectto
anunreasoningfearoftheparticularpersonorthingwithwhichheisfaced.Whenopenedoval
shapedlettersatthetopappearwithinclinedwriting,weoftenfindthebroadminded
individual.Thiswriterissincere,butitwouldbeadvisablenottotellhimanyimportantsecrets;
itisdifficultforhimtokeepconfidences.Iftherearesomeopenandsomeclosedovals,thenhe
 probablycanbetrustedwithasecret,sinceheknowshowtoholdhistonguewhenit's
important.
x Imaginethe'o'thatreallylookslikeane,butit'snot.Ifyoutrytocopyit,youwillseenothing
unnecessaryinthewriting.Ithasabeginningstrokeandanendstroke,theletteritselfinside
maypassforano.Unliketheregular'o',whichisusuallywrittenintwomotionsacounter
clockwiseswoop,formingacompletecircle,followedbyanendstrokethisletteriswrittenina
singlemotion.Thiswriterhasawayofavoidingextraeffort.
x Considertheoval,whichisopenbutlooped.Thiswritersetstraps.Heisalsoveryshrewd.When
heopenshismouth(ovalsreflectthemouthinshape)andspeaksinawaythatappearstobe
openandhonest,heistryingtolureyouintosomething.Onceyouagree,thetrap(loops)snaps
shut.

x Picturetheletter'p'madeintwoarcs,lookingasthoughitwasassembledorconstructed.Any
suchformshowscreativeability.
x Imaginethestrokewithoutthehump,andcanonlybereadastheletter'p'byseeingtheentire
word.Thisindicatesneglectfulnessandimpatience,possiblyforgetfulness,andthespeedwith
whichitiswrittenimpliesliveliness.
x Whentwostraight,simpleandfastshortlinesformanangleatthetopand'hint'ofa'p',they
oftenshowthequick,brilliantmind,abletosolvepuzzlesrapidly.Whensimplifiedwritingis
combinedwithquickwriting,itisasignofsuperiorintelligence.
x Theletter'p'maylookasifitwerewearingatophat.Sincethisstructurereachesintotheupper
zone,weseeaninspirational,idealisticpersonality.
x Whenweseethehumponthewrongsideofthestem,weobviouslyhaveawriterwithunusual
habits.Heisoftenshy;heplacesthehumpwherehefeelspeoplewon'tseeitandthusavoids
thelimelight.
x Thelettermaybewrittenonabase,apedestal.Thisshowsartistictasteandalsodraws
attentiontowhatthewriterhasinmind.Thebasemakestheletterintoa"drawing,"butsinceit
(hefeels)isnotproperlypartoftheletter,italsoindicatesacertaindegreeoffalsenessinthe
writer.And,notbeingnecessary,itshowsaffectation.

x TheQ,excludingthediagonalbar,hasthesameinterpretationasthatoftheo(withoutthisbar,
itisano).Butitisusefultonoticechangesinpressureinthediagonalbaritself.Inmostcases,
thewriterusuallyliftshishandandwritesthebarasaseparatestroke.
x Considerthediagonalbar(ofthe'Q')writteninmuchheavierpressurethanthebodyofthe
letter.Aswehaveseen,heavypressureshowsbrutality.Here,it'slikeaclubthatisbeingheld
oversomeone'shead.

R
x Picturetheletter('r')withtwoloops.Loopsshowvanityandhereindicateanattempttoinflate
thewriter'simagebyaddingunnecessaryextras,asifheweresaying,"Thereismoretomethan
justthis."Twoloopshintthatthevanityhasaffectedthewriter'sthinking,perhapsprejudicing
it.
x Thesecondpartoftheletter('r')maybelowerthanthefirst.Thisshowscuriositythefirstpart
seemstobelookingovertheshoulderoftheotherpart.Veryoften,wherethisshapeofletter
occurs,theidotiscorrespondinglyoffsetasifittoowantedtoseewhatwashappening.
x Whenthisletterlookslikearoundblob,itisanunimpressivewayofbeingwritten.Thisshows
thelazyindividual,perhapsadullard,andsinceithasn'tahintofanangle,hepossessesno
aggressivenesswhatsoever.
x Thewrittenletter'r'mayshowstrongvisualqualities.Itresemblestheframeofapairofglasses,
itstwotoppointsbeingtheeyes.Manypeoplewhoseeyesareamajorfactorintheir
occupation,suchaspainters,designers,interiordecorators(evengraphologists),writethis
broadstructuredletter.Italsoappearsofteninthewritingsofpeoplewhoareconsideredfancy
dressers.Thetwotoppartsofthelettercanbeseenasshouldersandthebottomstrokesas
perhapsacapeorstole.

x Imaginethelettersthatresemblesthedollarsign;weknowthatmoneyisonthewriter'smind.
Forthelettert,pleaseviewinthegraphologycourse

x Theverynatureoftheletteruisagarland,whichimpliestheeasygoing,friendlyhumanbeing.
Whenthisnaturalformischangedforexample,intoanangularshape,weseeawriterwitha
strongresistancetofriendliness.Theangleshowshardnessingeneral,andherethehardnessis
emphasized.
x Considerthewavylinedletter('u').Thiswriterhasthediplomatictouchandtriestobeslippery
andnotcommithimselftoaparticularcourseofaction.Wavylinedwritingalsoshows
versatility.

x Pictureaword,suchas'leave.'Thewordstartsinaconnectedfashion,andsuddenlytheright
sideoftheletter'v'risesupandseemstobesaying,"I'vehadenough,letmeoutofhere!"The
endofthewordisleftstranded,aloneasignofrevolt,ofonewhowantstobreakawayfrom
theconditionsastheyare.
x Imagineahookatthetopoftheupstroke.The'v'byitsverynature,beingangular,represents
hardness,butthatdoesnotseemtobeenoughforthiswriter,forhealsoaddsahook.Heis
probablymean,thekindofpersonwhoseeksrevengeforslights.Herehehadalreadyfinished
writingtheletterbut,havingsomeunfinishedbusinesstotendto,hehookedbackontotheend
stroke.

Theletter'W'hasa'right'tobeangular(asdoesthev),butitssimplifiedformshows
intelligenceanditsangularityapiercingmind.

x Thexnaturallylookslikeatoughletter,asthoughtwomenwereduelingwithswords.When,
theendstrokeextendsanalready'belligerent'letterintothelowerzone(topickupsome
strength)weseeapersonwithafiercetemper.
x Considertwoseparatestrokescrossingeachother.Thexshowsafightingnaturewhenitis
writtenintwostrokesthatarediagonals.Thefactthatthestrokescrossinthemiddleshows
exactness.
x Note:An'x'madeinthecursivefashiondoesnotshowafightingnaturethatisonlyindicated
whenthestrokesaremadeasdiagonals.

Y
x Picturetheletter('y')madeinasoftmanner(resemblingthePalmerMethod,whichisby
nature,aroundkindofwriting).Anyletterwithagentleloopinthelowerzoneshows
friendlinessandkindnessinrelationtothewriter'sphysicaldrive.

x Considertheendstroke(ofthe'z'),whichdescendswhenitshouldbehorizontal.Thisshows
thatthewriterfindshimselfinastateofdepression.

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