A Comparison of the Identifying Features of Imitated Handwriting and Elderly Handwriting

Abstract

Imitated handwriting and elderly handwriting are two manifestation patterns of altered handwriting. Several similarities in features can be found in both, such as gentle movement and curved jitter. In practice, it is very easy to confuse the two patterns, leading to wrong decisions and difficulties in document examination. The key to solving these problems is to recognize the similarities and differences between imitated handwriting and elderly handwriting. This paper comprises four parts. The first part introduces the general features of elderly handwriting; the second part takes up the general characteristics of imitated handwriting; the third part analyzes the common features of imitated handwriting and elderly handwriting; the fourth part draws a conclusion about their key points of identification. Since the number of cases requiring identification of elderly handwriting and imitated handwriting is increasing every year, this paper has practical significance for document examiners and provides theoretical support to questioned document examination