Distance between the signature and the body of the writing

The distance between the signature and the body of the writing shows how connected the writer is, or is not, with the content of the rest of the writing.

A signature close to the end, say, of a letter indicates the writer really believes and is connected to what he or she has just written.

The signature well distanced from the body of the writing, mean the writer is trying to distance himself/ herself from what they have just written.

It doesn't mean it was necessarily a lie (although it could be) but it means they are uncomfortable in some way with what is in the letter.

A "normal" signature should be the same distance below the last line of writing and each line in the body is below the one above.

Check out the distance. It can give great insights.

Play the Signature Analysis Game with your friends.

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Signatures: Size does matter.

Is your signature smaller than your writing? The same size? Or larger?

A signature smaller than the rest of the writing is someone who is hiding away, who doesn't want to be noticed. Why appear "smaller" or less noticeable than you really are? False modesty could be one reason, or someone who has some reason to want to brush by without attracting attention.

Signature larger than the writing is the opposite. This person wants to be noticed. They are presenting themselves as larger than life. They want attention and recognition. It may be part of the job - a salesman, a politician etc. Or it may just be a cry for attention.

The signature of the most genuine person is the one who's signature and writing look the same. Here I am, they say, like me or not, this is who I am, like me or not.

If you write your signature differently from your writing, take time to consider why you do this. There may be a good reason, or you may discover something about yourself you hadn't previously thought of.

Play the Signature Party Game with your friends.

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Readers' Question: What does a circle for an i-dot mean?

We've all seen it, I'm sure: the i-dot that's drawn as a circle, or some other shape.

It is commonest amongst teenage girls, but can be found in the writing of either sex of any age.

A circle is the commonest, but other shapes also appear.

For example, actress, the late Jayne Mansfield (mother of "Law and Order" star Mariska Hargitay) used to put a heart shape for her i-dot.

So what does it mean?

Well, any drawn shape for an i-dot is a demand for attention. It says "notice me, I'm unique."

Some people may draw their i-dots in all their writing, some may only do it in the signature.

When it only appears in the signature, it indicates that this need for attention is part of their public image, and not necessarily part of their private personality.

Learn more about signatures.

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Do you put your signature left, right or center?

Current business writing style has you putting your signature at the left margin of the page. But when you write a personal note, this is not a requirement. Left to your own choice, where do you place your signature?

If you stick to putting it on the left, it means you are sticking to the past, to tradition and feel safe just staying within the "norm."

Is your signature in the centre of the page? This means you like to know what is going on around you. Whether or not you like to be the center of attention will show in other ways. The centered signature just means you like to be very aware of what's what.

A signature over to the right is written by someone who is eager to get into the future. They have left the past behind and are zooming off to see what the world has to offer now and in the days, months, years to come.

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.

Why did her last name droop downwards?

When giving some "instant readings" at the end of a presentation, I came across the signature of a woman who's first name was on an even keel - it was written on an even horizontal. But her last name was distinctly downhill in direction.

I told her she seemed to be doing not too badly on a personal level, but on the family level something appeared to be making her unhappy or even depressed.

Her answer was that her husband of 26 years had died a year ago.

She was now herself back and doing not too badly, but the remaining sadness about her husband was represented in the downhill, or depressed direction of her married name.

Downhill writing always means discouragement through to depression. Look carefully where it appears because that can be telling as to what is causing the problem.

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.

The all important space

Nothing-ness is important. A space is nothing. It is where you write nothing. And it is very important.

I just noticed the signature of a friend of mine who is going through a divorce. She signs her first name, her maiden name followed by her husband's name. She uses this name for business.

Previously all three names were evenly spaced out. Now her first name and her maiden name are close together, and her last name (her married name) has a larger gap between them.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or a graphologist) to work out that this means she is distancing herself from her husband.

If there are only 2 names, first and last, the spacing can be checked against the rest of the writing.

If the individual uses their own name, is not married etc, then the second, family name represents their family in general. Times of stress within families can show in an increase of this space.

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.

A very important line - the Underscore

I am often asked why some people underline their signatures and others don't, and what is the significance of an underscore.

Done "right", the underscore is a great trait to have. However, not all underscores are great!

A single line under the name, going from left to right is great. It is the trait of self reliance. This writer will not lean on any one else, and is less likely therefore to blame others for any misfortunes that may befall him.

A good, firm, long underscore is best.

Any ornate, squiggly or fancy underline loses it's power, and may mean any of several things, depending upon it's shape and style: none of them as good as the single underscore.

An underline that is high enough to score out part of the name, is also not positive.

So, yes, do underline your signature. But also make sure it's just that single, direct line that says "I'm going places."

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.

Readers Questions: What does a period at the end of a signature mean?

Angie from Florida wrote asking me what it means when someone puts a period at the end of their signature.

It means "I have spoken, that is it, end of story."

Now you know. I have spoken, that is it, end of story. Fiona.

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.

What's new? Use your signature to play!

You've used your signature in many ways.

To sign letters. To sign credit cards. To sign official documents and contracts. To sign checks.

But have you ever used it to play a game?

Now you can!

The new "Signature Party Game" has everyone at the party signing their name, and then playing a game that involves discovering what personality traits are shown in it .... and in the signatures of everyone else at the party!

It's all light hearted and fun. If one of your guests is an axe murderer, you'll have to find out the hard way - the game focuses on positive and fun traits, getting everyone involved and getting to know each other better.

Great fun for a crowd who already know each other well.

A super ice breaker game for those who are new or newish to each other.

Just sign your names, follow the game step by step instructions, have an entertaining and enlightening event!

If you'd like to see a few of the things you can tell from a signature, take the free signature analysis quiz.

Forgery - is my signature an easy target?

The number of times I have heard people comment that they have an indecipherable mess for a signature "so that it's harder to forge."

And it's quite wrong! The more illegible your signature, the easier it is for a forger to get away with it.

Who checks whether a signature is real or fake? Often bank tellers, or store clerks.

Are they experts in handwriting? No.

What are they looking for? Similarities of differences.

Which is easier to check out: recognizable letters that you can follow each one and check if they are made exactly the same way, or whirls and lines intersecting each other all over the place in a jumbled confusion?

Recognizable letters are easier to follow. Anyone can check out if the A is made the same as another A, or the tail on a g is done the same in both signatures.

An incoherent mixture of lines is much more difficult, it at all similar, to identify exactly.

Don't believe me? Try is and see.

Get a friend to write their signature, and also to make an illegible set of squiggles instead of a signature. You try to copy each one as best you can. Then ask another friend to tell you which is the forgery - the legible signature you copied or the set of squiggles you copied.

Both ofcourse are forgeries, but it will be much easier for the 3rd person to identify the legible imposter - provided you seriously made a good attempt to copy both versions exactly.

So make your signature legible. It's safer.

For more on Signatures check out the Signature Analysis Workbook, and for great party fun, check out the Signature Party Game.