Signature Analysis: 14 Types of Signature Mistakes You Must Avoid

What signature analysis reveals

Normally, I don’t analyse a signature unless it is accompanied by a handwriting sample.

I do that because a signature is designed to project what you want others to think of you. Not necessarily the real you. A signature is just a persona—a personal facade that one presents to the world.

Every time you draw your signature on a piece of paper, you make a statement to yourself and to the rest of the world, saying:

“See, this is who I am. That’s what I want you to think of me. That’s the way I want to be seen and known. It does not matter what my real personality is.”

In other words, the signature is a reflection of how a person behaves and handles himself in public. A signature is unique in that it reveals how you would like the world to perceive you, which is not necessarily how you really are.

For example, a woman can show the world a happy picture of herself by wearing a pleasant smile all the time (reflected by the signature). But whether she is really happy or not will be revealed only when you analyse her handwriting.

Simply put, the signature is the “outer personality”. When it shows marked differences from the handwriting, it is the writer’s deliberate wish to impress others in a certain way.

Here are a couple of examples:

As you can see, some signatures are created in a way to cover up the inner personality, and project a different picture. The study of signature analysis helps you detect signature mistakes and understand the gap between inner and outer personalities.

Therefore, I recommend that you do not analyse a signature sample in isolation. Always ask for a sample of the handwriting as well. Even if it’s short.

If you analyse a signature sample in isolation, chances are you’ll go wrong about the personality of the writer.

Why change a harmful signature

On signatures, acclaimed graphologist Klara Roman writes in her famous book, Handwriting: A Key to Personality:

The individual name writing [signature] develops at an early age, since even the very young child has need of such a visible representation of himself. He practises it on every bit of paper he happens to find.

In contriving his particular form, he may try to imitate the signature of his father or of some other adult because of a wish to identify with the personality ideal or he may find an outlet for his inventive imagination…”

As Klara Roman says, many of us probably chose our signatures very early in life. We liked a combination of strokes and decided this is how our signatures should look like.

By doing that, we inadvertently also decided as a teenager how we wanted to be seen by the world. But using the same signature as an adult may not be the best thing to do.

That’s because the needs, responsibilities and obligations of a teenager are a lot different from those of an adult. A teenager has fewer responsibilities, and a certain attitude towards life and the world.

An adult, on the other hand, has more responsibilities, and at times, he needs to adjust his attitude depending on the circumstances.

Let me simplify:

As a 15-year-old, almost all my needs were fulfilled by my parents. I got from them whatever I needed.

In fact, if I didn’t get something I wanted, I threw tantrums. Never felt any need for attitude adjustments. I didn’t even know what attitude adjustments meant.

Understandably, with an approach like that, it would be difficult for me to survive in the world of grown-ups because people around me do not love me as much as my parents do; they will not be as forgiving as my parents are.

In short, people have no reason to put up with my tantrums.

In fact, if I choose to import a teenager’s angst, attitude and carelessness into my adulthood, I will certainly lose friends.

Similarly, if as a teenager you were someone who used to getting things easily and effortlessly, it is in your interest to leave behind that sense of entitlement when you grow up. Else, in the face of any resistance, you are unlikely to show patience, and chances are you will become a quitter.

Since your handwriting is a mirror image of your personality, the negative personality traits discussed above will reflect in the way you write your signature.

If we change the way we sign our names, it will result in a change of attitude. The signature changes will also raise your confidence level, remove your personality roadblocks, help your professional growth and improve the quality of your relationships.

14 types of signature mistakes you must avoid

A detailed study of handwriting signature analysis will tell you that some types of signatures are healthy, while many others are absolutely dangerous.

I am giving below a few types of signatures you should not have. If you’re learning how to make a signature, use the signature tips below to know what you should avoid in your new signature.

Signature mistake #1. Strike-through signature

This is one type of signature I always find alarming. The signature sample below has been taken from the suicide note of a Mumbai-based girl.

The girl wrote in the note that she was taking the extreme step because she was not well prepared for her school examinations.

Look at the strike-through strokes in her signature.

According to handwriting signature analysis, these strike-through strokes in the signature reflect self-hatred and an inclination to stab and punish oneself. That’s what the girl did.

Signature mistake #2. Camouflage signature

On the face of it, this signature looks clean and there are no twisted strokes here. But check the circle around the entire signature. That’s where the problem is.

According to handwriting signature analysis, the circle shows the writer creates self-limiting beliefs and follows them religiously. Circles around the first name indicate the writer often gets defensive in public and he is overprotective about himself.

In my 14 years of experience, I have found that extremely sensitive people have such signatures, and they use the circle as a protective robe to avoid emotional pain and verbal whiplash.

People with this type of signature have a problem making friends because they do not open up to others. They are scared of getting hurt at an emotional level.

By the way, we did a signature reading of industrialist Anil Ambani. His signature also falls in this category.

Signature mistake #3. Small signature

A very small signature shows lack of confidence to pull off day-to-day tasks. Such writers do not hope to get respect, acknowledgement or appreciation from others.

According to handwriting signature analysis, if a tiny signature co-exists with other handwriting strokes indicating low self-esteem, such as a low t-bar and small personal pronoun, it points to the writer’s diffidence and timidity.

Such a writer thinks he has less of everything—looks, money, talent or success. He underestimates himself and strongly believes that nobody values him or his opinions. As a result, a person with this type of signature avoids speaking his mind.

Signature mistake #4. Trace-back signature

A lot of people I meet have this type of signature. The last stroke of the signature goes backward—from right to left.

In several cases, the underline does not return to its originating point and ends on the left-hand side. In signature analysis, this is called trace-back signature.

Such writers practically live in their past. They fail to let go of anything associated with their past—it does not matter whether it is good or bad.

A businessman I met for signature analysis several years ago kept talking most of the time about how bad his last garment business was and how it failed despite his best efforts.

I tried engaging him in a conversation about his current business, which was doing well, by the way. But after a minute or two, he would again go back to the old one. Clearly, he wanted to the live in the past.

Signature mistake #5. Scribbled signature

This is one of the most common signatures. According to signature analysis, people with this type of signature are in a rush and careless with details.

When you ask them to explain the scribble, they say: “I have to sign hundred times in a day. I can’t write my full name…” The same argument given by doctors as well.

There are two reasons why people scribble their signatures: One, their mind is faster than their hands. And second, they are hoity-toity individuals who indirectly tell others:

“Look, I don’t care whether you can read my handwriting or not. I am just too busy to be bothered by you or anything you have to say. I have no time for you.”

According to signature analysis, people with this type of signature do not take full responsibility for things going wrong in their lives. They mostly blame others. With a legible signature, the writer takes responsibility for what they have just written or typed.

Scribbling of signature also indicates that the writer is more prone to making mistakes because of his natural tendency to be in a hurry.

Scribbling sometimes leads to complete illegibility of the signature. We have covered the illegibility factor in the analysis of Donald Trump’s signature.

When your signature is illegible, your transparency level suffers. An illegible signature also stands sponsor for hypocrisy, deceit and intrigue.

To read about it in detail, read Donald Trump signature analysis, where we have covered various other aspects of Donald Trump’s personality.

Signature mistake #6. Extra strokes in signature

Many people unknowingly insert extra strokes in their signatures, especially while writing ‘m’ or ‘n’. The pen goes on and on, making the letter longer than its actual size.

Signature analysis says that if extra strokes occur in a signature once in a while, it’s no big deal.

But if the writer makes this mistake more often than not, it means he gets lost in unnecessary and unimportant activities, which will offer no returns on the amount of energy, time and money spent by him.

Signature mistake #7. Cut in lower zone

This is one of the most common problems in a signature, primarily because most people sign in haste. On the face of it, this signature looks normal, but it is not.

According to signature analysis, if an underline stroke cuts through the lower-zone letter, it means that writer is quite hard on himself and he does not pardon himself easily.

If something goes wrong in the writer’s life, his first instinct is to put all the blame on himself without first ascertaining whether he was really at fault or not. If you can’t help cutting the lower zone of your signature, get rid of the underline totally. And there is a good reason why you should do that. According to signature analysis, a plain signature without underlining or other pen strokes, and even without a dot at the end, shows great independence or pride in natural endowments and gift of mind and body.

Signature mistake #8. Drop in last letter

If the baseline of the last letter in the signature suddenly drops towards the end, it shows that the writer is weighed down by feelings of hopelessness.

The drop in the signature also indicates that the writer is grappling with some serious emotional conflicts and he does not want to fight back any more.

If the writer’s emotional conflict remains unresolved or unattended, it might snowball into depression and bring about suicidal tendencies. (Read more about suicidal tendencies in handwriting)

If you know someone who has such a signature, be compassionate and help the writer deal with the issues troubling him.

Signature mistake #9. Scribble at the end

According to signature analysis, such writers are often bad finishers.

This type of signature shows that the writer fails to give the last push while finishing a task, resulting in a lower success rate.

In other words, such a writer will go on about doing a job with a great deal of enthusiasm and alacrity.

But just when he is about to touch the finish line, he becomes complacent and slows down. As a result: he does not complete what he started.

Scribble at the end of the signature also indicates that the writer’s confidence starts diminishing towards the end of the task.

Signature mistake #10. Bloated lower zone

Inflated lower loops in letters y and g—as seen in the picture below—show that the writer craves a great deal of material pleasure, especially money and sex.

Before you decide to inflate loops of your lower-zone letters, I must tell you that most of the cravings are often unfulfilled because they keep creating new ones. (Also read: Lower loops are also linked to sex drive.)

Signature mistake #11. Signature in All Capitals

Someone with all caps handwriting does not like sharing much and suppresses his emotions. When the signature is in all caps, it shows shows that the writer acts as if he were superior to others.

According to signature analysis, this show of superiority is essentially a way for them to hide their weaknesses and insecurities.

They are presumptuous and conceited, at least in their public life. For them, making an impression on others is paramount.

Signature mistake #12. Huge first letter in signature

When the first letter of the signature is exceptionally high and big in relation of the rest of the letters in the signature and handwriting, it shows that the writer is annoyingly boastful.

Such writers embellish and exaggerate their capabilities to the point of absurdity, and gasconade about their imaginary achievements.

In many cases, people with this type of signature don’t even realise that they are hated by people around them because of their bragging nature. In other words, A small, plain signature indicates modesty, and simplicity of speech and demeanor, while frequently a very large and heavy signature reflects faithfully pride and vanity.

As I have noted in another article on large signature, when such a writer is in a position of power, he usually gives a free rein to his arrogance, and is overbearing and high-handed.

Signature mistake #13. No i-dots in signature

In handwriting analysis, an i-dot is considered important because it measures the writer’s level of attention, precision, memory and concentration.

When i-dots go missing from a signature, it indicates that the writer has a tendency to get distracted and he lacks precision. The writer misses out on certain details, increasing the chances of errors.

If i-dots are more or less missing from the handwriting as well, it means that the writer is an absent-minded person who should not be put in charge of focus-demanding work such as accounting.

An article on handwriting-graphology.com says:

“Lack of i-dots denotes oversight, lack of attention, tendency to get distracted or forget obligations, lack of critical sense, lack of interest, apathy, lack of order, precision and exactitude.

“Thinking is not based in objective conclusions, but it wanders and gives into receptiveness, indolence, negligence, laziness.”

Signature mistake #14. Long beginning stroke in signature

According to signature analysis, an extra long stroke starting below the baseline indicates that the writer is more likely to leave a negative impression during introductory meetings such as a job interview. Strokes beginning below the baseline indicate that the writer has unresolved feelings of resentment and angst.

If you have it in your signature, remove it immediately. Leave us a message if you want us to review your signature.

An important thing to keep in mind is that when you’re analysing a writer’s character, it is of course understood that an opinion should not be formed from the signature alone, but from the whole writing, detecting and interpreting each and every mark and characteristic by itself; after doing which, to combine and interpret the specimen as a whole.

Signature analysis: Conclusion

Now, you know very well what not to have in your signature. If your signature matches with any one of the types mentioned above, you must change it.

Remember, if your signature is not formed well, it can misinform others about you and send out wrong or conflicting signals.

When you’re ready to make that change, read the article on how to make a signature.

However, if you want help from Write Choice experts in cleaning up your signature, get in touch with us for a signature analysis. The changes suggested by our experts will certainly help you improve your personality and become a much more confident person.

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