What your handwriting says about you

 What does your handwriting say about you?

Today is National Handwriting Day - yes, really.

With computers, smartphones and tablets becoming our primary methods of communication, we're becoming less and less used to holding a pen when expressing our thoughts.

And while typing on a computer is the same for everyone, handwriting can actually tell you a lot about your personality, according to the experts.

We asked graphologist Ruth Myers to explain what your handwriting can tell other people about you.

 'Handwriting is a mirror of your personality' 'It is an unconscious habit. We leave our identity in the subtle characters our writing.

'No two people have the same handwriting - it's as unique as our fingerprints. 'What can we understand from analyzing handwriting? 'By looking at size, slant and pressure we can determine many factors.

'Your determination, your goals, willpower, persistence, intellect, initiative, ambition, imagination, self-confidence, vanity, repression, aggression, resentment, anger, integrity and above all sociability can all be determined from handwriting.

'You cannot tell such things as age, gender or race by the written word.

'Handwriting analysis is a powerful key to self-understanding as it breaks down the mask that we put on to the outside world.'

Pressure

The pressure you exert in handwriting shows depth of emotion. In other words, the heavier you press on the pen, the deeper your emotions. It can signify inner control of pent up feelings, sensuousness, tension, stress etc.

Compatibility of partners

Depth of handwriting for two people must be the same for them to be compatible, as they can never really relate emotionally to one another otherwise.

That is, they must both have either heavy writing or light writing.

Size

Small handwriting shows good concentration, narrow perspective of life, ability to focus on a goal. It is often seen in scientists, technicians, lawyers, accountants, and writers' handwriting.

Large handwriting shows a broad perspective of life, a need for recognition, someone who sees the big picture and has a low boredom level.

Creative individuals, such as artists or those in showbiz, often have large handwriting.

Slant

Forward slant: If your writing slants forward you are likely to be more outgoing. Emotions rule your thinking. You are friendly, sympathetic, considerate and somewhat impulsive.

Deeply forward: A person whose handwriting has a very strong slant to the right relates well to others but is quick to react and can lose control. They may also be subject to mood swings.

Vertical handwriting is seen in people who control their emotions and rarely show them. For them, rational thought overrules emotions - or head over heart, as some might say.

Leftward slant: This is a characteristic of the introvert. Someone whose handwriting slants to the left often does not invite closeness or intimacy, is independent and aloof.

They can appear to be outgoing in social circumstances but in reality are concerned with the self.