Dotting 'i's, crossing 't's

• One of the first things that catches any graphologist's eye is unusually large handwriting because it is so out of the norm. Depending on other factors, this may signal a profound need for attention and/or a love of working with others.
  
  
• Watch how a writer makes the lower loop on letters like "g" and "y." This should be a soft, fluid movement. If you notice that the upward stroke to complete the letter seems especially heavy, be concerned. "The writer is forcing," Lazewnik explains. "It shows a great deal of energy and drive, but also a lack of awareness and sensitivity."
  
  
• Another unusual factor: zones. In general, most writers have upper- and lower-case loops that are fairly balanced. If they're exceedingly narrow or altogether absent, you're likely meeting up with a highly original and independent individual.
  
  
• Odd, uneven spaces between words can signal one who feels disconnected from himself, from others and from his environment. "A lot of blank space on the page represents the feeling of being an isolated island," he says.
  
  
• If you're the mild-mannered type who enjoys a quiet, peaceful lifestyle, you probably would be best without someone who makes stiff, rigid beginning strokes before letters such as lowercase "a" and "g." Yes, everyone learned to do this in third grade - and virtually everyone stopped doing it, Lazewnik says. "It shows a toughness, a resentment, a readiness to fight."
  
  
• If you're determined to find an easygoing partner, whether in business or personal life, look for uniformity. Don't worry first about sloppy writing or even illegible letters; easy-to-read handwriting doesn't necessarily reveal a gentle, polite mind, Lazewnik says, noting, "Some very disturbed people have amazingly clear handwriting." Instead, concentrate on finding someone whose writing shows consistency, with the height and width of letters all relatively in proportion.
  
  
• Though all aspects of a handwriting sample need to be considered for a complete analysis, Lazewnik says one feature virtually always is a signal of personality troubles: the fix-up. This is the person who goes back to repair his letters - returning to close an open "b," for example - and the legibility isn't improved. Also, look for an opening at the bottom of the letter "o" and huge, open hooks at the beginning of a letter "h." Universally, graphologists view these as causes for concern, Lazewnik says, "but with just one sign, we're not calling the police."
  
  
• Watch for those who cross that "t." A flying cross at the top, that doesn't even touch the vertical part of the letter, may show ambition, but also impatience and temper.