Ronnie Avery says she’s always amused when her husband signs something in front of her. “It can be a FedEx bill, a check at a restaurant, a Christmas card. Whatever it is, he has this awful signature, which is basically one big letter and a straight line across. That’s it,” Avery says. “I don’t know how lazy you have to be to put no effort into your signature at all but it’s a source of a lot of laughter for me and my daughters. so much so that I think he actually just does it on purpose now.”

To anyone who has ever worked in an industry that relies on signed documents – not necessarily the sign-by-finger electronic devices at many of today’s restaurants and stores, it’s obvious that there are a lot of people who take the easy way out when it comes to signing their names.

“I think most of us take our signatures for granted until we see someone’s signature that just stands out, like it’s beautifully written and it’s big. It just has all this authority. It just conveys importance,” says Wanda Romain, who writes resumes and cover letters for job hunters in San Francisco, California “ It’s never too late to improve your own signature – not so much that you won’t be able to recognize it but enough to make it look like you actually put some effort into it.”

To get you started, Romain offers a few suggestions for improving your signature:

Keep it simple: Your signature should be easy to replicate consistently, so avoid complex or intricate designs or letters that may be difficult to reproduce quickly.

Make it legible: While aesthetics are important, your signature must be easily read and recognized. Avoid overly decorative elements that may obscure the letters.

Observe: Look at signatures from other people – celebrities, your doctor, your parents – and take inspiration from them. Analyze their style and technique to incorporate small and large elements into your own signature.

Set your style: Remember, simple doesn’t mean boring. Experiment with different styles until you find a signature that best suits you. Your signature should reflect your personality and identity.

Practice: Like any skill, regular practice is essential for improving your signature. And it’s not like you have to set aside a time and a place to work on it – grab some paper and a pen and begin. You can also pay attention to how quickly and smoothly you can write your signature.

Size it up: Pay attention to the proportions of your signature. Each letter should be properly sized and spaced, which will enhance your signature’s overall appearance.

Tribune News Service