A handwriting examiner may be asked to infer about the author of writings on a wall. This study aimed at evaluating if conventional writings, using a pen on paper, might be compared to wall inscriptions. Thus, writing inscriptions produced by 27 volunteers were analysed and compared to their writings produced with a ballpoint pen. Significant variations were observed for some features, for example in the spacing between letters and words, slant, connections, shape and construction of some letters, as well as measured proportions of the letters “h”, “p” and “y”. The findings of this study lead the authors to strongly recommend using reference material produced in the same writing conditions to those of the questioned wall inscriptions.