INK-FREE STRIATIONS ARE OFTEN PRESENT IN BALL-POINT PEN STROKES, CAUSED BY FAULTS IN THE BALL OR FAILURE OF THE INK TO FULLY COVER THE BALL. THE RELATION BETWEEN THE ORIENTATION OF A BURR STRIATION IN A CURVED BALL-POINT PEN STROKE AND THE DIRECTION OF THE PEN'S MOTION IS EXPERIMENTALLY OBSERVED TO RUN TOWARD THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE CURVE IN THE PEN'S GENERAL DIRECTION OF MOTION. EXAMPLES OF STRIATIONS ON WRITTEN CHARACTERS ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIRECTION OF PEN MOTION AND ORIENTATION OF THE BALL STRIATIONS ARISES FROM THE WAY THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE BALL HOUSING WHOSE OWN ORIENTATION REMAINS RELATIVELY UNCHANGED AS THE PEN DESCRIBES THE CURVE BEING WRITTEN. A DIAGRAM AND FURTHER EXPLANATION IS PROVIDED. SINCE BURR STRIATIONS ARE OFTEN VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE OR UNDER LOW MAGNIFICATION, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STRIATIONS ON CURVED STROKES AND THE DIRECTION OF MOTION ENABLES THE SEACHER TO DETERMINE QUICKLY AND UNIVOCALLY THE PEN DIRECTION IN MANY WRITTEN LETTERS OR CHARACTERS AND THUS AIDS IN IDENTIFYING OR COMPARING HANDWRITING. FOOTNOTES, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)