This week, tens of millions of people will engage in what has become a mid-March rite of passage: Filling in a March Madness bracket.
And how we go about turning that blank bracket canvas into a work of predictive art can say a lot about our personality.
We've enlisted the help of renowned graphologist Tracey Trussell to provide insight into what your approach to filling in your March Madness bracket says about you — from the color of pen you choose, to which type of writing implement you prefer, to how firmly you press on those boxes when it's time to write those team names.
First, make sure you've downloaded Covers' free printable March Madness bracket:
Download our 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket below and let the fun begin!
Pen pressure reflects personality
When you write, you are unconsciously expressing your whole unique psychological profile, in symbolism, on paper.
Consider how firmly or hard you press on those boxes when it's time to write those team names. Have you printed up your form on normal A4 paper? If so, the indentations you make (or don’t make) on the back of the page will instantly give away clues to your personality. ‘Pressure’ is the kingpin when it comes to revealing what your writing says about you.
The more weight behind the pen — the heavier the pressure applied — the more you can dial up the intensity of the interpretation: the energies available, the commitment you’re investing, the quantity of emotion being felt, as well as the amount of stress you’re currently experiencing!
Heavy pressure (revealing indentations on the back of the paper) means you have stacks of energy in the tank and deep resources. You’re hard-working, determined, competitive, and 100% committed, but feelings linger, and you find it hard to shrug off upsets and losses.
Light pressure (no indentations on the back) means that you favor preserving energy — you like to work smart rather than hard. It’s a sign of resilience, light-heartedness, and sensitivity. You adopt a breezy approach to life, and any disappointments will be fleeting.
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Thick or thin? It matters
The type of writing implement you prefer also says a lot about you.
Pens with thick nibs or inky gel rollerballs tend to produce thicker print. These bold, well-nourished penstrokes reveal warm, sensual, creative types with rich imaginations and a good eye for color.
These types like to indulge their appetites and want the best of everything. They are absorbed by their experiences and are much more interested in the journey than the destination!
On the other hand, thin nibs produce sharp or fine penstrokes, revealing an intellectual approach. These writers are likely to be highly speculative, razor-sharp, and critical.
They enjoy dealing in detailed, factual information and dislike grey areas and woolly thinking — they want quick results and often possess a dry wit and sense of irony.
Color us curious
The color of ink you choose offers another way of getting an insight into personality.
Most people tend to write in black or blue; however, there are always exceptions!
Black ink is for the professional mindset – serious, business-minded types who tend to be direct and decisive — they know exactly what they want — but on the flip side, they are prone to anxiety, stress, and tension.
Blue is conformist, cooperative, and patient. These types are respectful, loyal, and trusting.
Green ink writers get a thrill from change and embrace growth in their lives. There’s often a desire to stand out and be unique, and they can be emotionally unpredictable!
Red is sexy, daring, and excitable. It’s impulsive and courageous. This colour evokes strong feelings, ranging from anger and hate at one end of the spectrum through to passionate love at the other.
Chaos = intelligence?
Is your handwriting neat or sloppy and illegible?
Illegible scrawl often reflects intelligent types whose minds work faster than their hand can write. They may be restless, hasty, messy individuals.
It can also reveal someone who likes to conceal their intentions, so you never know what they are up to! They can be fabulously irreverent, and if you’re not on their wavelength, they can’t always be bothered to explain.
Neat, legible writers favour clarity, precision, and predictability. They like to take their time and ensure that everything is just so — they have an eye for the finer details! Their head is screwed on, and they are generally sensible and unflappable.
They are also keen to convey transparency, so they are open, candid, unambiguous, and clear in their communications.
The slant is the tell
Is your handwriting slanted, or not?
Vertical or bolt upright handwriting discloses the seriously cool, rational, head-over-heart poker players. These people need to have independence and agency to make their own choices in life.
If the writing falls forward (slanting to the right), this is a strong indication of emotion, enthusiasm, collaboration, and ambition. The more acute the rightward slant, the more the interpretation applies. These types are friendly, proactive, and keen to react and respond quickly to demands on their time.
A left-slant writer has a desire for personal autonomy and likes to do things on their terms. They tend to be mistrusting and inclined to size things up carefully before committing themselves. They can be enigmatic, self-absorbed, hard to read, and generally difficult to get to know!
When the slant is mixed, flipflopping backwards and forwards, you either have a versatile individual — skilled at multi-tasking and thinking on their feet — or you are faced with someone who is highly unpredictable and frequently indecisive!
Be wary of all-caps writers
Finally, do you print or is your style cursive?
People who print (and disconnect all their letters) tend to be techie types — good at data and scanning for information.
These types are concerned with exactitude and have a penchant for precision. They are curious, witty, and critical. They adore collecting thoughts and ideas, and they are always looking for sound, rational, objective reasons.
Cursive writers who connect or join up their letters are seen as having ambition, single-minded persistence, logical thinking, and a desire not to be interrupted! These types are articulate and often have a good mind for trivia, but they don’t always listen! They need constant stimulation and thrive on adventures!
Printing in capital letters throughout is reserved for people who prefer facts and figures and enjoy finding practical solutions to problems. They tend to be factual and direct, and would rather not disclose too much about themselves, either because they care what other people might think of them. (Or, they have something to hide ...)
