1. A method comprising: receiving an image of a handwritten item; performing a word segmentation process on said image to produce a set of sub-images; extracting a set of feature vectors from each sub-image; computing a first log-likelihood score of said feature vectors using a word model having a first structure; computing a second log-likelihood score of said feature vectors using a background model having a second structure different than said first structure; computing a final score for said sub-image by subtracting said second log-likelihood score from said first log-likelihood score; comparing said final score against a predetermined standard to produce a word identification result; and outputting said word identification result.