The formation of phase singularities in optical fibers is theoretically and experimentally investigated. In particular, their structural characteristics and properties are discussed in relation to guided mode patterns. It is found that except for the fundamental linearly polarized(LP) modes, all the mixed modes displayed phase singularities in the transverse plane. The results in the few mode fiber show that superposition of the LP even and odd modes produces isolated dark points and phase singularities. Phase singularities are found to be of the screw type and of first order. The number of phase singularities linearly increases with the number of guided modes.