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Left-Handers Day: Surprising Facts About Being Left-Handed

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

International Left-Handers Day is August 13, a day celebrating the 10 to 12 percent of people worldwide who favor their left hand. Discover surprising left-handed facts, history, and folklore—from old superstitions to the science behind handedness.

Years ago, some teachers insisted that all students, including left-handers, learn to write with their right hand. Teachers thought that students would have an easier time if they were not “different” from right-handed writers. Some thought that using the left hand was just a bad habit. Some even slapped or punished left-handed kids who had trouble!

left-hander facts

Now we know that everyone should use whichever hand is most comfortable. Today, 10 to 12 percent of the world’s population is left-handed. It’s not surprising that lefties sometimes feel “left out.” Plenty of superstitions and odd terms regarding left-handedness exist.

Left-Hander Superstitions and Terms

  • Sinistrophobia is the fear of left-handedness or things on the left side.
  • Many people believe that the devil is left-handed.
  • The Latin word for left, sinister, also means unlucky, evil, and suspicious.
  • The French word for left, gauche, also means clumsy.
  • A left-handed compliment is an insult.
  • It is believed that all polar bears are left-handed.
  • A left-handed baseball pitcher is called a southpaw. (And no, there’s no such thing as a northpaw!)

Why Are Some People Left-handed and Others Right-handed?

Scientists aren’t sure what causes left-handedness. Genetics plays a role, but it’s not the whole story. For example, identical twins have the same DNA, but it is common for one twin to be right-handed and the other to be left-handed.

Many left-handers have a symmetrical brain, meaning that the left and right portions of their brain are shaped alike. Right-handers often have an asymmetrical brain: The left cerebral hemisphere is often larger than the right cerebral hemisphere.

pinky promise left hand facts

No matter the shape of your brain or the hand you favor, here’s what we have—um—left:

Left-handed Facts and Trivia

The Left Test

There’s no sure way to measure “handedness.” One of the most widely used tests is called the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (developed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1970s). This test asks participants which hand they most often use for a series of activities, including writing, eating, drawing, throwing, cutting with scissors, brushing teeth, and unscrewing a lid.

Left-handed Burgers? Baloney!

A full-page ad in USA Today in 1998 claimed that Burger King had developed the “left-handed Whopper.” The burger had the same fixings, but they were turned 180 degrees so that they wouldn’t drip out on left-handed customers. It was a joke! The ad ran on April 1 (April Fools’ Day).

Lefties Day

August 13 is International Left-Handers Day! The tradition was started by the Left-Handers Club, a group in the United Kingdom. Club members around the world give interviews and play left-handed games.

left handed facts folklore

Left-hander Heaven?

Lefties might want to travel to Left Hand, West Virginia, where there is a church, a school, and a post office. The village was so named because it sits on the left-hand fork of the Big Sandy River, not because of the way its citizens write.

Left-handed Reward

A few left-handers attending Juniata College in Pennsylvania have benefited from a scholarship just for left-handers established in 1979 by Mary and Frederick Beckley, two left-handers who met when they attended tennis class together in 1919.

If you’re right-handed, try writing with your left. If you’re left-handed, try brushing your teeth with your right. You’re likely to find these activities surprisingly difficult.

So, tell us below if you are a lefty or righty and what you’ve observed about this phenomenon called handedness!

Amusements

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Millicent</span> Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:41
I was born in the late '50's and not only was left-handedness an inconvenience in school and was encouraged to 'go right' (which out of stubborness I didnt do), at home it was more of a GREAT inconvenience and a shame. Anything I attempted to accomplish and failed at, was viewed as a handicap ''because you're left handed''. I am however possibly ambidextrous- I brush teeth, use scissors, bat, brush hair, and shoot right handed! I only eat, write left.
<span>Gail</span> Thu, 08/13/2020 - 11:32
In some cultures, a left-handed handshake is meant as an insult (they wipe their backsides exclusively with the left hand).
<span>Laura Labishak</span> Thu, 08/13/2020 - 10:37
As a child, I was not allowed to use my left hand. As a result, there are some things I do better with my left hand, some things I do better with my right. But I prefer my left when starting something new.
<span>Penny</span> Thu, 08/13/2020 - 09:34
The only thing that I do with my right hand is use a knife to slice, meat, etc. and that I can do with both hands. Growing up, the nuns tried to get me to use my right hand. I couldn't do it and even turned my paper almost upside down and to the right in order to right. Like another person commented, I too have always been complimented on my handwriting. Thank you Sister at Our Lady of Pity Catholic School.
<span>Debra Howard</span> Sat, 06/06/2020 - 11:19
I am predominantly left handed but more often could be considered ambidextrous. I can assist my right handed grandson learning to write, but my right handed writing is as bad as a four year old's. I brush teeth with my left hand, I brush hair with both hands, I bowl with my right hand and I clean and dust with my right hand. And yes I am a smoker and I hold my cigarette with my left hand.
<span>Shirley A Fallin</span> Mon, 10/14/2019 - 10:15
I learned to write in the era when you learned to write with the right hand. But I kept trying to do things the other way round, and was made put it back right. I've since pretty much done things both ways. When I had my right shoulder replaced, and was in a sling for 6 weeks, I didn't have much trouble with switching. The only time I had a problem with this, was with filing. Depending on which hand placed a letter in the file, (entirely unintentional) the letter head went one way or the opposite way.
<span>Jolene</span> Sat, 08/17/2019 - 19:31
I write left handed but do most everything else with my right hand. I would play guitar left handed and can putt left or right. Kind of mixed up!
<span>Lavelle N Nott</span> Fri, 08/16/2019 - 21:20
I am left handed for eating and writing or drawing. Most other things I do right handed, I use right handed scissors. My right handed father, however eats and writes with his right hand and does everything else with his left hand.
<span>Lisa Lee</span> Wed, 08/14/2019 - 16:29
Love being left handed. They said I’m in my right mind! I was made to feel special. Never was it a bad thing.
<span>Margaret</span> Wed, 08/14/2019 - 01:49
We're all good looking! LOL! I remember my teacher trying to get me to write right handed. My daughter and her child are left handed. Mom nor Dad nor my 10 siblings were lefties. My knitting, crotcheting, embroidery projects are backwards when finished. My cursive leans to the left. I do everything with my left. I am almost 80.