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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>Beverly Beaver</span> Sun, 01/22/2017 - 08:26
I was one of those kids who got their wrist slapped for using the left hand to write. I am ambidextrous, my mother was and her mother was. I can write upside down and backwards with the left hand while writing correctly with the right. Two out of three sons are lefties!
<span>Kathryn Ellison</span> Sun, 01/22/2017 - 07:34
I am an almost 70 year old female who is very left-handed. My mother was left-handed and my brother is. I've never had a problem with it at all, probably because it's the only way I've ever known. I've also never understood why others seem to have so many problems with it. I use scissors with no problem and have good hand-writing. I also have the ability to write backwards from right to left on paper, which may or may not have anything to do with being left-handed, but I've always wondered about that.
<span>Lala</span> Mon, 12/26/2016 - 00:08
When I said supposed I was commenting on the fact that during my research I read that there was a lower number of female left handed people versus male I'm a straight female like anybody cares I guess I'm reposting because it's the left handedness in me.
<span>Leftie</span> Mon, 12/26/2016 - 00:06
I'm left handed. I'm smart, and great looking and also a female rarity supposed. . My parents were right handed. I had twin sisters born after me right handed. But I know I'm a great good person. I guess or wonder if your teachers in school saw/- your left hand and thought wow- she could be something...we don't like her
<span>Eijaz Ahmed</span> Tue, 09/13/2016 - 16:40
I usually do write with my left hand while other activities are performed by right hand. What Am I? leftie? or rightie?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 09/15/2016 - 10:09

It sounds like you are what is called "mixed-handed" or "cross-dominant" -- preferring one hand for certain tasks and the other for other tasks. Those who are truly ambidextrous are able to use either hand equally well for any task.

 <span>Colleen Harrigan</span> Mon, 08/15/2016 - 11:10
I am 65 and am a lefty to the core. Nuns tried to change me but my mom wouldn't let them. I have beautiful handwriting after years of writing over the top of my paper, now I turn my paper sideways and it works well. Plus pens have come a long way since the 50's, which helps. Now irons come with the cord down the middle of the back instead to on the right, but measuring cups are still a pain since I have to switch them to my right hand to read. I little perk is that the typewriter (keyboard) was invented by a lefty so all the major letters are on the left side making it easier for me to type. All in all I believe lefties are smarter because we have learned to adapt to scissors, spiral note books, measuring cups, door knobs, you name it we have adapted. Wouldn't change being a southpaw for the world.
<span>Liz Peacock</span> Mon, 08/15/2016 - 10:28
I am a lefty, my husband is right-handed, we have three kids, two are right-handed and the middle son is left-handed, my two right-handed kids are left-eye dominate and my lefty son is right-eye dominate. My kids are so messed up when go shooting with my husband. I am baby of 11 kids and I am the only left-handed in the family. Mom and Dad were both right-handed!
<span>Faith L Summerlin</span> Mon, 08/15/2016 - 00:28
I took archery lessons for the first time at the age of 61. The guy started us out with just a "string bow" and asked us to hold it up like we were going to shoot the arrow. He came up to me and told me I needed a left handed bow. I said I am right handed and he said just give it a try. For the first time in my life I could hit the center of the target every time! I also know why I had trouble shooting a gun. Left eye dominant?? Awesome and thankful I finally chose to get professional help.
<span>Casey</span> Sun, 08/14/2016 - 18:12
I (left-handed) was told years ago by a gentleman who watched me write a check, "Oh, you're left handed. What I saw on TV last night (and you know it's true since it was on TV) was that everyone is born left-handed and stays that way until they commit their first sin". Love it.