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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>Anna M Ledington</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 09:12
My sister is the same way. She draws with one and paints with the other, eats left, serves underhand volleyball right, overhand left. We figured out she threw the softball left when we noticed something didn't look right--she was leading with her left foot instead of right. Lol. I also do a lot of things with one or the other. Maybe we should have our OWN group! Not quite ambidextrous, but not all right or left. 🤔
<span>Rona</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 08:13
I’m lefty but brush my teeth with right. Throw a ball, sew, use tools with right- things I was taught by a rightie I imagine. Some things I can do both. Ambidextrous.
<span>Nanodelle</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 14:01
I was born a leftie, as was my mom and 2 sisters. My mom taught me to play tennis and sew, left handed, and I serve volleyball left-handed. There are some things I learned to do right-handed: throw, hit, shoot baskets, golf, bowl and cast. However, someone who watched me cast (fishing) asked if I was a right-handed or left-handed. I said "Left." I followed his advice, switched the reel, et voila! Casting was easier left-handed. I'm not super left-dominant, and my late sister used to eat with her right hand. I think those of us who are left-handed are able to do a lot of things right-handed, because we live in a largely right-handed world. I can write using a mouse with my right hand, is one example. I'm glad nobody tried to make us as kids write with our right hands; my mom was forced to by her uncle. I heard of others who got smacked by nuns in parochial school....I cannot image.
<span>Dixie</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 08:09
I am 65 and a total leftie! When I started school my teacher tried desperately to switch me, to the point it effected me enough that my mom got our family doctor involved who contacted the school and informed the teacher to leave me alone! I find being left handed is difficult in certain situations-such as cutting, ladles, even paring knives. I have to see the blade before buying because some only allow you to cut with one side. I have three children and 7 grandchildren-only one granddaughter is left handed and she does some things right handed. She is a pitcher on her high school softball team and pitches right handed, but bats left handed. I started golfing when I retired and realize that too, is a right handed sport. All instructional videos must be turned around in my mind. I had a left handed aunt who taught me to crochet-I taught my daughter and granddaughter by having them sit facing me. It definitely is a right handed world, but we lefties can make it work!!
<span>Patrick Pagano</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 08:01
I'm a lefty and proud of it. Of the people I know are lefty....they are creative...intelligent ...caring. I hope I fit this category.
<span>Jt Michaels</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 07:55
Teachers would strike my mother's left hand with a ruler until my grandfather intervened! When I was in second grade, the teacher held up my penmanship paper to the class as an example of how NOT to write. It was embarrassing, but as I matured, I understood it was the teacher's flaw, not mine. I hold my hand like a right-hander and have been repeatedly told that my script is creative and quite legible. We lefties are special!!
<span>Lynn Landers</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 07:46
I am 58 and left-handed! Teachers in Florida tried making me write right-handed, but my father put a stop to that! He was also left handed. I basically do everything left-handed, except throwing a frisbee and using scissors; I shoot long basketball shots right-handed and short shots left-handed. I enjoy being "different". I'm glad we are not all alike. That would be boring. Enjoying being unique!!
<span>Kay</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 07:43
My late husband was totally a lefty, our son is totally a righty, and I'm both. They tried - and failed - to turn my late husband into a righty. As an ambi, I'm just as comfortable either way so after being admonished 2 or 3 times, I finally just remembered to use right hand while in school and did whatever suited me outside of school. I used to be accused of cheating when playing pool, snooker or even darts because I did whatever was best suited to the angle but otherwise nobody outside of the school setting cared either way. Lots of documents to sign or initial -- no problem -- just give me two pens! As long writing the exact same thing on both sides I'm good to go. Not easy though and way too slow if trying to write something different on each side.
<span>Dawn Patterson</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 07:42
I’m left-handed and my youngest brother is a lefty. My parents were both left-handed. I throw with my right, bat right, and cut with my right, but do everything else with my left. I also water ski slalom using my strong foot in the back which is used for balance. The world is designed for right-handed people. The only thing that was designed for us lefties was the car. A few years back I was crushed in a work injury and I lost most of my nerves and the fine motor function of my left leg and hand. Now I have to do things that I used to do left-handed right-handed and its difficult relearning in your 50’s.
<span>Christina A.</span> Tue, 08/13/2024 - 07:08
I have been a LEFTY all my 75 1/2 plus years. Nuns at the Catholic school I Attended a few years smacked my hand, but I wasn’t phased. I actually enjoy being a lefty. I am different, not like everyone else. So accept it, just as age, to me it’s only a number, be healthy, exercise and enjoy your life God gave you.