# Do sneezes always seem to come in two's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916 "2012-01-27T22:35:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/1 "2012-01-27T22:35:08Z")
Hello Everyone, I just sneezed and of course, right on schedule a second sneeze followed the first one. This has been the usual pattern for as long as I can remember. I seem to never sneeze only one sneeze, it’s always two. I remember talking to my friends about this at one time and they reported the same experience. So, is it just me or is a “double” sneeze the norm? And if it is, why would that be? And yes, I am quite bored today. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/2 "2012-01-27T22:40:32Z")
With me, it’s usually three to five. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/3 "2012-01-27T23:03:51Z")
Mine are usually in the 5-8 range and let me tell ya, nothing impresses the women more than a man in a crazy sneezing fit. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/4 "2012-01-27T23:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > GEORGE: I said ‘God bless you’. Was that so wrong? > > JERRY: The question is, did you allow a space for the husband to come in with his ‘God bless you’? Because as the husband, he has the right to first refusal. > > GEORGE: Yes, yes, I definitely waited. But let me say this: Once he passes on that option, that ‘God bless you’ is up for grabs. > > JERRY: No argument. Unless, she’s one of these multiple sneezers, and he’s holding his ‘God bless you’ in abeyance, until she completes the series. > > GEORGE: Well I don’t think she is a multiple sneezer, because she sneezed again later, and it was also a single. > > JERRY: What if she’s having an off night? Just wanted to share that bit of gold. I am usually a single sneezer but sometimes a double. I have seen people who can sneeze about 10 times in a row. It’s crazy stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/5 "2012-01-27T23:10:56Z")
I heard or perhaps read somewhere, long ago, that most people are consistent in the number of sneezes they have. They might always sneeze once, or twice, or three times, but the number usually does not vary for any individual person. Unfortunately, I have no idea where this tidbit of information came from, so I couldn’t begin to guess whether or not there is any scientific basis for it. I can tell you that 99% of the time my sneezes come in pairs. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/6 "2012-01-27T23:13:08Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I heard or perhaps read somewhere, long ago, that most people are consistent in the number of sneezes they have. They might always sneeze once, or twice, or three times, but the number usually does not vary for any individual person. > > Unfortunately, I have no idea where this tidbit of information came from, so I couldn’t begin to guess whether or not there is any scientific basis for it. I can tell you that 99% of the time my sneezes come in pairs. In my experience, I usually have sneaky sneezes that come in 1’s, that is, I really don’t feel them coming very early and often don’t even have time to cover my mouth or turn my head. About an hour or two ago I sneezed all over my monitor this way, because of this. However, if i feel a sneeze coming on in advance, it usually comes in twos. I’d say it’s about 60-70% single sneezes, and the rest are doubles. So, I’m an exception to the rule I guess. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/7 "2012-01-27T23:39:47Z")
I’m a double sneezer. Almost always two. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/8 "2012-01-27T23:52:32Z")
I’m a tripler. Always three… ---
**Author:** ![Terra1041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Terra1041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terra1041)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/9 "2012-01-28T18:33:38Z")
I’m usually a double sneezer. Occasionally more, very rarely less. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/10 "2012-01-28T19:25:51Z")
When I was young it was always 3 sneezes, but now days I either do 3 quick, loud sneezes, usually with some warning they are coming, or one massive hard sneeze that hits without warning. And by massive, I mean ear-splitting and violent. I got hit by one once that cracked my back from just below the neck all the way down because it bent me over so quickly. When I straightened up, everybody in the store was just staring at me in shock. (Including a few with their jaws hanging open.) ---
**Author:** ![porqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@porqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porqui)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/11 "2012-01-28T19:45:39Z")
Nowadays 8 to 10 sneezes 40secs between sneezes - tried all sorts of methods to stop the fit to no avail and can’t figure out what causes the onset(do not suffer from hayfever) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/12 "2012-01-29T01:32:09Z")
two almost always. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/13 "2012-01-29T04:41:55Z")
One or two, rarely three. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/14 "2012-01-29T04:44:39Z")
Almost always three for me. The lady in the next office over sneezes only once, usually, but it’s _very_ loud and high-pitched. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/15 "2012-01-29T05:03:46Z")
Almost always seven in quick succession. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/16 "2012-01-29T06:18:10Z")
I sneeze three times usually. I think people have sneeze patterns. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/17 "2012-01-29T20:54:00Z")
I either sneeze once or a whole lot (say a couple of times a minute for a few minutes, much like porqui describes). I almost never sneeze just two or three times. While I can sometimes point to a particular cause (say, moving dusty boxes or mowing), most of the time there’s nothing obvious as a trigger. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/18 "2012-01-29T20:58:40Z")
Always one at a time. The only time it’s more then one it’s usually because I just walked out into the sun, and even then it’s still one at a time more often then not. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/19 "2012-01-29T21:10:17Z")
Except for when I have a cold I usually have one and done. Or I have 30. Very rarely do I have between that. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916/20 "2012-01-29T23:16:15Z")
Usually one at a time, and it’s a doozy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sneezes-always-seem-to-come-in-twos/610916.md?page=2)