# Long-sleeved shirts: Can you button both cuffs after you put the shirt on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220 "2015-06-10T23:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/21 "2015-06-11T12:06:37Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Never even knew this was a problem. Same. Now I’m trying to think of all the things non-ambidextrous people would have trouble with. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/22 "2015-06-11T12:12:17Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Never even knew this was a problem. Same here. I rarely wear long sleeved shirts (only for sun protection) but buttoning sure isn’t the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/23 "2015-06-11T13:03:48Z")
Maybe I tie my shoes with bunny ears, but I can still button myself up. I wear a shirt and tie most days of my life, so maybe it’s just practice. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/24 "2015-06-11T13:52:12Z")
Unidextrous (right-handed), and can do it easily. The only time I have trouble is sometimes if the button and buttonhole are too big and small respectively, and I can’t put enough force on it with my left hand to get it to go through. Not a dexterity problem, so much as a strength problem. For some reason, my right hand is a lot stronger when doing that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/25 "2015-06-11T14:10:51Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > There’s no option for french cuffs. What am I, a farmer? 😛 [QUOTE=Balance] I can button both. I can also tie the laces, if I’m wearing a style of shirt that has laced cuffs. [/QUOTE] I’m having a hard time picturing exactly what sort of shirt that would be. [QUOTE=MoonMoon] Same. Now I’m trying to think of all the things non-ambidextrous people would have trouble with. [/QUOTE] Have you ever seen someone switch their fork to the other hand after cutting a piece of meat? We’ve discussed this a few times here; people that do this are not unrefined boobs, they just don’t have the dexterity to pick up the peas with their less used hand. As for me, I can button my cuffs with my opposite hand but have to allow myself about five extra minutes to do the clasp on a bracelet. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/26 "2015-06-11T15:04:21Z")
100% of the poll voters can do both. Most lopsided poll ever? Sorry **Spectre** , looks like you’re alone in this. It has never even crossed my mind how this could be a problem for someone with two working hands. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/27 "2015-06-11T15:52:09Z")
I’ve had a lot of practice. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/28 "2015-06-11T15:53:42Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > 😛 > > Have you ever seen someone switch their fork to the other hand after cutting a piece of meat? We’ve discussed this a few times here; people that do this are not unrefined boobs, they just don’t have the dexterity to pick up the peas with their less used hand. No, they’re just following traditional European, or what is now known as [American style etiquette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette). > [@](#): > > Originally, the traditional European method, once the fork was adopted as a utensil, was to transfer the fork to the right hand after cutting food, as it had been considered proper for all utensils to be used with the right hand only. This tradition was brought to America by British colonists and is still in use in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/29 "2015-06-11T16:04:08Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > No, they’re just following traditional European, or what is now known as [American style etiquette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette). Huh, tell that to all my British friends who mock me :o Seriously though, it seems reasonable that one would just use whatever method came naturally when they were learning to feed themselves. I can’t say with certainty, but I sure as heck don’t remember being \*instructed \*to switch hands; I just did it because it was easier (if more involved). Sometimes I try not to do it when I’m around said mocking Brits, and I can, but it’s unnatural and not really worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/30 "2015-06-11T16:17:33Z")
Right handed, though I bat and golf left-handed (my father was left-handed) and no problem. I read the title as asking if you could put a shirt on if you button the sleeves first. That would be quite some trick. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/31 "2015-06-11T16:38:40Z")
I really can’t button either button with any degree of success, which is one of the reasons why I hardly ever wear long-sleeve shirts, even in the dead of winter. A little easier to button the left sleeve (I’m right-handed), but not by a lot. Generally I have to ask for help. I also can’t really tie a tie, which used to bug me a lot but I have made my peace with it. Hurray for clip-ons. ETA: I just looked at the poll and am shocked and a bit embarrassed. I expected to be in the minority, but this is ridiculous: 82 people who can easily button both sleeves, and then there’s…me. Yeeks. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/32 "2015-06-12T17:36:01Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I’m having a hard time picturing exactly what sort of shirt that would be. Like this, for example: [http://www.poetshirts.com/highlander\_poet\_shirt.html](http://www.poetshirts.com/highlander_poet_shirt.html) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/33 "2015-06-16T03:06:05Z")
I can do it, but it takes a lot longer and is a lot more frustrating on my right hand, to the point that I try not to have to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/34 "2015-06-16T17:19:27Z")
I’m right handed - sorta ambidextrous, can’t write or do fine motor control but can pick up things fine with both hands. Just can’t seem to get the hang of buttoning my right cuff though. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/35 "2015-06-16T17:49:59Z")
Not ambidextrous with most stuff, but sure I can button 'em. As others have said, I had no idea this was a problem. And I also can’t get shirts on or off if the cuffs are buttoned. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/36 "2015-06-16T17:53:01Z")
I can do it, but one side definitely takes longer than the other side ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/37 "2015-06-17T10:35:09Z")
I’m right-handed but I’ve noticed that I have a much harder time buttoning my left cuff (with my right hand) than the other way around. Actually, there are several things that I do better left-handed (or -footed), high jump being one. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/38 "2015-06-17T11:34:52Z")
I CAN button both, but virtually never do. Part of my shtick is to have both cuffs unbuttoned, and pushed partway back on my arms. This gives me the appearance of being industrious, but I actually do it because my arms are so long that no shirt actually fits properly. (Tall sizes typically go to 37 inch sleeves; my arms are 38 plus.) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/39 "2015-06-17T16:23:29Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m right-handed, but my left hand isn’t entirely useless (comes from playing violin & viola). It’s pretty much the same for me. I am right hand dominant, at least. But from playing instruments, and breaking my right arm and dislocating my right thumb in adolescence: I can do all kinds of fun things with my left hand, including write. It’s not pretty writing, and I can’t make my signature with my left. However, there are very few things short of writing or playing a musical instrument that I can’t flip right to left. But you want to know what’s weird? This guy putting on a girl’s shirt. Those buttons _all_ going the wrong way is far more disturbing than it should be. It’s like climbing a ladder with your back to it. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220/40 "2015-06-17T16:30:01Z")
Tight handed… can button both if needed, but usually I button them up before putting the shirt on… unless the cuffs are cut that tight that I can’t get my hand through buttoned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-sleeved-shirts-can-you-button-both-cuffs-after-you-put-the-shirt-on/722220.md?page=3)