# Right-handed people, a few questions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056 "2024-07-31T13:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/1 "2024-07-31T13:12:52Z")
I found [this survey](https://www.lefthandersday.com/surveys/left-handedness-test) online asking how left-handed you are. It includes a link to an analysis of the test results so far, but the analysis only includes the results for people who answered that they were left-handed. I’m interested in hearing how common it is for right-handed people to do certain things with their left hand/side. If you don’t want to click through to the link, here are the questions: Which hand do you use for: Writing Cutting with scissors Holding a bat one-handed Eating with a spoon Holding a toothbrush Brushing your hair Which eye do you use for looking through a telescope? Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? Which foot do you use when kicking a ball? Fold your arms in front of you – which arm is on top? When you start clapping your hands, which hand is on top? Clasp your hands behind you back with one hand holding the other wrist - which hand is doing the holding? Which hand do you throw a ball with? Which hand do you use to turn the pages in a book? Using a bat or club two-handed, which hand is on the bottom (nearest the hitting end of the bat) when holding the bat down towards the ground? If this is your left, you will be facing to your right looking over your right shoulder to see the ball coming. Thanks in advance to anyone who answers! (You can stop reading now if you want, but in case you’re wondering my personal interest in all this: I’m completely left-foot dominant but right-handed. As a child, I remember struggling tremendously with my handwriting to the point where I got special permission to use a computer to do my spelling homework because my handwriting was too illegible for the teacher to read. In middle school, I remember doing an exercise in science class where you cross out as many X’s as you can with each hand in a certain amount of time. The difference between the performance of your left and right hand shows how dominant one hand is over the other, and I remember my scores being closer to one another than all but one of my classmates. My answer to a few of these questions was my left hand, and so I’m just trying to figure out if using my left hand for some of these things is significant or just something most people do.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/2 "2024-07-31T13:18:17Z")
I can’t fill it out online, because it doesn’t give any options for “both”; it always assumes you use either left or right hand, not that you use both. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/3 "2024-07-31T13:22:42Z")
Oh well I was actually hoping you would tell me your answers to the individual questions. I am more curious about how common it is to, say, turn pages with left hand than your overall percentage. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/4 "2024-07-31T13:25:50Z")
Pretty much all right hand here. With an exception. Left hand for phone, especially at work. I take notes with my right hand. Drives me crazy when I see a right handed person have the phone on the right side of their desk. Makes no sense. They cradle the phone between their ear and their shoulder on the right side so they can take notes with their right hand. Could you create a poll Twoms ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/5 "2024-07-31T13:32:47Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Could you create a poll Twoms ? That is a brilliant idea that I just tried to implement. I had to go look at the instructions on the sticky note since I forgot how to insert a poll, but it doesn’t look like the polling feature is robust enough to post multiple questions for which you can only choose one answer for each question. All you can do is post one master question and a choice of answers. Either that, or it’s entirely possible and I just don’t know how. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/6 "2024-07-31T13:33:52Z")
Ah, then i won’t bother. Except for some “high skill” items that I’ve practiced a lot, like writing, i mostly use both hands (well, either hand) for most tasks. - Writing – left, except when i broke my left wrist in highschool and had to learn to use my right. So i can do both, but I’m much better with the left. - Cutting with scissors – generally the right hand. That was a deliberate choice in kindergarten, where they had incredibly dull left-handed scissors and useful right-handed scissors. But i can cut my nails with nail scissors with either hand. - Holding a bat one-handed – I’ve tried both and never got any good either way. - Eating with a spoon – the side it was set on. Typically my left if I’m just eating soup or cereal, but sometimes my right if I’m using my phone while i eat. - Holding a toothbrush – both. I switch hands to clean the other side of my mouth. - Brushing your hair --usually both again - Which eye do you use for looking through a telescope? – I’m strongly right-eyed - Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? – usually the right, but i often switch during a long phone call for ergonomic reasons. - Which foot do you use when kicking a ball? – i don’t remember. Like bats, i probably used both when i was playing kick ball. I’d use either if a ball was in my way . - Fold your arms in front of you – which arm is on top? It varies, neither feels obviously right. - When you start clapping your hands, which hand is on top? – left - Clasp your hands behind you back with one hand holding the other wrist - which hand is doing the holding? -right - Which hand do you throw a ball with? – like other sports, i tried both and never got good at either. - Which hand do you use to turn the pages in a book? – the one that’s not holding the book. And i switch hands as one gets tired. - Using a bat or club two-handed, which hand is on the bottom (nearest the hitting end of the bat) when holding the bat down towards the ground? If this is your left, you will be facing to your right looking over your right shoulder to see the ball coming. – dunno ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/7 "2024-07-31T13:33:56Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Pretty much all right hand here. With an exception. Left hand for phone, especially at work. I take notes with my right hand. I’m like this too. Very right-side dominant, except for things like phone use, where I’m very accustomed to needing my right hand free for tasks like taking notes that require greater dexterity than simply holding the phone against my head. I have a great deal of trouble with telescopes, microscopes, etc. due to wearing glasses and being so severely near-sighted that I’m hopeless at just about any visual task if I’m not wearing them. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/8 "2024-07-31T13:35:30Z")
Well, here goes: Writing - **mainly right** , but can do left in a pinch Cutting with scissors - **right** , because all the scissors in my house are right-handed Holding a bat one-handed - **I don’t hold bats; I’m not Batman**. Eating with a spoon - **left** Holding a toothbrush - **both** - left hand to brush teeth on right side of the mouth, switch to right hand to brush teeth on the left side Brushing your hair - **either** , depending on the mood Which eye do you use for looking through a telescope? - **I don’t**. Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? - **left** if I need to take notes, **otherwise whichever seems comfortable** at the time. Which foot do you use when kicking a ball? - **either** Fold your arms in front of you – which arm is on top? - **left** When you start clapping your hands, which hand is on top? - **depends on my mood and the moment** Clasp your hands behind you back with one hand holding the other wrist - which hand is doing the holding? **depends on the moment in time** Which hand do you throw a ball with? - **either** Which hand do you use to turn the pages in a book? - **either** Using a bat or club two-handed, which hand is on the bottom (nearest the hitting end of the bat) when holding the bat down towards the ground? - I don’t; see Batman comment. **When using a hockey stick, it depends if I’m playing left wing or right wing**. ETA: the question they didn’t ask : I have my computer set up in the centre of the desk, with room to take notes on the right hand side, and **my mouse is on the left**. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/9 "2024-07-31T13:39:32Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Drives me crazy when I see a right handed person have the phone on the right side of their desk. I agree, but my office set-up means that the phone has to be on the right side of the desk, close to the wall and the jack. I can’t put it on the left side, which is a desk top away from the wall. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/10 "2024-07-31T13:42:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > ETA: the question they didn’t ask : I have my computer set up in the centre of the desk, with room to take notes on the right hand side, and **my mouse is on the left**. I wondered at that omission, too, since that’s a big one these days. At work i always used my left hand for the mouse, and set it up left-handed. But when i decided to learn to play video games, my son convinced me it would be better to learn to use the mouse with my right hand, since the games are designed this way. (You usually are expected to have your other hand on the keyboard.) I’ve been doing this, and i think my lack of right-handed mouse skills is one of the reasons I’m clumsy in video games. But I’m getting better at it. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/11 "2024-07-31T13:44:00Z")
I’ve had that exact same conversation with the Piper Cub. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/12 "2024-07-31T13:49:26Z")
I’m right handed and do all the activities listed right handed. When smoking a joint or pipe I hold it in my left hand, which I think is to allow my right hand to be free to use a lighter. I use chopsticks for most meals, holding them in my right hand, but if I use a knife, it’s sticks in the left hand and knife in the right. NSFW: > **Summary** > > Can I mention masturbation, because I primarily do that left handed, no idea why? ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/13 "2024-07-31T14:05:33Z")
Here are my answers: > [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Which hand do you use for: > Writing - **Right, though I remember struggling tremendously with handwriting as a child**. > Cutting with scissors - **Same as writing: I use my right hand, but I struggled so badly with being able to cut along the lines as a child that my teachers wondered if I had some sort of motor function disorder.** > Holding a bat one-handed - **Right** > Eating with a spoon - **Right** > Holding a toothbrush - **Right** > Brushing your hair - **Right** > > Which eye do you use for looking through a telescope? - **Right** > Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? - **Either** > Which foot do you use when kicking a ball? - **Left** > > Fold your arms in front of you – which arm is on top? - **Left** > When you start clapping your hands, which hand is on top? - **Right** > Clasp your hands behind you back with one hand holding the other wrist - which hand is doing the holding? - **Left** > > Which hand do you throw a ball with? - **Right** > Which hand do you use to turn the pages in a book? - **Left** > Using a bat or club two-handed, which hand is on the bottom (nearest the hitting end of the bat) when holding the bat down towards the ground? If this is your left, you will be facing to your right looking over your right shoulder to see the ball coming. - **Right** With the exception of the phone question, every other question felt like there was a clear right and wrong answer and it felt weird if I tried to use the other hand. Also, I don’t ever use the mouse on my left side. I once shared a desk with a woman who was left-handed, and every time I sat down the first thing I did was move the mouse back to the right-hand side. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/14 "2024-07-31T14:08:09Z")
My answers to the questions are all right hand. The only exception is the phone. If I’m at work I use my left because I’m usually writing something at the same time. Any other time I use my right. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/15 "2024-07-31T14:23:43Z")
My answers were also all right, except for the phone which is probably about 75% right hand and 25% left hand. Mouse is on the right side. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/16 "2024-07-31T15:10:52Z")
I’m about the most right-dominant person out there; I can’t do a damn thing with my left hand, not brush my teeth, not comb my hair. It feels like somebody else’s arm is trying to do these things. But weirdly, I’m able to use my left hand in piano as articulately as most any casual player. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/17 "2024-07-31T15:20:24Z")
I use my right for almost everything. My entire right side is considerably stronger than my left. Yet I suspect I was born a natural southpaw. With my right hand in a cast people told me my handwriting was legible. I don’t say ‘more’ legible because according to most people my right handed handwriting is not legible at all. I think my fine coordination is better with my left hand also. After so long using my right for everything I don’t think there’s any way I could switch to my left to see how it work out. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/18 "2024-07-31T15:25:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > because I primarily do that left handed, no idea why? Right hand on the mouse? Anyway, since we’re sharing TMI, I am exclusively right handed in that pursuit. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/19 "2024-07-31T15:36:08Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Which hand do you use for: > Writing **right** > Cutting with scissors **right** > Holding a bat one-handed **right** > Eating with a spoon **usually right, but not always** > Holding a toothbrush **right** > Brushing your hair **what hair?** > > Which eye do you use for looking through a telescope? **right, my left eye is significantly worse** > Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? **left** > Which foot do you use when kicking a ball? **back when I played soccer, i was more powerful with the left, more accurate with the right** > > Fold your arms in front of you – which arm is on top? **right** > When you start clapping your hands, which hand is on top? **left** > Clasp your hands behind you back with one hand holding the other wrist - which hand is doing the holding? **left** > > Which hand do you throw a ball with? **right** > Which hand do you use to turn the pages in a book? **varies** > Using a bat or club two-handed, which hand is on the bottom (nearest the hitting end of the bat) when holding the bat down towards the ground? If this is your left, you will be facing to your right looking over your right shoulder to see the ball coming. **I bat righty, golf, too** Stuff for dicsourse ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056/20 "2024-07-31T15:41:43Z")
I also had success hitting a baseball from a southpaw stance. No great power that way but contact was just as easy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-handed-people-a-few-questions/1005056.md?page=2)