# Which finger do you use when dialing a portable phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260 "2009-08-30T15:55:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/1 "2009-08-30T15:55:06Z")
Also, how old are you? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/2 "2009-08-30T16:01:41Z")
Phones with Buttons - my thumb. My iPhone - my Index finger. None of your damn business! I’m 49. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/3 "2009-08-30T16:14:04Z")
My thumb for cordless home phones, but my index for my cell phone, which has stupid buttons. I’m 28. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/4 "2009-08-30T16:46:00Z")
If you mean “cordless phone”, I’ve never used one, and no longer expect I ever will. If you mean cell, I use my right thumb. I got a new Blackberry and all the tiny number buttons are on the far left. Sixty something ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/5 "2009-08-30T17:00:52Z")
Right thumb for my cordless, fingernail of my right index finger for my cell (buttons are tiny enough that poking with a fingernail works better than poking with the fleshy part of the fingertip) Approaching 56. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/6 "2009-08-30T17:07:51Z")
Right thumb for both my cordless home 'phone and mobile. 1. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/7 "2009-08-30T17:08:23Z")
I’m 41. I like my “big, clumsy, old-fashioned,” two-year old flip-top Nokia because I can use my thumbs without hitting four keys at the same time (not both thumbs at the same time: either one). With some other models I’ve got to hold the phone with one hand and use the nail on the other index finger. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/8 "2009-08-30T17:14:21Z")
> [@Brainiac](#): > > If you mean “cordless phone” I mean both. I read something saying that people “of a certain age” were more likely to be uncomfortable using their thumbs to press buttons on a phone, than the generations who grew up with Nintendo style controllers. So far, it seems to be shaking out fairly evenly. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/9 "2009-08-30T17:23:55Z")
I use different fingers depending upon what I’m doing at the time. I do prefer to use my thumbs though. I’m also 49. ETA: I think I’ve only ever used a Nintendo controller two or three times in my life. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/10 "2009-08-30T17:29:34Z")
I use my left thumb to press buttons. If I had some fancy touch screen phone I’d probably use my right pointer finger. 20something, mostly right-handed. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/11 "2009-08-30T21:03:49Z")
Mostly my thumb, though sometimes my index finger. 27 ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/12 "2009-08-30T21:59:36Z")
The ring finger of my right hand. I think I’m in the minority here. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/13 "2009-08-30T22:50:01Z")
My index finger . . . only because of its particular design, making it hard to hold and dial with the same hand. Any other device, I use my thumb. 1. And why do we still use the word “dial”? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/14 "2009-08-31T03:12:30Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And why do we still use the word “dial”? We haven’t come up with a better word yet? Telling someone to “press” a number instead of “dial” would sound awkward. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/15 "2009-08-31T04:47:46Z")
Same as any other phone - the index finger of my right hand. I’m surprised so many people say they use their thumb; mine’s less agile than my other fingers, so I’m sure it would be clumsier. ---
**Author:** ![Jerseyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jerseyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerseyman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/16 "2009-08-31T04:49:29Z")
Second finger, left hand mostly. Will include 1st and 3rd when texting sometimes but since I’ve taken to using predictive text, rarely. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/17 "2009-08-31T08:53:27Z")
23, use my index finger on all phones and keypads with a phone like set up. Thumbs just seem so odd to me. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/18 "2009-08-31T18:30:39Z")
I dial my cordless phone held in my right hand and dialed by my right thumb. I dial my iPhone by holding in my left hand and using right index finger. The “keys” are wider apart and too hard to hit all comfortably with my thumb. I’m 52. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/19 "2009-08-31T20:06:10Z")
Cordless and cell–right fingernail. I’m 40. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260/20 "2009-09-01T01:40:38Z")
Cordless and cell: right thumb. The index finger is awkward for it. Oh, I’m 53. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-finger-do-you-use-when-dialing-a-portable-phone/508260.md?page=2)