# Why do I sneeze twice in a row when I sneeze? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012 "2010-10-31T21:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/1 "2010-10-31T21:33:42Z")
It doesn’t seem to matter what sets the original sneeze off (dander, sunlight, etc.) but they always are double cannons. I think other people do this too. Ideas? ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/2 "2010-10-31T21:40:57Z")
Do you sneeze real hard? I recall reading of a situation where some people sneeze a few times real hard for unknown reasons. I don’t recall where I recall reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Looey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Looey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Looey)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/3 "2010-10-31T21:54:07Z")
I almost always sneeze in twos as well. I’ll be interested to see the replies. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/4 "2010-10-31T22:19:35Z")
I don’t have a reason to give you, but I recall hearing many tears ago that most people, when they sneeze, almost always do so the same number of times. That is, some people always sneeze once, some always sneeze twice, etc… The report I read said that scientists had observed this behavior pattern, but had no idea what caused it. Sorry, I have no idea what the source was; this was so long ago that it has now faded into the realm of “something I read once”. FTR, I am a “two sneezer”. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/5 "2010-10-31T22:53:25Z")
Most of the time I’m a double sneezer, Ebenezer. One time, though, I started sneezing at the Sanford, Florida airport and didn’t stop until I landed in Fort Wayne, Indiana two plus hours later. I’m sure you can imagine the dirty looks from the other airplane passengers… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/6 "2010-10-31T22:59:57Z")
I sneeze 3 times, because that is what I do . Don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/7 "2010-11-01T15:14:32Z")
> [@Looey](#): > > I almost always sneeze in twos as well. Me two. I thought I was the only one. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/8 "2010-11-01T15:16:34Z")
The only poem I’ve ever written: I always sneeze In twos and threes (And, in reference to **janeslogin** ’s note, I do sneeze quite hard.) ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/9 "2010-11-01T15:20:44Z")
I sneeze like the Sith- always two, there are. No more, no less. ---
**Author:** ![rainwalker78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rainwalker78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainwalker78)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/10 "2010-11-01T15:40:01Z")
When I lived in Nashville, I sneezed 3 times in a row within 30 minutes of sitting down in my cube. It became a running joke in my office. Almost any time I sneezed, I sneezed 3 times. 2 1/2 years ago I moved to Phoenix. I don’t sneeze as often now, and now I sneeze in twos instead of threes. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/11 "2010-11-01T15:47:12Z")
I do this funny thing where a cough will turn into a sneeze. I don’t know if it is counted as one sneeze or twenty. They are sudden, uncontrollable, seem to last forever, and I usually end up with the hiccups afterwards. When I “just” sneeze it is one at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/12 "2010-11-01T16:08:24Z")
My name is Chefguy and I’m a double sneezer. My wife is a serial sneezer and will let off a dozen blasts that can fracture concrete at 50 feet. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@The\_Evil\_Prince\_Zorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Evil_Prince_Zorte)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/13 "2010-11-01T17:23:06Z")
In addition to number of sneezes, are you a quiet sneezer or a shouter? My mom always always almost literally shouted “achOO!” when she sneezed, but my voice doesn’t really get involved when I sneeze. What I really hate is sneezing and farting at the same time. That hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/14 "2010-11-01T17:42:10Z")
Variable sneezer, I. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/15 "2010-11-01T18:28:28Z")
I almost always double-sneeze. So does my mother & her brothers. So did my grandmother. Some genetic factor at play? ---
**Author:** ![EristicKallistic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@EristicKallistic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EristicKallistic)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/16 "2010-11-01T19:17:30Z")
I cannot actually provide any reasoning or factual information to help. I can only join the anecdotes: I am a triple sneezer. Almost every time. If I sneeze twice, or Og forbid just once, I am in terror that my head is going to burst and I await the drop of the other shoe. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/17 "2010-11-02T01:59:18Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > I do this funny thing where a cough will turn into a sneeze. My dog would often sneeze when he was barking. \ \ \ Cracked me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/18 "2010-11-02T02:08:19Z")
I am a single-sneezer. Occasionally I will have a double sneeze but they’re rare. The second sneeze is always kinda half-hearted-sounding compared to the first, for me. I’ve never sneezed thrice in a row (except this one time after I vomited through my nose, but that was extremely abnormal and IMO doesn’t really count). I am not a scientist but I suspect it has to do with the size and shape of your nasal cavity and the “trigger point” at which your nose decides to rid itself of dust. I have quite a small nose compared to average. Maybe people with larger noses and/or cavities have to sneeze twice to get out all of the dust? Just a hypothesis. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/19 "2010-11-02T02:15:28Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > I do this funny thing where a cough will turn into a sneeze. I don’t know if it is counted as one sneeze or twenty. They are sudden, uncontrollable, seem to last forever, and I usually end up with the hiccups afterwards. That happens to me sometimes. It feels like one of my lungs is trying to violently escape from my chest. Not fun > [@EristicKallistic](#): > > I cannot actually provide any reasoning or factual information to help. I can only join the anecdotes: > > I am a triple sneezer. Almost every time. If I sneeze twice, or Og forbid just once, I am in terror that my head is going to burst and I await the drop of the other shoe. Occasionally, I will sneeze once…then have to wait for 15-20 seconds waiting for the inevitable second sneeze. In these cases I sit motionless, unable to do \*anything \*until that second sneeze comes. My family knows what’s going on, but if it happens at work I do get some strange looks… ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012/20 "2010-11-02T02:58:41Z")
You can chalk me up as another double sneezer (and pretty loud). I don’t know why. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-sneeze-twice-in-a-row-when-i-sneeze/559012.md?page=2)