# Why do we read from left to right

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-read-from-left-to-right/215>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 24, 1999, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-read-from-left-to-right/215 "1999-08-24T12:00:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 1999, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-read-from-left-to-right/215/13 "1999-09-03T00:31:00Z")

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Mayan Hieroglyphs are also read from top to bottom. Individual glyphs can be read in numerous ways (including an almost circular pattern) depending on how many prefixes and suffixes are attached to the glyph.

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