Lefties Love to Write Letters Too
Fun facts, tools, and tips for (and about) the Southpaw
It’s International Left-Handers Day!
Today—August 13— is International Left-Handers Day, and even those of us who aren’t left-handed should understand our misunderstood Lefties better! The subject inspired a lively conversation recently in our Facebook group “The Art of the Heartspoken Note.”
Why do we call them Southpaws?
This term for left-handed people is thought to have come from the game of baseball. A baseball diamond is traditionally oriented with home plate to the west, meaning that a left-handed pitcher would be throwing with their left arm on the southern side of the field. This left arm was thus referred to as their “south paw”. Over time, the term “southpaw” spread beyond baseball to refer to any left-handed person. It is now commonly used in various contexts, including boxing and everyday conversation.
When in Rome…or England or Scotland…
Southpaw and Lefty are far from the only nicknames used throughout the world to refer to left-handed people. Some of the following regional or less commonly used terms are playful or affectionate, but some are downright insulting!
Sinistral: Derived from the Latin word “sinistra,” meaning left. It is a more formal term.
Cack-handed: A term used in British English, often implying clumsiness, but also simply meaning left-handed.
Gauche: From French, where “gauche” means left. In English, “gauche” can mean awkward or clumsy, though it's rarely used specifically for left-handedness.
Mollydooker: An Australian slang term.
Scrammy-handed: A term used in some parts of Scotland and Northern England.
Back-handed: Sometimes used to refer to left-handedness. In other instances, it confers the idea of sneakiness or hurtfulness.
Corrie-fisted: Another term used in parts of Scotland.
Some lefty trivia
Approximately 10% of the world's population is left-handed, so that makes them special and unique. It also means they’re overlooked when it comes to furniture, appliance, and tool design. In our Facebook group, 36% of those who took the poll were left-handed.
Left-handed people often have a more developed right hemisphere of the brain, which is associated with creativity, spatial awareness, and intuition. Leonardo da Vinci, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama are all lefties who have made their mark in history across many fields.
Historically, left-handedness was often viewed negatively, and I’ve known several left-handers who, as children, were forced to write with their right hand. One left-handed member of our Facebook group admitted: “Quite honestly, my biggest frustration was with my grandfather and my teachers.” She said they insisted she hold crayons or turn her paper a certain way. “I found that maddening as a 6 to 8-year-old!” she remembered.
Left-handed people can have an advantage in certain sports, such as tennis, boxing, and baseball, due to their opponents' unfamiliarity with their playing style. And they are often more likely to develop ambidexterity compared to right-handed individuals. Ambidextrous athletes can really excel by keeping their opponents guessing as to which way they’ll move. Great examples include:
Baseball switch-hitter Mickey Mantle.
Basketball phenom LeBron James, who is naturally left-handed but shoots with his right hand.
Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi, who is predominantly left-footed but has strong skills with his right foot on the field too.
Lefty writers, you’re in good company
Here are a few famous left-handed writers:
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) - Renowned American author of classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) - English writer best known for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass.
H.G. Wells - British author of science fiction classics such as The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and The Invisible Man.
James Baldwin - Influential American writer known for his essays, novels, and plays, including Go Tell It on the Mountain and Giovanni's Room.
Eudora Welty - American author known for her short stories and novels, including The Optimist's Daughter, which won the Pulitzer Prize.
David Sedaris - Contemporary American humorist and essayist known for books like Me Talk Pretty One Day and Naked.
So Lefties, embrace your unique perspective and let your creativity flow onto the page!
The Southpaw writer’s dilemma
It’s no secret that left-handed writers face unique challenges, especially when it comes to writing with pen and ink. There are some tools, work-arounds, and resources that can help, but each person has to find what’s most comfortable or effective for them.
Smudging Ink? No More!
Lefties often battle with smudged ink as their hand moves across the page. One Facebook group member shared her own experience, “Lefties have to push the pen along the paper, vs righties who get to pull their pens along, which is much less effortful. I still have a callus on my left middle finger as the result of years of having to use excess pressure when writing. Most of us lefties end up smearing ink or pencil with the edge of our hands and end up with ink marks all over our skin. Obviously, sending hand written notes or letters is not one of my favorite things to do.”
Quick-drying pens, like the Uni-ball Jetstream or Sakura Pigma Micron, can be game-changers. No more smudges, just crisp, clear writing!
Comfortable Writing Position
Try angling your paper to the right. This simple adjustment can help some lefties see their writing better and reduce strain. Proper posture goes a long way!
Notebooks and Tools for Lefties
Frustration with spiral notebooks was a common complaint from left-handers in our group’s discussion — the spiral gets in the way and is uncomfortable against their wrist or hand. Left-handed notebooks from Lefty's, The Left-Hand Store or Rhodia top-bound notepads offer a smoother experience. And don’t forget you can now buy left-handed scissors and rulers—simple tools that make a big difference!
Handwriting Practice
For those looking to improve their handwriting, practice sheets and programs like those in The Left Handers Club, or Handwriting Without Tears are fantastic resources tailored for left-handers. Don’t be too proud to use a tool intended for children. With a bit of practice, your penmanship will shine!
You’re not alone…find a community of left-handers
Left-handed writers, unite! Connect with others who share your experiences through online communities and resources like LeftyFretz for left-handed guitar players and the Left Handers Day website. Share tips, tricks, and stories to inspire one another.
Let's support our left-handed friends and make note and letter writing a joyous experience for everyone. Chime in with a comment below. If you’re a left-handed writer—or have helped one—what has frustrated you the most? What have you found to make your writing life easier and more enjoyable?
From the Note & Letter Writing Calendar this week
National Code Talkers Day on Wednesday, Aug. 14
Baby Boomers Recognition Day on Saturday Aug. 17
National Bad Poetry Day on Sunday, Aug. 18
On a personal note
We did, indeed, get several inches of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Debby. It was most welcome here at our house, where we remained high and dry, but the flash-flooding wreaked havoc in many places. A local library had 18 inches of rain in their basement and will be closed for weeks while they clean up and remove sodden books and papers.
Coming in September
Thinking of You Week is September 16-22 Let’s create a wave of happiness by letting the special folks in your life know you’re thinking of them. Stay tuned for ways to celebrate.
Next Week
I’m taking a break from research and writing the rest of this month while I work on some soon-to-be-released mini-courses for note and letter writers. Next week, I’ll have a short note-writing prompt and bit of inspiration.
Have a great week and always remember: whether written or spoken, words from the heart will never fail you!
As a left-handed human, I really enjoyed this week’s essay, Elizabeth. Thank you 😊