Left Handed vs. Right Handed — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Published on February 2, 2024
Left-handed individuals prefer using their left hand for tasks, while right-handed individuals favor their right hand, reflecting brain hemisphere dominance and genetic factors.
Difference Between Left Handed and Right Handed
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Left-handed people primarily use their left hand for tasks like writing and eating, a trait found in about 10% of the population. This preference is believed to stem from a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. In contrast, right-handed individuals, who make up the majority, use their right hand for these tasks. Historically, being left-handed was stigmatized, but modern understanding emphasizes the natural variation in hand preference.
Left-handedness is less common than right-handedness, with various theories explaining the distribution. Some research links left-handedness to creativity and divergent thinking, while right-handed individuals often find it easier to use tools and instruments designed for the majority. In sports, left-handedness can offer a strategic advantage due to its rarity.
In education, left-handed individuals sometimes face challenges, like discomfort using right-handed desks or scissors. However, awareness and accommodation for left-handedness have improved. Right-handed individuals, on the other hand, may find their environment more naturally accommodating.
Culturally, left-handedness has been associated with negative connotations, but these perceptions are changing. Both left-handed and right-handed individuals exhibit a wide range of skills and abilities, making hand preference just one aspect of human diversity.
Comparison Chart
Population Ratio
About 10% of people are left-handed.
About 90% of people are right-handed.
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Brain Hemisphere Dominance
Typically, the right hemisphere is more dominant.
Typically, the left hemisphere is more dominant.
Cultural Perceptions
Historically seen negatively in some cultures.
Generally viewed neutrally or positively.
Tool and Instrument Design
Often need specially designed items.
Most tools and instruments are designed for them.
Sports Advantage
Can have an element of surprise in some sports.
More common, opponents are used to playing against them.
Compare with Definitions
Left Handed
Favoring the use of the left hand for writing, eating, and other activities.
She writes her name quickly, her left-handed script elegant and swift.
Right Handed
Favoring the use of the right hand for tasks such as writing and eating.
He is right-handed, using his dominant hand to throw the ball.
Left Handed
Clumsy or awkward; often not literal about hand use.
His attempt at fixing the sink was a rather left-handed effort.
Right Handed
Made to be used by the right hand.
She struggled with the can opener until she realized it was right-handed.
Left Handed
Insincere or underhanded; colloquial metaphorical use.
His compliments felt left-handed, leaving her more insulted than flattered.
Right Handed
Skilled, adept, or competent; often used in a broader context than just hand use.
Her approach to problem-solving is always right-handed and effective.
Left Handed
Coming from or located on the left side.
The boxer's left-handed jab was surprisingly powerful.
Right Handed
Direct or straightforward; colloquial metaphorical use.
His feedback was right-handed and much appreciated for its honesty.
Left Handed
Using the left hand more skillfully or easily than the right.
Right Handed
Using the right hand more skillfully or easily than the left.
Left Handed
(Sports) Swinging from left to right
A left-handed batter.
A left-handed golfer.
Right Handed
(Sports) Swinging from the right to the left
A right-handed batter.
Left Handed
Done with the left hand.
Right Handed
Done with the right hand.
Left Handed
Intended for wear on or use by the left hand
Left-handed scissors.
Right Handed
Intended for wear on or use by the right hand
A right-handed pair of scissors.
Left Handed
Awkward; maladroit.
Right Handed
Turning or spiraling from left to right; clockwise.
Left Handed
Of doubtful sincerity; dubious
Left-handed flattery.
A left-handed compliment.
Right Handed
Rotating clockwise; dextrorotatory.
Left Handed
Of, relating to, or born of a morganatic marriage.
Right Handed
With the right hand.
Left Handed
Turning or spiraling from right to left; counterclockwise.
Right Handed
(Sports) From right to left
Swings right-handed.
Left Handed
Rotating counterclockwise; levorotatory.
Right Handed
Using their right hand in preference to, or more skillfully than, their left.
Left Handed
With the left hand.
Right Handed
(not comparable) Intended to be worn on, or used by, the right hand.
Left Handed
(Sports) From the left to the right
Swings left-handed.
Right Handed
(not comparable) Turning or spiralling from left to right; clockwise.
Left Handed
Using one's left hand in preference to, or more skillfully than, one's right.
Right Handed
(physics) Of a particle for which the direction of its spin is the same as the direction of its motion.
Left Handed
Intended to be worn on, or used by, the left hand.
Right Handed
Of a coordinate system: following the right-hand rule.
Left Handed
Turning or spiraling from right to left; anticlockwise.
Right Handed
Right-handed people, taken as a whole.
Left Handed
Awkward or maladroit.
Right Handed
Using the right hand habitually, or more easily than the left.
Left Handed
Insincere or malicious.
Right Handed
Having the same direction or course as the movement of the hands of a watch seen in front; - said of the motion of a revolving object looked at from a given direction.
Left Handed
Performed with the intention of doing harm or in transgression against convention or taboo.
Right Handed
Having the whorls rising from left to right; dextral; - said of spiral shells. See Illust. of Scalaria.
Left Handed
Of a coordinate system: not following the right-hand rule.
Right Handed
Using or intended for the right hand;
A right-handed batter
Right-handed scissors
Left-handed golfers need left-handed clubs
Left-handed scissors
Left Handed
Left-handed people, taken as a whole.
Right Handed
Rotating to the right
Left Handed
Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.
Right Handed
Coming from or located on the right side.
The car made a sudden right-handed turn, surprising the passengers.
Left Handed
Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment.
The commendations of this people are not always left-handed and detractive.
Left Handed
Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when seen in front; - said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at from a given direction.
Left Handed
Using or intended for the lefts hand;
Left-handed golfers need left-handed clubs
Left-handed scissors
A right-handed batter
Right-handed scissors
Left Handed
(of marriages) illicit or informal;
In Colonial America left-handed marriages between Frenchmen and Indians were frequent
Left Handed
(of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior
Left Handed
Rotating to the left
Left Handed
Ironically ambiguous;
A left-handed compliment
Left Handed
Not skillful in physical movement especially with the hands;
A bumbling mechanic
A bungling performance
Ham-handed governmental interference
Could scarcely empty a scuttle of ashes, so handless was the poor creature
Left Handed
Made specifically to be used by the left hand.
He bought a left-handed guitar to accommodate his playing style.
Common Curiosities
Do left-handed individuals face any specific health issues?
There's no conclusive evidence linking left-handedness to specific health issues, though some studies suggest varied risk factors.
Why are most tools and instruments designed for right-handed people?
Since a majority of the population is right-handed, tools and instruments are designed to cater to this larger segment.
Is left-handedness less common than right-handedness worldwide?
Yes, left-handed individuals constitute about 10% of the population globally.
Are left-handed individuals more creative?
Some research suggests a correlation between left-handedness and creativity, though findings are not definitive.
Is there a cultural stigma associated with being left-handed?
Cultural perceptions vary, but modern views are increasingly neutral, recognizing left-handedness as a natural variation.
Are there famous left-handed people who have excelled in their fields?
Absolutely, numerous left-handed individuals have excelled in various fields, including arts, sports, and leadership.
Is being left-handed genetic?
Yes, genetics play a role in determining hand preference, though the exact mechanisms are complex.
Can left-handed people use right-handed tools effectively?
It varies, but many left-handed individuals adapt to right-handed tools, though discomfort and inefficiency can be issues.
Can handedness be changed or influenced?
Handedness is largely innate, though it can be influenced by external factors, especially in early childhood.
Can educational settings accommodate left-handed students?
Yes, many schools now provide resources and equipment suited for left-handed students.
Are there any benefits to being left-handed?
Some studies suggest advantages in certain sports and creative thinking for left-handed individuals.
How can parents support a left-handed child?
Parents can support a left-handed child by providing suitable tools, ensuring comfort in learning environments, and encouraging confidence in their natural preference.
Are there any advantages to being right-handed?
Right-handed individuals may find it easier to use common tools and instruments, as these are predominantly designed for them.
Do left-handed individuals have a strategic advantage in certain sports?
Yes, in sports like baseball and tennis, left-handed players can have a strategic advantage due to their rarity.
Is right-handedness considered the norm in society?
Historically, right-handedness has been viewed as the norm, but this perspective is changing to embrace all types of hand preferences.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
