Special Issues Faced by Left Handed Writers

Because of the left-to-right nature of most European languages, the left-handed writer’s hand naturally moves over what has previously been written, causing the ink or pencil lead to smear. This situation causes many left-handed people to adopt an awkward hand position, with the hand and wrist bent at an awkward angle above the writing area. This position causes discomfort and fatigue if used for prolonged periods. To avoid this uncomfortable position, changes must be made to the position of the paper and the way that the pen or pencil is held in the hand.

By tilting the paper slightly to the right, a left-handed person can write with his or her arm and wrist in a straighter, more comfortable position. The writing instrument must be held a little higher on the shaft than right-handed writers, in order to avoid smudging and to see what is being written.

By making small adjustments to the position of writing instrument and paper, a left-handed person can write clearly and comfortably for any length of time.