Mirror writing means writing in mirror-reversed script.

Letters are left-right flipped and sentences need to be read right-to-left.

Mirror-writing is typically carried out with the left hand to avoid smudging ink.

Studies show that left-handers are better than right-handers at mirror-writing.

Are left-handers better at mirror-writing than right-handers?

Recently, a reader of this blog emailed me that she was left-handed and had noticed that she was much better at mirror-writing than anybody else she knew. She therefore wanted to know whether there is any scientific evidence that left-handers are better at mirror-writing than right-handers.

Mirror writing means writing in mirror-reversed script, so that letters are left-right flipped and sentences need to be read right-to-left, not left-to-right. The text only appears normal when looked at in a mirror. Mirror writing sometimes occurs in children who are learning to write, but some adults also can mirror-write. For left-handers, mirror writing can feel more convenient than normal writing, as the writing flow from right to left avoids smudging ink with the left hand. It is therefore typically carried out with the left hand, even by right-handers. A famous case of a left-hander who liked to write personal notes in mirror-writing was Leonardo da Vinci. Because of these points, it is reasonable to assume that left-handers may be better at mirror writing than right-handers.

But is this really the case?

The science of left-handedness and mirror-writing

Interestingly, several studies have investigated the association of left-handedness and mirror writing. A 1983 study from the University of Florida had 48 right-handers and 40 left-handers write six sentences in mirror writing while they were timed (Tankle and Heilman, 1983). Left-handers were both significantly faster and significantly more accurate in mirror-writing the sentences than right-handers. In a second sample, the effect that left-handers were faster was replicated.

In contrast to this study, a smaller 1989 study with 32 volunteers did not find any advantage for left-handers when it comes to mirror writing (Vaid and Stiles-Davis, 1989).

To resolve these conflicting results, a study from the University of Regensburg in Germany performed a more in-depth analysis of mirror writing using a digital tablet with 49 volunteers (Tucha and co-workers, 2000). In contrast to previous studies, which focused on writing time and whether letters were written correctly or not, this study analyzed acceleration and velocity profiles of mirror-writing. The results showed clearly that left-handers made fewer errors during mirror-writing than right-handers. Thus, this study, which used more advanced analysis technology, replicates the findings of the 1983 study.

To answer the question from the beginning of this article:

Yes, despite one study showing evidence to the contrary, left-handers are better than right-handers when it comes to mirror writing, as two studies found positive results. This takeaway was also reported in a neurological review article from 2004 (Schott and co-workers, 2004).

Schott, G. D., & Schott, J. M. (2004). Mirror writing, left-handedness, and leftward scripts. Archives of neurology, 61(12), 1849–1851. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.61.12.1849

Tankle, R. S., & Heilman, K. M. (1983). Mirror writing in right-handers and in left-handers. Brain and language, 19(1), 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-934x(83)90058-5

Tucha, O., Aschenbrenner, S., & Lange, K. W. (2000). Mirror writing and handedness. Brain and language, 73(3), 432–441. https://doi.org/10.1006/brln.2000.2316

Vaid, J., & Stiles-Davis, J. (1989). Mirror writing: an advantage for the left-handed?. Brain and language, 37(4), 616–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-934x(89)90115-6

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