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In a largely right handed world, left handed people often have to adapt to everyday tools and devices, and writing implements are no exception. Here, we look at the best pens for left handed writers.
We’ve come a long way since the days of left handed people having their hands tied behind their backs in school, but we all remember the friend who left a trail of smudged ink across their exercise book. So, how can their choice of pen make their lives easier, and what should businesses with left handed customers take into account?
The challenges of writing for left handed people
Globally, 10% of the population are left handed which means that for anyone using personalised pens to advertise your business, 1 in 10 of your customers will experience the following challenges:
Ink smudges: When left handed people write, their hand often moves over freshly written ink, resulting in smudging. This is particularly common with gel and fountain pens, where the ink can take longer to dry.
Poor ink flow: In languages where we write from left to right, a right handed person will pull the pen across the paper while a leftie will push the pen across the page. This leads to the pen tip skipping more often, creating breaks in the handwriting.
Uncomfortable grip: Many standard pens are shaped for right-handers, making it difficult for left handed users to find a comfortable grip. This awkward positioning can lead to hand cramps and fatigue during extended writing sessions.
Limited visibility: Because left handers write from left to right across the page, they often cover up what they’ve just written with their hand. This can make the writing process slower and more cumbersome, especially when using pens that aren’t designed for their grip.
Features of the best pen for left handed writers
Pens that are ideally suited for left handers include the following features:
Quick-drying ink: One of the primary features of left handed pens is quick-drying ink. Some pens that are notorious for smudging such as ink pens are now available with faster-drying inks that allow left handed users to write confidently without worrying about ruining their work.
Low viscosity ink: useful for all writers but incredibly important for left handers, low viscosity ink gives smooth ink flow. This means less pressure is needed for ink flow, reducing the exertion required to write which in turn leads to a greater level of comfort for the writer.
Ergonomic design: Pens for left handers need an ergonomic design for increased comfort, with contoured or rubberised grips to support the hand. When the hand is supported, fatigue and cramping are reduced.
Personalised pens for left-handers from Fast Pens
At Fast Pens, our range of personalised pens includes plastic pens, metal pens, and eco friendly pens, all of which are all ballpoint pens. The ink in our ballpoint pens is a quick-drying, oil-based ink to reduce the incidence of smudging for lefties.
Our best-selling plastic pen, along with several others in the range, features a rubberised grip for comfort, available in a wide choice of colours. We also offer a choice of personalised metal pens with a soft-touch rubberised barrel – one is printable, while the other can be engraved.
For left handers, the print on a personalised pen will be upside down as the print is applied from left to right with the nib on the left hand side. However, at Fast Pens, we offer the option to customise our pens on both sides. This then allows the print to be read by both right and left handers! For a quote for double-sided printing, please contact us.
While International Lefthanders Day is officially observed on August 13th, our personalised pens are available year-round, to show your customers and clients that you understand the challenges they face every single day. To find out more, new customers should call 01790 729833 while existing customers can reach the team on 01790 755833.
