While there is a common perception that fountain pens are problematic for left-handers, the truth is that lefties love fountain pens. In fact, left-handers tend to own fountain pens at a higher rate than their percentage of the population might otherwise indicate.

The perception that fountain pens are problematic for left-handers probably dates from the era when many fountain pens were equipped with flexible or semi-flexible nibs, which can pose challenges for some (but not all) lefties. Most modern fountain pens, however, ship with rigid nibs that are both smoother-writing on the page and also easier for writers of all kinds, including lefties, to use.

That said, there is one significant issue facing left-handed fountain pen users - in any language such as English that is written from left to right, writers have to develop a strategy to avoid dragging the pen hand through the drying ink. Most writers do this so easily and instinctively that they don't even think about it - the photos below on this page illustrate the various writing styles utilized by left-handers.

Knowing what kind of left-handed writer you are helps John when he tunes a pen for your individual writing preferences and characteristics - with a few seemingly simple adjustments, most any pen and nib combinations can be made to work. Please consult the photos below - and if the method you use is not shown here, let us know that as well.

#1

Michael McCarthy is an underwriter. His writing line slopes downward at about 20 degrees. He is holding his pen at a right angle to the writing line.He writes neutrally, neither pushing or pulling the pen.

#2

Rick Propas is an overwriter, sometimes called a 'hooker'.  His line rises at about 15 degrees.
He writes neutrally, neither pushing or pulling the pen.

#3

Jimmy Yu is an overwriter, holding the point of his pen toward himself and the writing line rising at about 40 degrees. He writes neutrally, neither pushing or pulling the pen.

#4

Linda Avanzino is an overwriter. She writes vertically, away from herself at about 90 degrees. She pushes the nib across the page.

#5

Pat Ackor is an underwriter. Her writing line slopes downward at about 45 degrees. She writes neutrally, neither pushing or pulling the pen.

#6

Jose Suro is a side-writer keeping his paper vertically in front of him. He pushes the nib almost directly across the page.

#7

Steve Barnett gives a slightly different twist to his side-writer style. You can see that he rotates his pen so that the imprint of the nib is facing the top right corner of the page. He pushes the nib across the page.

#8

Emily Eldredge is a side-writer. She is a pusher with her line falling at about 25 degrees. She pushes the nib across the page.

An article was written for the PENnant about left-handed writers. 'Notes from the Nib Works'

Left-hand Writers
revised 6/8/04

      While just over ten percent of Americans are left handed, they represent a disproportionate number of fountain pen users (at least from the perspective of The Nib Works.) This may at first glance seem strange, given the difficulty that they have using fountain pens. But, on further thought, this may not be so strange. Faced with a difficult situation, left-handers seem to push ahead and embrace the challenges that are thrown their way... Click here to read more.