This question is in reference to the use of the word "hand" in "right-hand side" (and applies equally to the left).
My question is what does "right-hand side" say/imply that "right side" doesn't?
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3If you mean this question to apply to "left/left-hand" as well, you will need to say so. "Why do we insert hand into these phrases when it's superfluous?"– Andrew Leach ♦Commented Aug 24, 2012 at 17:22
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2It gets worse when people refer to right-hand and left-hand pedals...– Brian NixonCommented Aug 25, 2012 at 11:23
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Because they're superfluous idiots that want to be slapped with your right hand hand.– user46074Commented Jun 14, 2013 at 16:37
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Does anyone think it could have something to do with the cadence in "right-hand side"? In "right side" there is a longer pause between the words. Consider also for instance the fact that people tend to say, "Where's it at?" and not "Where's it?"– Kaiser OctaviusCommented Jun 14, 2013 at 16:57
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1because language naturally contains lots of redundancy to ensure a good signal-to-noise ratio.– endolithCommented Jul 22, 2014 at 1:47
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5 Answers
I suppose that hand is used to distinguish from right as in correct.
answered Aug 24, 2012 at 14:54
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7By that logic, we use hand on the other side, too, to distinguish from left as in remaining. :^)– J.R.Commented Aug 24, 2012 at 18:38
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2@J.R. Reminds me of the epic wordplay, "War decides not who is right, but who is left." Commented Apr 10, 2023 at 18:11
Handedness is perhaps the most common way of teaching someone left from right. While there are other natural things that exhibit consistant directionality (the circular flow of water in a drain in a given hemisphere; the rotation of the earth when seen from above a particular pole, etc.) none is as readily accessible to the viewer as her or his own handedness. Most of us know from an early age which of our hands is dominant, and that is labeled by our elders as either right or left, depending on our proclivities (let's skip the brain dominance discussion for now).
We can then identify whether the direction or side we are considering corresponds to our right or left side, based on our knowledge of our dominant hand.
I think the hand reference when discussing side is a reflection (residual) of this basic analysis we learned in our youth.
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Not all cultures have "right" and "left". Some refer exclusively to geographic direction, like "your north hand", which changes depending on which direction you're facing.– endolithCommented Jul 22, 2014 at 1:52
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1@endolith That's very interesting. Which cultures? And what happens when you are facing north or south?– bibCommented Jul 22, 2014 at 2:06
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it would become your "east hand" or "west hand" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/… or other cultures use "uphill" and "downhill"? geo-mexico.com/?p=3680– endolithCommented Jul 22, 2014 at 13:28
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@bib "Which cultures?" 9 years late but: the Aboriginal Australian Guugu Yimithirr people of Hopevale in Queensland, whose language is also called Guugu Yimithirr. See Guugu Yimithirr Cardinal Directions.– PharapCommented Nov 2, 2023 at 23:28
I always thought right/left hand side was used instead of right/left side so you could be clear about a location.
For example, when something is on the right hand side of the dresser, if you are facing the dresser, it will be to your right, not on the actual right side of the dresser from its point of view, facing you.
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Good point. You could think of it as being opposite of "stage right/left", the right/left as viewed from the subject looking towards you. Bojack Horseman: "Okay, move it to the left a little ... I meant stage left. See, I'm a famous actor..." Commented Apr 10, 2023 at 18:20
My husband and I have been 'discussing' this for years. If you look at a 'thing', e.g. car or boat, the right or starboard side of the boat is on the left hand side as you face the boat, but it is still the right side of the boat. I say the right side of the boat is always the right side. Key word is 'OF' - the side belongs to the boat. Same with a piece of furniture, etc., but as you face a piece of furniture, the left hand side is relative to the person facing the furniture. Same with N, S, E, and W on a map. E is on the left side OF the map but it is on the left hand side as one faces it.
Its based on perspective. When you say Right-Hand side, you imply that it is your perspective, versus right side, which could be either
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2Surely then you should say "my right-hand side" to be clear since, presumably, the person you're talking to also has a right hand. Commented Jul 19, 2022 at 18:50