Right-side keyboard letters make words feel more positive
In 2012, psychologists Kyle Jasmin and Daniel Casasanto discovered something bizarre: words typed primarily with the right side of a QWERTY keyboard are perceived as more positive than words typed with the left side.
This effect appears across English, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, and German—and even works for made-up words. The researchers found that since QWERTY has more letters on the left (15) than the right (11), right-side letters are easier to type, creating subtle positive associations.
Rate how positive or negative each word feels to you. Don't overthink it— go with your gut reaction. We'll analyze whether your ratings correlate with keyboard position.
Type a word to see its Right-Side Advantage score:
The researchers found that American baby names have shifted toward more right-side letters since QWERTY became widespread. Names coined after QWERTY's adoption show higher RSA scores on average.