It's not a word per se, but I've always had trouble with the simple concept of left and right.

When I was learning my directions, I had a small scab on my right hand. I was given a helpful memory aid: "The hand with the boo-boo is 'right'."

You can guess what happened next: that's right, a small accident that left a scab on my left hand.
To this day, I get them mixed up.

Apex.



http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9305/tongue6hs.jpg

My best mate from school always had the same difficulty. To this day she glances down to see which hand her rings are on when she's figuring which way to turn:P

over here, they teach the kids that the first finger and thumb on the left hand make an L. Apparently it has yet to occur to them that the kids who have difficulty with left and right are also the ones who can't remember which way an L goes.....

The L works for me. Mys sister uses passenger and driver. Neither of us have any issues with letters.

edit: I also always ask "my left or yours" to give me a sec to check for the L.

Reminds me of a helpful tip for setting the table if you can't remember where the silverware goes.

"Left" and "fork" both have the same number of letters

"Right," "knife," and "spoon" all have the same number of letters.

And that's where they go.

what about the sideplate?

Yeah, well it only works for those basic things. If you are having a state dinner, then it's best to consult a chart.

I've always thought one can overcomplicate nutrition...

actually, I find formal dinners rather fun. Place settings have always been a good way to individualize while still maintaining the air of decorum that goes with a formal meal. Plus... what woman DOESN'T like a chance to dress up??

I'm not much of a dresser-upper...I like to look good, I like to put on nice clothes, but I don't do dressed-up. Not without a fight.

Or you could just remember that they're in alphabetical order.

The way we learned left/right was: if you are a righty, you write with your right hand.

The lefties used left is write.

Another L gimmick is the Less than math symbol, <, looks a bit like an L. Greater than becomes the other one: >.
Now that I think about it, those symbols likely have Official Names but I don't know what they might be.

The alligator eats the bigger number.