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Home > Left Return or Right Return? Left Bridge or Right Bridge? What do They Mean?
Left Return or Right Return? Left Bridge or Right Bridge? What do They Mean?
If you order office furniture you may need to decide if you need a left or right return on an L-shaped desk or a left or right bridge on a U-shaped desk. This can be confusing. Fortunately, many L-shaped and U-shaped office desks are reversible, but many are not, and you don't want to order the wrong one.
The "return" is the "wing" portion of an L-shaped desk. It’s called a return because manual typewriters had what was called a "carriage return" lever that moved the paper or type mechanism sideways to start a new line. It also usually moved the paper up one line. In the earliest typewriters, both left and right carriage returns were made. Left and right return desks were designed to accommodate these typewriters, and the same terminology was used.
You determine a left versus right return from the perspective of the person sitting at the desk. So if you are sitting at the main desk you have a left return L-shaped desk if the return section of the desk is at your left. If you are sitting at the main desk and the return section is at your right, then you have a right return L-shaped desk.
The same format applies if you have a U-shaped desk. In this case the smaller desk attached to the main desk is called a bridge. It also connects to the credenza behind you to form a "U". If you are sitting at the main desk and the bridge is at your left, then you have a left bridge U-shaped desk. If you are sitting at the main desk and the bridge is at your right, then you have a right bridge U-shaped desk.
Which do you need? Left or right? That depends on the layout of your office and your own preference. Sometimes one or the other is the only configuration that will fit in your space. In a small number of cases it doesn't make a difference, but usually one configuration is easier to access or makes the most efficient use of your office.
As always, don't hesitate to contact Modern Office at 1-800-443-5117 with any of your office furniture questions.
Modern Office is known for offering a large selection of office furniture from over 100 manufacturers at discount prices -- not just the limited colors or sizes you may see elsewhere.
Back to Office Furniture Buyer's Guide
The "return" is the "wing" portion of an L-shaped desk. It’s called a return because manual typewriters had what was called a "carriage return" lever that moved the paper or type mechanism sideways to start a new line. It also usually moved the paper up one line. In the earliest typewriters, both left and right carriage returns were made. Left and right return desks were designed to accommodate these typewriters, and the same terminology was used.
You determine a left versus right return from the perspective of the person sitting at the desk. So if you are sitting at the main desk you have a left return L-shaped desk if the return section of the desk is at your left. If you are sitting at the main desk and the return section is at your right, then you have a right return L-shaped desk.
The same format applies if you have a U-shaped desk. In this case the smaller desk attached to the main desk is called a bridge. It also connects to the credenza behind you to form a "U". If you are sitting at the main desk and the bridge is at your left, then you have a left bridge U-shaped desk. If you are sitting at the main desk and the bridge is at your right, then you have a right bridge U-shaped desk.
Which do you need? Left or right? That depends on the layout of your office and your own preference. Sometimes one or the other is the only configuration that will fit in your space. In a small number of cases it doesn't make a difference, but usually one configuration is easier to access or makes the most efficient use of your office.
As always, don't hesitate to contact Modern Office at 1-800-443-5117 with any of your office furniture questions.
Modern Office is known for offering a large selection of office furniture from over 100 manufacturers at discount prices -- not just the limited colors or sizes you may see elsewhere.
Back to Office Furniture Buyer's Guide
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Modern Office is a small, family-owned and operated office furniture company that has been located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis) for over 40 years. Our serious attention and assistance to our customers has made us an office furniture provider to over 100,000+ businesses, institutions and individuals worldwide. We look forward to serving you too. Most items are in-stock or ship within a few short days. Modern Office is known for offering a large selection of quality business furniture from over 100 manufacturers at discount prices -- not just the limited colors or sizes you may see elsewhere. Shipping is free whether you are in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, or anywhere in the 48 contiguous states.© Copyright 2025 · Modern Office Furniture · All Rights Reserved Yahoo Store Web Design by Solid Cactus