Why is salad fork indented on left tine?

There are two common theories about the indentation on the left tine of a salad fork.

The first theory is that the indentation is designed to help the user break up the lettuce leaves when eating salad. This is because the indentation can be used to press down on the leaf and tear it apart.

The second theory is that the indentation is designed to help the user hold the fork more securely when eating salad. This is because the indentation provides a place for the user's thumb to rest, which helps to prevent the fork from slipping out of the hand.

Ultimately, the reason for the indentation on the left tine of a salad fork is not definitively known, but both of these theories are plausible explanations for its design.