how strong is drywall
I believe that it is this process of pressing the paper faces flat with the liquid gypsum sandwiched between along the length of the drywall is what gives drywall its grain. Just like the grain in wood which gives wood much greater strength with the grain (typically the long direction) than against the grain. Drywall is approximately 3 times stronger in the long direction. Consequently, drywall hung perpendicular to the framing members is stronger than drywall hung parallel.