Reaching for “Enter” (“Return”)

Pressing the Enter key (sometimes called the ‘Return’ key) will start a new line when you are entering text. NOTE: the Enter key will also, in many dialog boxes or web-pages, often activate a ‘default’ button without you having to click it with the mouse.

A touch typist avoids unnecessary movement by reaching for the Enter key with the closest finger - the little finger on the right hand. Since it is quite a big stretch, some people may have to ‘stray’ from the right hand home position a bit (lifting most or all fingers off the home row keys or even, if necessary, letting go of the index finger’s home key (the one with the ‘bump’ on it)!

This ‘straying from home’ is fine as long as you can do it and return to the home position, without looking down! And that is only possible if part of your hand stays in contact with the keyboard: for most people this means leaving your thumb gently touching the spacebar (though you may slide it along the spacebar to the right, if that makes it easier).

Your body’s internal (proprioceptive) sensor system will ‘record’ the splaying & stretching of your fingers and how far you slide along the spacebar, as movement relative to the starting (home) position . If you trust your body, you’ll find that reversing the stretch and slide (whilst keeping your eyes up) can, with very little practice, become a comfortable, relaxed and accurate movement.

PRACTISE reaching for Enter, by drilling the story letters with a ‘Return’ between each key phrase, like this: Qaz You may find that your Word Processor Wsx ‘capitalises’ each group for you Edc… automatically when you press Return

Reaching for “Shift”

Pressing and holding one of the Shift keys, while you type another key, will give you either the Upper Case (of a letter key) or the uppermost of the two symbols shown on most symbol/number keys.

A touch typist avoids unnecessary movement by reaching for the Shift key with the closest ‘idle’ finger - the little finger of whichever hand is NOT busy pressing another key. In other words, using Shift is always a TWO-handed action. You use the opposite Shift key to the hand that’s pressing the desired letter/symbol key.

Since you need to keep your eyes up, it’s best to feel your way carefully with your fingers, get both hands in position - and not commit to pressing anything until you’re sure both hands are correct.

You may need to ‘stray’ from the home position with some of your fingers, but it’s important to keep either your thumb, or your index finger (or both) in their home positions (ie thumb on the spacebar and index finger on the ‘bump’), so that your body’s internal (proprioceptive) sensor system can ‘record’ the stretch you need to make as relative movements with respect to the finger(s) that stay in contact with the keys. This makes reversing the stretch without looking easier.

Once both hands are in position, practise making three separate moves: 1) carefully press and hold Shift, then 2) tap the other key with the opposite hand, and finally 3) lift off Shift with the first hand…. After this bring ALL fingers home (to their home keys) before you think about your next keystrokes.

For letters or symbols you type with your right hand, use the left Shift key. Beware of accidentally pressing ‘Caps Lock’ (directly to the left of your left little finger’s home position). Consider moving your left little finger onto Caps Lock first but NOT pressing it. Then feeling your way one row down (to Shift).

PRACTISE using Shift by drilling the story letters but deliberately giving each group a capital first letter: Qaz Wsx Edc Rfv…

Reaching for “Backspace”

Pressing the Backspace key is the quickest, easiest and most relevant way for a touch typist to delete text – whether it’s to correct a “typo” or edit/replace a word or phrase with a better alternative.

Other ways to delete text (eg: highlighting with the mouse, using the “Delete” key or the “Cut” function) all require you to move away significantly from your ‘home position’ and thus interrupt the flow of your typing. Using Backspace can become part of your (fast, automatic and comfortable) touch typing, which allows you to correct and edit ‘on the fly’.

A touch typist avoids unnecessary movement or ‘contortion’ by reaching for the Backspace key with whichever finger is closest and/or most comfortable . Unlike the central area of the keyboard, with Backspace (and other distant ‘peripheral’ keys) it is not so important that a specific finger is used. Differences in hand size and dexterity mean that where one person uses their right little finger , another may find the ring finger or even the longest middle finger is easier to use.

It is important, though , that one part of the right hand stays in contact with the keyboard (eg the thumb gently resting on the spacebar, or the index finger staying on its home key, the one with a ‘bump’ on it). By staying ‘in touch’ with the keyboard in this way, the body’s internal (proprioceptive) sensor system can ‘record’ all the stretches and twists the hand makes as relative movements which can be easily reversed by the body without you needing to look down.

So, you can choose whichever of these options seems easiest and most comfortable to you: 1) keep your thumb on the spacebar and stretch up to press Backspace with your little finger; 2) keep index finger on the ‘bump’ and pivot on that key, to reach for the Backspace with your little finger; 3) keep your thumb on the spacebar, and make a big stretch with the middle finger (or maybe your ring finger).

PRACTISE using Backspace by drilling the Story letters (especially the right hand) Yhn (backspace) yh yhn (backspace, backspace) yhy ujm (backspace) yhyu ik, … and for each group backspace over one or more letters before continuing: