Touch typing lesson 12: Lessons 7 - 10 + Shift

Keys and finger movements

Keyboard layout: English US.

For capitals, hold Shift with the hand opposite the letter key, then release it. Practice the change between lowercase and uppercase; leaving Caps Lock on does not train this movement.

+ means hold the keys together.

• Q: Shift + Q
• W: Shift + W
• R: Shift + R
• T: Shift + T
• Y: Shift + Y
• U: Shift + U
• O: Shift + O
• P: Shift + P

If a key produces a different character, check that your system's input source matches this layout. On a Mac, Keyboard Viewer shows what Option and Shift produce; Command does not replace Option.

The belief that touch typing is worth learning

If you can see why touch typing is useful to you, it may be easier to set aside time to learn it. Think about how you would use it in your daily work or study. Teachers and people who are skilled in a subject often have to explain to others why it is worth learning.

For typing without looking at the keyboard, one practical benefit is being able to follow the text on the screen while you enter it. If you have already made some progress with all ten fingers and noticed a benefit, you can share that experience with others. For example, you might find that routine keyboard tasks take less time when you no longer have to search for the keys.

AgileFingers is designed to help you practice these typing skills. There are plenty of other interesting things to do, but if your work involves regular typing, practicing touch typing can improve your speed and accuracy and reduce the time spent on keyboard tasks.

Choose something you actually type, such as an email greeting. Notice whether you can finish it without searching for keys.