Touch typing lesson 23: @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, )

Keys and finger movements

Keyboard layout: English US.

When characters share a key, use the same finger to reach it. Adding Shift or AltGr changes the character, not that finger's destination. Keep the reach familiar while you learn to coordinate the extra key; trying a different finger for every combination can make the position harder to remember.

+ means hold the keys together.

• @: Shift + 2
• #: Shift + 3
• $: Shift + 4
• %: Shift + 5
• ^: Shift + 6
• &: Shift + 7
• *: Shift + 8
• (: Shift + 9
• ): Shift + 0

US and GB QWERTY place some punctuation differently. On US, @ is Shift + 2 and a double quote is Shift + '. On GB, @ is Shift + ' and a double quote is Shift + 2; £ is Shift + 3. Follow the selected layout rather than a shortcut learned on the other one.

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.

Using an on-screen keyboard

Using an on-screen keyboard offers a convenient way to enter text on smartphones and tablets, but it has some limitations. Small keys can be uncomfortable to use, and typing without looking at them can be difficult. A tablet such as an iPad can display a larger on-screen keyboard, but this still takes up part of the screen.

Unlike physical keys, its keys cannot be located by touch. On-screen keyboards are practical for filling in forms, writing short messages or emails, and entering URLs. You can use them for longer texts too, although a physical keyboard may be more comfortable for extended typing. Connecting a physical keyboard to a tablet gives you separate keys and can leave more of the screen available for your document.

On-screen keyboards can offer features such as word suggestions, and some touchscreen devices provide vibration feedback as you type. These features may make text entry easier, but they do not give you the feel of separate physical keys. Choose the input method that suits the device and the text you are writing.

With a physical keyboard connected to a tablet, check the active input layout too. The tablet's screen language does not identify the key mapping.