Touch Typing Lessons
You've mastered the alphabet. Now it's time to learn the symbols that give writing its rhythm and meaning: punctuation.
Lesson 5: Punctuation
Punctuation marks are small, but they're in charge. A period ends a thought. A question mark opens one. An exclamation demands attention. In this lesson, we'll review the punctuation keys you've already learned, add a few new ones, and put them all to work.
How this lesson works: Each section has two exercises. Technique Training builds muscle memory through focused patterns. Practice applies what you've learned to real writing. Complete them in order for best results.
Review
First, let's review the punctuation marks you've already learned: ; , . /.
5.1 Review Punctuation: ; , . /
These keys should already be familiar from your work in lessons 1 through 3.
New Keys
5.2 Apostrophe: '
Ain't nobody got time to type every letter! Let's learn the apostrophe: '
The ' (apostrophe key) is located to the right of the semicolon key. Reach one key to the right from the semicolon with your right pinky.
Shifted Symbols
Here's a secret: the punctuation keys are hiding more symbols. Hold shift, and the semicolon becomes a colon. The slash? A question mark. The apostrophe you just learned? A double quote. Let's unlock them.
5.3 Colon and Double Quote: : "
The colon says: "pay attention." The quote says: "someone important said this." Even if it's just you. Let's learn: : "
The colon is the shifted symbol for the semicolon key. Type it with your right pinky while holding the left shift key.
The double quote is the shifted symbol for the apostrophe key. Type it with your right pinky while holding the left shift key.
5.4 Question Mark: ?
Bored with typing declarative sentences?
The question mark symbol is on the bottom row. Type it with your right pinky while holding the left shift key.
Putting It Together
Let's put your punctuation skills to work and continue our story. Type along and see what happens...
To be continued...
Number Row Punctuation
The number row is the top row of the keyboard, above the letter keys. You'll learn to type numbers in the next lesson, but punctuation symbols are also located on this row. These require the longest reach from the home row, so take your time and focus on accuracy.
5.6 Exclamation: !
Time to learn the most exciting character!!! (Dad jokes: ENGAGED)
The exclamation symbol is on the number row. Type it with your left pinky while holding the right shift key. This is a long reach, so try to keep your index finger anchored on the F key to make it easier to return to the home position.
5.7 Hyphen: -
But wait -- there's more! Let's learn to type the hyphen to make nifty compound word-kabobs: -
The hyphen is on the number row, to the right of the 0 key. Type it with your right pinky. This is also a long reach, but if you keep your index finger anchored on J, it will help you return to the home keys.
Typographer's note: In published writing, a double hyphen (--) is typically replaced with an em-dash (—). Most word processors make this substitution automatically. Since there's no em-dash key on standard keyboards, we type two hyphens instead.
The Return and Backspace Keys
Now that you know the punctuation marks, let's learn two essential editing keys: Return (also called Enter) and Backspace.
Return Key: ↵
The Return key (labeled "Enter" on some keyboards) is located on the right side of the keyboard. Press it with your right pinky to create a new line. This key is used to submit forms, create paragraphs, and execute commands.
Backspace Key: ←
The Backspace key is in the top-right corner of the main keyboard area. Press it with your right pinky to delete the character to the left of the cursor. The Backspace key is essential for correcting mistakes.
5.8 Return Key Practice: ↵
Let's practice the Return key by continuing Tom and Val's story. Press Return at the end of each line to move to the next.
Punctuation in the Wild
Let's find out what happened to Tom and Val.
They say old dogs don't learn new tricks, but three-thousand-year-old Egyptian cat goddesses are an entirely different story.
You survived the night shift at the museum. You learned apostrophes, colons, quotes, question marks, exclamations, and hyphens. And somewhere in there, a three-thousand-year-old cat goddess stole some biscuits. Standard punctuation lesson, really. Repeat any exercise until you can consistently hit 95% accuracy or above, then move on.