Capital Letters & Shift

Shift + letter

Capitals trip up a lot of typists because they reach for the nearest Shift with the wrong hand. The rule is simple: Shift with the opposite hand from the letter.

The opposite-hand rule

Typing a capital S (left hand)? Hold the right Shift. Typing a capital P (right hand)? Hold the left Shift. This keeps one hand free to press the letter cleanly while the other holds Shift.

Using the same-hand Shift forces an awkward claw and is the #1 cause of sloppy capitals.

Keep the rhythm

Press and release Shift as part of the same beat as the letter — hold, strike, release. With practice it stops feeling like two actions and becomes one.

Tip: Shift with the hand opposite the letter — always.

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