Week 8: Capitals and Shift

Every letter you have learned so far has been typed in lowercase. This week you do not learn any new keys. Instead you practice using Shift correctly to type capital letters. Shift is pressed with the pinky of the hand that is not typing the letter. This rule keeps both hands close to their home positions and keeps your typing flowing.

What you will learn

This week introduces one skill: using Shift with the opposite pinky.

• For a capital letter typed with the left hand, press Shift with your right pinky.
• For a capital letter typed with the right hand, press Shift with your left pinky.
• Press Shift before the letter, type the letter, then release both keys together.

With this rule you can type names such as Alice or London and start sentences with a capital letter, using the correct pinky each time.

Technique tips

• Get the opposite pinky ready before you type the letter. The pinky should reach the Shift key before the letter key is pressed.
• When the pinky presses Shift, keep the rest of the hand still. Move only the pinky, not the wrist.
• Release Shift right after the capital letter. If Shift stays down, the next letters will also come out capitalized.
• Capitalize the first letter of each sentence and each proper name. Use the same finger rule every time so it becomes automatic.

Lessons

1. Lesson 1, learn (10–15 minutes): Watch the keyboard demo for Shift. Practice which pinky to use for capital letters on the left and right sides of the keyboard.
2. Lesson 2, practice (10–15 minutes): Type names and short sentences with capital letters. Check that Shift is released after each capital.
3. Lesson 3, review (10–15 minutes): Repeat the places where you mix up capitals and lowercase letters, then finish with the 2-minute test.

This week’s goal

Reach 22 WPM and 93% accuracy. Finishing the lessons earns 1 star. Reaching 93% accuracy earns 2 stars. Reaching 22 WPM as well earns 3 stars. Capitals slow most learners down at first. Focus on choosing the correct pinky, and the speed will come with practice.