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LEARNING THE KEYBOARD
The first step in typewriting is learning the keyboard. Figure 2-2 shows a typical typewriter keyboard. For illustration purposes, it has been divided into two sections. The left-hand section represents the keys controlled by your left hand, and the right-hand section represents the keys controlled by your right hand.
Home Keys
The shaded keys (fig. 2-2) are called the HOME keys. Your fingers stay on these keys when they are not depressing a key. After you depress any key other than the home key, the respective finger returns to its home key. The home keys for the left-hand section are A, S, D, and F; and the home keys for the right-hand section are the J, K, L, and ;.
Finger Placement
Figure 2-3 shows the fingers of the typist in relation to the keyboard. The following subparagraphs give the responsibility of each finger.
RIGHT INDEX FINGER, This finger (J) has the J key as its home key. It is used to depress the J key and the keys identified as , Y, U, H, N, M, and &7.
RIGHT FOREFINGER. This finger (K) has the K key as a home key. It is used to depress the I, K, *8, and , keys.
RIGHT RING FINGER. This finger (L) has the L key as a home key. It is used to depress the L, O, ., and (9 keys.
RIGHT LITTLE FINGER, This finger (;) controls many keys. It is used for depressing the p, :, ;, 0), +=, _ -, 1/4 1/2, " ' and /?. It also controls the shift, return, express backspace (EXP, backspace, index, and correcting keys.
RIGHT THUMB. The right thumb is used for operating the space bar. This is its only function in touch typing.
LEFT INDEX FINGER. This finger (F) has the F key as its home key. It is used to depress the V05, , T, G, B, V, F, and R keys.
LEFT FOREFINGER. This finger (D) has the D key as its home key. It is used to depress the D, E, C, and the #3 keys.
LEFT RING FINGER. This finger (A) has the A key as a home key, and is responsible for depressing the S, W, X, AND @2 keys.
LEFT LITTLE FINGER. This finger (A) has the A key as a home key and is responsible for depressing the Q, A, Z, 1, ! shift key, the shift lock, tab, tab set and release, and margin release keys.
LEFT THUMB. The left thumb is not used in touch typing.
BEGINNING TO TYPEWRITE
The keyboard and other typewriter features have been explained in preceding paragraphs of this section. At this point, you should be familiar enough with these features to start typing.
Figure 2-2. - Typewriter keyboard.