Capitals & Punctuation Typing
About capitals and punctuation
Everything so far has been lowercase, but real writing needs capital letters at the start of sentences and for names, plus punctuation such as the comma, period, apostrophe and question mark. This stage teaches you to add them without breaking your rhythm or looking down.
The key skill is the Shift chord: you hold Shift with one hand while a finger on the other hand presses the letter. Using the opposite hand keeps both movements comfortable and fast. You will practise capital letters first, then the everyday punctuation marks that appear in almost every sentence.
How to type capital letters and punctuation
- To type a capital, hold Shift with the pinky of the hand that is not typing the letter, then press the letter with its correct finger. For a capital F (left index), hold the right Shift; for a capital J (right index), hold the left Shift.
- Always use the opposite-hand Shift. Reaching for Shift with the same hand that types the letter twists your wrist and slows you down.
- Release Shift as soon as the letter is pressed and return both pinkies to their home keys — do not keep Shift held down between letters.
- The apostrophe sits by the right pinky next to the semicolon, while the comma, period and question mark are on the bottom row. Keep every other finger anchored on home while you reach for them.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the same-hand Shift. It feels quicker at first but cramps your hand — always Shift with the hand opposite the letter.
- Leaving Caps Lock on instead of using Shift. Caps Lock is for whole words in capitals; for a single capital letter, Shift is faster and correct.
- Forgetting to return the pinky to its home key after Shift, which throws off your hand position for the next word.
Practice phrases
Practise these short phrases to combine capital letters and punctuation with the letters you already know:
Frequently asked questions
How do I type capital letters when touch typing?
Hold the Shift key with the pinky of one hand and press the letter with a finger on the other hand. Always use the Shift on the opposite side from the letter — the right Shift for left-hand letters, the left Shift for right-hand letters.
Should I use the left or right Shift key?
Use the Shift key opposite the hand typing the letter. If the letter is on the left half of the keyboard (like S or F), hold the right Shift; if it is on the right half (like K or L), hold the left Shift. This keeps both hands balanced and fast.
What is the difference between Shift and Caps Lock?
Shift capitalises one letter while you hold it and is best for a single capital. Caps Lock stays on until you press it again and is meant for typing several capital letters in a row, such as an acronym. For normal sentence capitals, use Shift.
Which finger types the apostrophe and comma?
The apostrophe is typed by the right pinky, just to the right of the semicolon. The comma is typed by the right middle finger and the period by the right ring finger, both on the bottom row.
Why does the same-hand Shift feel awkward?
Pressing Shift and the letter with the same hand forces your fingers to stretch and twist, which is slow and tiring. Splitting the work across both hands — one holds Shift, the other types — is how touch typists capitalise without slowing down.