Shift with the other hand

Real text is full of capitals, commas, full stops and figures. This is where many self-taught typists lose most of their speed, because they reach for these keys with the wrong fingers or look down.

Shift: always the opposite hand

To type a capital with your left hand, hold the right Shift with your right little finger. For a capital with your right hand, use the left Shift. Using the same hand twists your wrist and slows both keys.

Punctuation and numbers

• The comma and full stop belong to your right middle and ring fingers. Don't lift your whole hand.
• For the number row, reach up from the home row with the same finger as the column below, and come straight back.
• Type the space after a full stop with your thumb as usual. Never look down to check.