Capital letters and the opposite-hand Shift rule
Course 4 turns words into sentences. You learn to use the Shift keys for capital letters and to type the punctuation that ordinary writing needs: . , ' " ? ! ; :
The core rule is simple: press Shift with the pinky of the hand that is not typing the letter.
- For a capital letter typed by the left hand (A, S, E, T and so on), hold the right Shift with your right pinky.
- For a capital letter typed by the right hand (J, K, I, P and so on), hold the left Shift with your left pinky.
Using the opposite hand keeps the typing finger free to reach its key normally. Holding Shift and the letter with the same hand forces your hand out of position and is a common source of errors.
Where the punctuation lives
| Character | Keys | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| . (period) | Period key | Right ring |
| , (comma) | Comma key | Right middle |
| ' (apostrophe) | Apostrophe key | Right pinky |
| " (quote) | Left Shift + apostrophe | Left pinky + right pinky |
| ? (question mark) | Left Shift + slash | Left pinky + right pinky |
| ! (exclamation mark) | Right Shift + 1 | Right pinky + left pinky |
| ; (semicolon) | Semicolon key | Right pinky |
| : (colon) | Left Shift + semicolon | Left pinky + right pinky |
Most punctuation sits under the right pinky, so this level gives that finger a lot of work.
How Course 4 is organized
You start with Shift and capital letters on each hand, then add punctuation a few characters at a time, and finish with full sentences that use everything together: capitals at the start, commas in the middle, and a period, question mark or exclamation mark at the end.
To pass Course 4 you need 95% accuracy at 25 WPM.
Common mistakes
- Using the same hand for Shift and the letter. Especially common with the left Shift. Follow the opposite-hand rule even when it feels slower.
- Releasing Shift too late. If you hold Shift a moment too long, the next letter comes out capitalized too. Press Shift, type the letter, let go.
- Releasing Shift too early. The opposite problem: the letter comes out lowercase. Hold Shift until the letter key is fully pressed.
- Reaching for the apostrophe with the ring finger. It belongs to the right pinky, one key to the right of the semicolon.
- Forgetting the space after punctuation. In practice sentences, a period or comma is followed by a space before the next word.
Tips for this level
- Practice common contractions like don't, it's, I'm and you're until the apostrophe reach feels automatic.
- Practice capitalized names and sentence starters. The word after a period is where most Shift mistakes happen.
- Keep the pinky that holds Shift stretched, not curled. The other fingers of that hand should stay near the home row.
- Don't rush. Real sentences have more variety than drills, and your speed will feel slower for a while.
The touch typing finger chart shows every key and its finger in one place, including the Shift keys.
What's next
After this level you can type ordinary sentences with correct capitalization. Next is Course 5: Numbers & Symbols, the farthest reach on the keyboard. To test your sentence typing in a more playful way, try the Typing Challenge, which uses real sentences from literature.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Caps Lock for capital letters?
Only for long stretches of capitals. For single capital letters, Shift is faster and avoids the mistake of forgetting to turn Caps Lock off.
Why not just use one Shift key?
With one Shift, half of all capital letters need awkward same-hand stretches. Using both keeps your hands in position.
Where is the exclamation mark?
It is Shift + 1. Type 1 with your left pinky and hold the right Shift.