This document provides instructions on proper keyboarding technique and formatting for symbols. It discusses maintaining proper posture at the keyboard with feet flat, back straight, elbows at sides and fingers curved. Instructions are given for finger placement on home row keys and operating number and symbol keys using the touch method. Guidelines are also outlined for correct spacing around common punctuation symbols and formatting marks when typing.

1. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 1
01.00 Use the touch method in
operating the keyboard and
numeric keypad
Objective 1.03 Execute the
touch method in operating
number and symbol keys

2. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 2
Posture and Technique Review
 Sit up straight
 Feet flat on the floor
 Body centered in front of the computer
 Elbows naturally by side
 Fingers curved
 Wrists low, but not touching the keyboard
 Quick, snappy strokes

3. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 3
 Quick down and in motion of the thumb
 Right pinky used for the enter key; other
fingers remain on the home row
 Examine the number keys carefully to form a
mental picture of the layout.
 Keep your eyes on the copy (what you are
typing from, not the keyboard and your
fingers)
 Place your fingers on the center of each key
with the fingers slightly curved
 Strike keys firmly and release them quickly
Posture and Technique Review--continued

4. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 4
Home Row Keys Review

5. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 5
Keyboard Fingering Layout
Number and Symbol Keys
~
#
3
$
4
%
5
^
6
Tab Q W E R T Y U I
:
LK
}{
PO
Backspace
+
=
_
-
)
0
@
2
!
1
(
9
*8
&
7
Caps Lock
Shift
D
Ctrl
JF G H
Z
Enter“
SA
><
MNBVCX ?
Shift
CtrlAltSpacebarAlt
A S D F J K L ;

6. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 6
Spacing Around Symbols
 . (period)—space once after when used with abbreviations or
initials, space twice after at the end of a sentence
 , (comma)—space once after
 ; (semi-colon)—space once after
 : (colon)—space twice after except when stating time
 ? (question mark)—space twice after at the end of a sentence
 * (asterisk)—no space between word and symbol
 ! (exclamation point)—space twice after at the end of a sentence
 @ (at)—one space before and after except in an email address
 # (number/pound symbol)—no space between figure and symbol
 $ (dollar sign)—no space after
 “ ” (quotation)—no space after beginning, one space after ending

7. 01.03 6511 Keyboarding 7
Spacing--continued
 - (hyphen)—no space before or after
 — (dash)—no space before or after
 / (slash or diagonal)—no space before or after
 + (plus)—one space before and after
 > (greater than)—no space before or after
 < (less than)—no space before or after
 ( (left parenthesis)—no space after
 ) (right parenthesis)—no space before, one space after
 = (equals)—space before and after
 ’ (apostrophe)—no space before or after
 & (ampersand)—space once before and after
 % (percent)—no space before