essay in keyboard

Typing Lessons

Take a typing speed test, learn to type faster and with fewer errors with this free online typing tutor.

Tips for Typing an Academic Paper on a Computer

Tips for Working on the Computer

• Writing Research Papers
• Writing Essays
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

The teacher requires you to write your paper on the computer, but your skill with the word processor needs some work. Sound familiar? Here you'll find tips for using Microsoft Word, a guide for setting up your workstation, advice for citations and bibliography, MLA styling, and more.

Using Microsoft Word

You'll need to use a word processor to type your paper on the computer. Microsoft Word is one of the most commonly used programs of this kind. Once you start your computer you'll need to open Microsoft Word by double-clicking on the icon or selecting the program from a list.

Common Typing Problems

Did your words just disappear? There's nothing like typing away on a paper, only to find that you're not actually typing what you thought you were typing! There are several problems you can encounter with a keyboard that can drive you nuts. Especially if you're on a deadline. Don't panic! The solution is probably painless.

How to Double Space

Double spacing refers to the amount of space that shows between the individual lines of your paper. When a paper is "single-spaced," there is very little white space between the typed lines, which means there is no room for marks or comments.

In-Text Citations

When you quote from a source, you will always need to provide a citation that is created using a very specific format. The author and date are stated immediately after the cited material, or the author is named in the text and the date is parenthetically stated immediately after the cited material.

Inserting a Footnote

If you're writing a research paper, you might be required to use footnotes or endnotes. Formatting and numbering of the notes are automatic in Word, so you don’t have to worry about spacing and placement too much. Also, Microsoft Word will automatically re-number your notes if you delete one or you decide to insert one at a later time.

Your teacher might require that your paper is formatted according to standards of MLA style, especially if you are writing a paper for literature or English class. This picture gallery-type tutorial provides some sample pages and other advice.

Bibliography Makers

Citing your work is an essential part of any research paper. Yet, for some students, it is frustrating and tedious work. There are many interactive web tools designed to assist students when it comes to creating citations. For most of the tools, you simply fill out a form to provide the necessary information and select your preferred style. The bibliography maker will generate a formatted citation . You can copy and paste the entry into your bibliography.

• Creating a Table of Contents

Many students try to create a table of contents manually, without using the built-in process in Microsoft Word. They quickly give up out of frustration. The spacing never comes out quite right. But there is a simple fix! When you follow these steps, this is a simple process that takes a few moments, and it makes a world of difference in the look of your paper.

Be Mindful of Repetitive Stress

After you've typed for a while you may notice that your neck, back, or hands are beginning to ache. This means that your computer setup is not ergonomically correct . It's easy to fix a computer setup that can damage your body, so be sure you make adjustments at the first sign of discomfort.

• Turabian Style Guide With Examples
• Formatting Papers in Chicago Style
• What Is a Citation?
• What Is a Bibliography?
• MLA Sample Pages
• What Is a Senior Thesis?
• How to Double Space Your Paper
• APA In-Text Citations
• MLA Bibliography or Works Cited
• Bibliography: Definition and Examples
• MLA Style Parenthetical Citations
• Preventing and Recovering Lost Documents
• College School Supplies List
• When to Cite a Source in a Paper
• What Is Plagiarism?

Typing Training - Practice Free Typing Lessons with Online Tutor

The free typing lessons supply the complete "How to type" package. Animated keyboard layout and the typing tutor graphic hands are used to correct mis-typing by showing the right way to type for your learning and practice experience. Lessons' difficulty gradually raises as it starts from only 2 characters and ends with the entire keyboard. When the lesson ends, you can learn a lot from the practice trends: WPM, accuracy and errors distribution.

Tips for success:

• When you practice typing - don't look at the keyboard - not even a quick peek! Look only at the screen.
• The basic position can be easily found without looking at the keyboard - feel the bumps on 'F' and 'J'.
• At first typing tutorials , practiced letters won't spell out words. As you get to know the keys, "real" words and sentences will be used. That is the only way to learn typing correctly.
• Remember to type test your speed periodically. With our typing test you can check for both speed and accuracy progress. The number of words per minute indicates your typing level. If you are still unsatisfied with the results - go back to the typing tutors and keep practicing!

English Typing Test Paragraphs

Stimulate your mind as you test your typing speed with this standard English paragraph typing test. Watch your typing speed and accuracy increase as you learn about a variety of new topics! Over 40 typing test selections available.

If you don't like a test prompt, you can get a different (random) prompt with the "change test" button - or select a specific paragraph to type from the list below. To find out how fast you type, just start typing in the blank textbox on the right of the test prompt. You will see your progress, including errors on the left side as you type. In order to complete the test and save your score, you need to get 100% accuracy. You can fix errors as you go, or correct them at the end with the help of the spell checker.

Personalized Feedback

This feedback graph will follow you from page to page for your typing session. You can see more details by mousing over the graph. The session is reset when the tab on your browser is closed.

Type this... CHANGE TEST

Test begins when you start typing..., check your wpm typing speed here.

To find out how fast you type, just start typing in the blank textbox on the right of the test prompt. You will see your progress, including errors on the left side as you type.

You can fix errors as you go, or correct them at the end with the help of the spell checker. If you need to restart the test, delete the text in the text box. Interactive feedback shows you your current wpm and accuracy.

In order to complete the test and share your results, you need to get 100% accuracy. You can review your progress for this session with the feedback chart. Just hover over a dot to see what your average speed and accruacy are for that key.

Letter Drills

A | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z.

Select a Specific Typing Test:

Click on a topic to use it as your test prompt. Selections are ranked according to difficulty from '*' (easiest typing tests) to '*****' (most challenging typing tests). For more details, check the difficulty key at the bottom of the page.

Short typing tests for beginners: (1 - 3 minute typing test at < 30 wpm)

• Virtual Assistant (38.4 words) ****
• Closed Captions (56.2 words) **
• Teachers (70.2 words) ****
• Business Casual (74 words) ***
• Paralegals (76.4 words) *
• Web Designers (77 words) ***
• Medical Transcription (82.6 words) ***
• Thumbing (83 words) ***
• Engineers (84.4 words) ****
• Translation (88 words) ***

Intermediate typing tests: (3-6 minutes at 40 wpm)

• Proofreaders (90 words) **
• Typing Styles (91.8 words) ***
• Typing Speed in WPM (100.4 words) ***
• Keyboard Shortcuts (104 words) *
• Buffer Method of Typing (105 words) **
• Transcription Service (107.4 words) ***
• Data Entry Clerks (112.4 words) **
• Hunt and Peck (128.2 words) **
• Touch Type (132.2 words) **
• Sales Methodologies (135.4 words) ***
• Invention of Touch Typing (147.4 words) ***
• Typing Speed Records (166.8 words) ****
• Comparing Typing Speed and Methods (169.2 words) ***
• Pharmacists (172.4 words) ***
• Editing (175.2 words) ***
• History of Flight (175.4 words) ****
• HR Management (177.4 words) ****
• Transcription Services (187.4 words) ****
• Motivation (192.4 words) ***
• Freelancers (194.6 words) ***
• Average Typing Speeds (195.2 words) ****

Hard typing tests for advanced typists: (over 4 minutes at 60+ wpm)

• Word Processors (203.8 words) ***
• Class Reunion Report (211 words) ***
• Financial Reporting (221.2 words) *****
• Biking Story (233.6 words) *
• Event Description (233.8 words) *
• New York Stock Exchange (234.6 words) **
• Career Choice Article (236.6 words) *
• Self Confidence Article (244.8 words) ***
• FDA Article (246.8 words) ***
• Competitive Typing (250.4 words) ***
• Academic Success Article (256.6 words) **
• Emotions Article (272.8 words) **
• MBA Article (276 words) ****

If you have a topic that you would like to see added to the list above, please feel free to contact us with your suggestion for a new paragraph typing test.

Typing Test Difficulty Levels

Our typing tests are ranked on level of difficulty. The algorithm to calculate difficulty depends on the average word length and how many special characters like capitals, numbers and symbols are included in the text. Most standard pre-employment typing tests will be in the normal range. You should expect to get higher wpm scores on easier tests and lower wpm scores on the more difficult tests.

• * Very Easy Typing Test
• ** Easy Typing Test
• *** Normal Typing Test
• **** Difficult Typing Test
• ***** Very Difficult Typing Test

Share your success... challenge your friends!

Incorrect words Characters marked red do not match the expected character. Greyed out characters were not typed at all. Hover over the word to see the expected word.

No incorrect words have been registered yet.

About TypeFast.io

TypeFast.io was created by me, Casper Verswijvelt, with versatility and minimalism in mind. Many type-test sites have either cluttered/ugly user interfaces or skimp out on features.

With TypeFast.io I wanted to create something that had all the positives from other applicationsm, but none of the negatives. It's up to you to decide if I succeeded doing that, or not.

If you have any suggestions or feedback, be sure to check out the 'Feedback tab'.

TypeFast.io is a side project that I work on in my free time. Domain and hosting costs are paid for by myself and I do not plan on running ads (it would ruin the design). If you enjoy this site and would like to support it's future development, you can do so by donating via the button below.

If you have any feedback, want to report a bug or want to request a feature, please join the TypeFast.io discord page.

Here you will also find changelogs and other useful information about TypeFast.io!

You can also leave feedback by just filling in this Google form

This project is open-source!

If you have any issues or want to contribute to the project by fixing bugs, improving existing features or implementing new features, be sure to check out this project on GitHub!

TypeFast.io - Release notes

1.0.12 - 2022-12-21.

• Added Uyghur language, thanks Waris Ruzi !

1.0.11 - 2022-11-12

Improvements.

• Added sentences to Italian language, thanks nuzguy !

1.0.10 - 2022-03-06

• Updated to Angular 13
• Added sentences to Portuguese language, thanks N i k a o!

1.0.9 - 2021-11-06

• Added words and sentences to Portuguese language, thanks Lawliet!
• Add accented characters for 'Ignore accented characters' mode in Portuguese language

1.0.8 - 2021-10-30

• Added literature texts and tongue twisters to Russian sentences mode, thanks talkenson !
• Added Indonesian language
• Update dependencies

1.0.7 - 2021-06-07

• Add new 'English(200)' language with 200 most common English words (Thanks for the suggestion!)

1.0.6 - 2021-03-29

• Set default theme to dark
• Update Angular

1.0.5 - 2020-12-04

• Added sentences and 'ignore accents' characters for Spanish language, thanks guillemglez !
• Added Catalan language, thanks guillemglez !
• Remove incorrect words with special characters from all languages
• Fix error in German 'ignore accents' mode
• Fix small transition issue when closing preferences pane
• Fix small typo in README

1.0.4 - 2020-09-27

Add option to disable animations during text scrolling

Added sentences for French language, thanks RyFax !

Added Romanian language, currently only words

Added option to ignore accented characters in word validation: this is language sensitive. For example, in French, the letter 'á' can be typed as 'a' and still be counted as correct when this setting is enabled.

Currently this settings supports:

• Russian (ë)
• French (â,à,á,é,è,ë,ê,ì,î,ï,ù,û,ü,ç)
• Arabic (أ,إ,آ,ة,ؤ,ئ,ى)
• Romanian (â,ă,î,ș,ț)
• Dutch (é,è,ë,ê,ü,ç)
• German (ä,ö,ü,ß (typed as 's'))

Added option to ignore casing in word validation

• Disable backspace going to previous page on firefox when pressing after test finish
• Added placeholder sentence for the 'Programming' language
• No longer count an inbetween space character as a correct character if the word before was not correct
• Changed 'heer' to 'here' in American English, thanks fishstik !

1.0.3 - 2020-09-09

• Add changelog tab in info popup
• Added link to google feedback form in info window
• Removed words with accented characters from English language
• Improved preferences menu and loading of languages

1.0.2 - 2020-08-31

• Added a changelog file, check it out here
• Fixed typo in README.md ('screenshtos')
• Fixed bug where you FireFox users would need to tab twice to select the reset button
• Remove ugly tab outline on active reset, increase timer and decrease timer buttons (but keep focus outline for accesibility)
• Split up up the english language into British English and American English

1.0.1 - 2020-08-30

• Smooth scrolling is here! You can still change back to the old per-word scrolling in the preferences
• Added option to change text size between 3 levels in the preferences
• Fixed text not becoming smaller on mobile layouts larger than 400px wide
• Fixed japanese (full-width) space not completing a word
• Fixed height of uncollapsed preference groups not being exactly perfect
• Fix typo 'sententes' in Word mode preference

1.0.0 - 2020-08-09

• Officially released on reddit

8 Effective Strategies to Write Argumentative Essays

In a bustling university town, there lived a student named Alex. Popular for creativity and wit, one challenge seemed insurmountable for Alex– the dreaded argumentative essay!

One gloomy afternoon, as the rain tapped against the window pane, Alex sat at his cluttered desk, staring at a blank document on the computer screen. The assignment loomed large: a 350-600-word argumentative essay on a topic of their choice . With a sigh, he decided to seek help of mentor, Professor Mitchell, who was known for his passion for writing.

Entering Professor Mitchell’s office was like stepping into a treasure of knowledge. Bookshelves lined every wall, faint aroma of old manuscripts in the air and sticky notes over the wall. Alex took a deep breath and knocked on his door.

“Ah, Alex,” Professor Mitchell greeted with a warm smile. “What brings you here today?”

Alex confessed his struggles with the argumentative essay. After hearing his concerns, Professor Mitchell said, “Ah, the argumentative essay! Don’t worry, Let’s take a look at it together.” As he guided Alex to the corner shelf, Alex asked,

Table of Contents

“What is an Argumentative Essay?”

The professor replied, “An argumentative essay is a type of academic writing that presents a clear argument or a firm position on a contentious issue. Unlike other forms of essays, such as descriptive or narrative essays, these essays require you to take a stance, present evidence, and convince your audience of the validity of your viewpoint with supporting evidence. A well-crafted argumentative essay relies on concrete facts and supporting evidence rather than merely expressing the author’s personal opinions . Furthermore, these essays demand comprehensive research on the chosen topic and typically follows a structured format consisting of three primary sections: an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.”

He continued, “Argumentative essays are written in a wide range of subject areas, reflecting their applicability across disciplines. They are written in different subject areas like literature and philosophy, history, science and technology, political science, psychology, economics and so on.

Alex asked,

“When is an Argumentative Essay Written?”

The professor answered, “Argumentative essays are often assigned in academic settings, but they can also be written for various other purposes, such as editorials, opinion pieces, or blog posts. Some situations to write argumentative essays include:

1. Academic assignments

In school or college, teachers may assign argumentative essays as part of coursework. It help students to develop critical thinking and persuasive writing skills .

2. Debates and discussions

Argumentative essays can serve as the basis for debates or discussions in academic or competitive settings. Moreover, they provide a structured way to present and defend your viewpoint.

3. Opinion pieces

Newspapers, magazines, and online publications often feature opinion pieces that present an argument on a current issue or topic to influence public opinion.

4. Policy proposals

In government and policy-related fields, argumentative essays are used to propose and defend specific policy changes or solutions to societal problems.

5. Persuasive speeches

Before delivering a persuasive speech, it’s common to prepare an argumentative essay as a foundation for your presentation.

Regardless of the context, an argumentative essay should present a clear thesis statement , provide evidence and reasoning to support your position, address counterarguments, and conclude with a compelling summary of your main points. The goal is to persuade readers or listeners to accept your viewpoint or at least consider it seriously.”

Handing over a book, the professor continued, “Take a look on the elements or structure of an argumentative essay.”

Elements of an Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay comprises five essential components:

Claim in argumentative writing is the central argument or viewpoint that the writer aims to establish and defend throughout the essay. A claim must assert your position on an issue and must be arguable. It can guide the entire argument.

2. Evidence

Evidence must consist of factual information, data, examples, or expert opinions that support the claim. Also, it lends credibility by strengthening the writer’s position.

3. Counterarguments

Presenting a counterclaim demonstrates fairness and awareness of alternative perspectives.

4. Rebuttal

After presenting the counterclaim, the writer refutes it by offering counterarguments or providing evidence that weakens the opposing viewpoint. It shows that the writer has considered multiple perspectives and is prepared to defend their position.

The format of an argumentative essay typically follows the structure to ensure clarity and effectiveness in presenting an argument.

How to Write An Argumentative Essay

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an argumentative essay:

1. Introduction

• Begin with a compelling sentence or question to grab the reader’s attention.
• Provide context for the issue, including relevant facts, statistics, or historical background.
• Provide a concise thesis statement to present your position on the topic.

2. Body Paragraphs (usually three or more)

• Start each paragraph with a clear and focused topic sentence that relates to your thesis statement.
• Furthermore, provide evidence and explain the facts, statistics, examples, expert opinions, and quotations from credible sources that supports your thesis.
• Use transition sentences to smoothly move from one point to the next.

3. Counterargument and Rebuttal

• Acknowledge opposing viewpoints or potential objections to your argument.
• Also, address these counterarguments with evidence and explain why they do not weaken your position.

4. Conclusion

• Restate your thesis statement and summarize the key points you’ve made in the body of the essay.
• Leave the reader with a final thought, call to action, or broader implication related to the topic.

5. Citations and References

• Properly cite all the sources you use in your essay using a consistent citation style.
• Also, include a bibliography or works cited at the end of your essay.

6. Formatting and Style

• Follow any specific formatting guidelines provided by your instructor or institution.
• Use a professional and academic tone in your writing and edit your essay to avoid content, spelling and grammar mistakes .

Remember that the specific requirements for formatting an argumentative essay may vary depending on your instructor’s guidelines or the citation style you’re using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Always check the assignment instructions or style guide for any additional requirements or variations in formatting.

Did you understand what Prof. Mitchell explained Alex? Check it now!

Fill the Details to Check Your Score

Prof. Mitchell continued, “An argumentative essay can adopt various approaches when dealing with opposing perspectives. It may offer a balanced presentation of both sides, providing equal weight to each, or it may advocate more strongly for one side while still acknowledging the existence of opposing views.” As Alex listened carefully to the Professor’s thoughts, his eyes fell on a page with examples of argumentative essay.

Example of an Argumentative Essay

Alex picked the book and read the example. It helped him to understand the concept. Furthermore, he could now connect better to the elements and steps of the essay which Prof. Mitchell had mentioned earlier. Aren’t you keen to know how an argumentative essay should be like? Here is an example of a well-crafted argumentative essay , which was read by Alex. After Alex finished reading the example, the professor turned the page and continued, “Check this page to know the importance of writing an argumentative essay in developing skills of an individual.”

Importance of an Argumentative Essay

After understanding the benefits, Alex was convinced by the ability of the argumentative essays in advocating one’s beliefs and favor the author’s position. Alex asked,

“How are argumentative essays different from the other types?”

Prof. Mitchell answered, “Argumentative essays differ from other types of essays primarily in their purpose, structure, and approach in presenting information. Unlike expository essays, argumentative essays persuade the reader to adopt a particular point of view or take a specific action on a controversial issue. Furthermore, they differ from descriptive essays by not focusing vividly on describing a topic. Also, they are less engaging through storytelling as compared to the narrative essays.

Alex said, “Given the direct and persuasive nature of argumentative essays, can you suggest some strategies to write an effective argumentative essay?

Turning the pages of the book, Prof. Mitchell replied, “Sure! You can check this infographic to get some tips for writing an argumentative essay.”

Effective Strategies to Write an Argumentative Essay

As days turned into weeks, Alex diligently worked on his essay. He researched, gathered evidence, and refined his thesis. It was a long and challenging journey, filled with countless drafts and revisions.

Finally, the day arrived when Alex submitted their essay. As he clicked the “Submit” button, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. He realized that the argumentative essay, while challenging, had improved his critical thinking and transformed him into a more confident writer. Furthermore, Alex received feedback from his professor, a mix of praise and constructive criticism. It was a humbling experience, a reminder that every journey has its obstacles and opportunities for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

An argumentative essay can be written as follows- 1. Choose a Topic 2. Research and Collect Evidences 3. Develop a Clear Thesis Statement 4. Outline Your Essay- Introduction, Body Paragraphs and Conclusion 5. Revise and Edit 6. Format and Cite Sources 7. Final Review

One must choose a clear, concise and specific statement as a claim. It must be debatable and establish your position. Avoid using ambiguous or unclear while making a claim. To strengthen your claim, address potential counterarguments or opposing viewpoints. Additionally, use persuasive language and rhetoric to make your claim more compelling

Starting an argument essay effectively is crucial to engage your readers and establish the context for your argument. Here’s how you can start an argument essay are: 1. Begin With an Engaging Hook 2. Provide Background Information 3. Present Your Thesis Statement 4. Briefly Outline Your Main 5. Establish Your Credibility

The key features of an argumentative essay are: 1. Clear and Specific Thesis Statement 2. Credible Evidence 3. Counterarguments 4. Structured Body Paragraph 5. Logical Flow 6. Use of Persuasive Techniques 7. Formal Language

An argumentative essay typically consists of the following main parts or sections: 1. Introduction 2. Body Paragraphs 3. Counterargument and Rebuttal 4. Conclusion 5. References (if applicable)

The main purpose of an argumentative essay is to persuade the reader to accept or agree with a particular viewpoint or position on a controversial or debatable topic. In other words, the primary goal of an argumentative essay is to convince the audience that the author's argument or thesis statement is valid, logical, and well-supported by evidence and reasoning.

Great article! The topic is simplified well! Keep up the good work

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Alt Codes – How to Type Special Characters and Keyboard Symbols on Windows Using the Alt Keys

In Windows, you can type any character you want by holding down the ALT key, typing a sequence of numbers, then releasing the ALT key.

You can type a lot of characters that may not have a corresponding key on your keyboard – such as European language alphabetic characters, ASCII symbols, and even Chinese characters (also known as Hanzi, Kanji, or Hanja).

These Alt codes are also helpful if you have a keyboard with a stuck or missing key.

Below I will break down the entire list of alt keys by category. But first, here's the full list. (Note: this does not include the many, many characters from non-western European languages – otherwise it would be 100,000s of codes long.)

Below is a nice ASCII-formatted table of the most commonly-used symbols and characters. It took me a while to assemble all of these get them looking good.

As a developer, when I search for these codes I often get results that are image-based. These are inaccessible to people with visual disabilities, and make it hard for everyone to copy-paste the codes.

OK – now let's break this list down by sections.

The Alt codes for emoji and other fun characters

The first 31 alt codes are dedicated to fun characters like happy faces, arrows, and other common symbols:

The Alt Codes for uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and keyboard symbols

As I mentioned earlier, you can use Alt codes to type characters you could otherwise type on your keyboard. This is helpful if one of your keyboard keys is non-operational.

Alt codes 32 through 126 are dedicated to these keys. And yes, Alt 32 is the space character.

Alt Codes for Currencies

The next few Alt codes are focused on currencies, with a few Spanish-specific characters as well. These are helpful if you need to type the Spanish ñ letter or make upside down question marks or exclamation marks.

Alt Codes for ASCII Symbols, for Building Command Line Interfaces and ASCII Art

This is my favorite section – the many, many ASCII symbols you can use to make command line menus and ASCII art.

Alt Codes for Mathematical Symbols and Other Non-English Characters

And of course, you can type the Greek letters using alt codes. These are super helpful for typing out mathematical formats wherever you need to. For any real heavy lifting, you'd probably want to use something like TeX, but if you're just trying to send a mathematical expression through an instant message, these alt codes can come in hand.

Thanks for making use of this Alt Codes Reference

I hope this little cheat sheet has been helpful for you. If it has, I encourage you to link to it and share it with your friends, so more people can benefit from it.

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How to Type a Dash

Last Updated: November 30, 2023 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 168,247 times. Learn more...

Dashes are an oft-ignored spice of writing. They are multi-purpose, and came in a variety of sizes. The two most common dashes are the en dash (–) and the em dash (—). They are named as such because the en dash is as long as a lowercase “n” and an em dash is as long as an uppercase “M”. You can use these dashes in your writing to signify breaks, dialogue, and much more. Read on after the jump to learn how to type them in any situation.

Microsoft Word

• En dashes are typically used to separate numbers in a range, while an em dash can signify a break in a sentence. Stylistically, the em dash acts similar to parentheses, though it reads stronger. See this guide for more details on proper usage.

Windows Alt Codes

• If you are using a laptop, you will need to press the NumLock key first in order to activate the numeric pad. Pressing the number keys on the top of the keyboard will not result in symbols appearing.

• To create an en dash, press 2 0 1 3 and then press ↵ Enter . [9] X Research source
• To create an em dash, press 2 0 1 4 and then press ↵ Enter . [10] X Research source

• To map the ⎄ Compose key, open your Settings in Linux, and then select Keyboard Layout. Click Options and then assign a key on your keyboard to be the ⎄ Compose key.
• To create an en dash, press ⎄ Compose and then - - .
• To create an em dash, press ⎄ Compose and then - - -

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://site.uit.no/english/punctuation/hyphen/
• ↑ https://slcr.wsu.edu/help-pages/microsoft-keyboards-standard-english-us-101/
• ↑ http://askubuntu.com/questions/31258/how-can-i-type-an-em-dash
• ↑ https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/How_Tos/Inserting_En_and_Em_Dashes_with_Keyboard

About This Article

Dashes are often overlooked, but they’re very useful to break up sentences and add flavor to your writing. If you use Microsoft Word, hold down “Control” and press the dash key on the number keypad to create an en dash, which is typically used to separate numbers. The em dash, which is used to break up sentences in a similar way to parentheses, can be made by holding down the “Control” and “Alt” keys, and pressing the dash key. If you’re using a mac, hold down the “Option” key and press dash to make an en dash. For an em dash, hold down the “Option” and “Shift” keys and press the dash key. For tips on how to create en dashes and em dashes on Linux, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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100 Words Essay On Keyboard In English

A panel of keys that operates a computer or typewriter is called a keyboard. It plays a huge role in a computer because it plays the role of the input device. Christopher Sholes invented the first practical typewriter and introduced the keyboard layout that is familiar today in the year July 1, 1874.

The hydraulis was the world’s first keyboard instrument. The CTRL key is the most important key in a keyboard. The first keyboard had the letter keys in alphabetical order. However, this caused slow typing, and therefore, it had been rearranged in such a way that the person typing could type faster.

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Email your Message in हिन्दी...

Type in hindi, type in english, get in hindi.

• English To Hindi Typing
• FREE English to Hindi Translation
• Hindi Alphabet
• Learn Hindi
• Hindi Keyboard
• Languages of India

Special Characters:

Independent vowels:, dependent vowels:, consonants:, additional consonants:, devanagari digit:.

Subscribe our Channel and Watch How to Type in Hindi Online

Word or two about our Hindi tool:

Features you should know:.

For example, typing "Aap Kasai hai?" becomes "आप कैसे हैं?" .

• Use the backspace key or click on any words to get more choices of words on a dropdown menu.
• Press (Ctrl + G) together to toggle (switch) between English and Hindi language.
• Any text you type on the above text area is automatically saved on your computer for a week. This is useful in the event of a crash or sudden shutdown of your computer.
• Easily copy or download Hindi text on your computer or mobile devices.
• You can insert special characters (e.g. ।, ॐ, ॥, ॰) and many other Hindi characters by clicking on the help button - which is located just below the bottom right corner of the typing text area.
• You can also send email in Hindi to your friends and family for FREE.
• Finally, if you like to support us then please donate or buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com .

Hindi got its name from the Persian word Hind, which means ”land of the Indus River”. It is spoken by more than 528 million people as a first language and around 163 million use it as a second language in India, Bangladesh, Mauritius and other parts of South Asia.

Hindi is written with the Devanagari alphabet , developed from the Brahmi script in the 11th century AD. It contains 36 consonants and 12 vowels . In addition, it has its own representations of numbers that follow the Hindu-Arabic numeral system.

• 14 Independent Vowels (१३ स्वर):  अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ए, ऐ, ओ, औ, अं, अः, ऋ, ॠ
• 36 Consonants (३६ व्यंजन):  क, ख, ग, घ, ङ, च, छ, ज, झ, ञ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, श, ष, स, ह
• 3 Joint Words (संयुक्त अक्षर):  क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ
• Full Stop (पूर्ण विराम):  ।
• Numbers in Hindi (हिंदी में नंबर) :  १, २, ३, ४, ५, ६, ७, ८, ९, ०, .

To give you an example, if you type in "Swagatam" it will be converted to "स्वागतम्" .

Additionally, you will get a list of matching words on the dropdown menu when you press backspace or click on the word.

Our Hindi transliteration also supports fuzzy phonetic mapping. This means you just type in the best guess of pronunciation in Latin letters and our tool will convert it into a closely matching Hindi word.

Hindi transliteration is a process of phonetically converting similar-sounding characters and words from English to Hindi. For Example, you can type in " Aap kaise hain? " in Latin to get " आप कैसे हैं? ".

You can use our online Hindi input tool to transliterate unlimited Hindi words for FREE. Our online software is supported on both desktop and mobile devices such as Apple iPhone , Xiaomi Redmi Note , Samsung and more.

Hindi translation is a process of converting word or sentence from one language to Hindi and vice versa. For instance, typing " Hindi is spoken by 366 million people across the world. " in English will be translated into " दुनिया भर में ३६६ मिलियन लोगों द्वारा हिंदी बोली जाती है। ".

Our site uses machine translation powered by Google. You can use our online software to translate English to Hindi , Hindi to English , Hindi to Marathi , Hindi to Malayalam and many other languages for FREE.

Additionally, you can seek help from a professional translator for accurate translation. Use this link to order a professional translation by a human translator.

Hindi Unicode is a set of unique numeric values that is assigned to display Hindi characters , letters, digits and symbols. You can view the complete set of Hindi Unicode Character Code charts by visiting The Unicode Consortium .

Fig 1. Hindi Keyboard Layout for Kurti Dev and Delvys Font

Fig 2. The Hindi Keyboard Layout for Devanagari Kurti Dev Font

How-To Geek

Keyboard macros aren't just for programmers (here's how i use them every day).

These macros require no programming experience to save you time.

Macros are essential to any efficient office setup. You don’t have to have a programming degree in order to create useful macros that can save you time throughout your workweek. Not sure where to get started with macros? Well, let me tell you about a few of my favorite shortcuts.

Copy and Paste Macros Get Daily Usage

We’ll start off with my most used macro of all: copy and paste. You might say, “Patrick, copy and paste are simple keyboard shortcuts that everyone knows, why program it to a macro?” To which I would reply, “A single keypress is more efficient than hitting two keys awkwardly with your hand.”

Copy and paste are two keyboard shortcuts probably every person knows, but it’s honestly a little cumbersome to hit with your left hand. While possible, it’s not always the easiest thing. And, if you switch between macOS and Windows often (like me), then you’re stuck with trying to program your body to do Ctrl+C on Windows, and Command+C on macOS. Well, with a macro, you don’t have to remember any of that.

I use a pretty premium keyboard that has several keys where others only have one, but it’ll work just the same on any keyboard capable of using macros. I simply have one of the buttons below the left spacebar on my Dygma Raise programmed to copy, and then one on the right set to paste. I simply have to click a single button and my computer copies what's highlighted or pastes whatever is on the clipboard. This ties well into the next macro too, as it will paste more than just text. Whatever is in your clipboard will be inserted into the receiving program, just like if you were hitting Ctrl+V or Command+V.

Screenshots With a Single Keystroke

Screenshots used to not be the easiest thing to do on Windows, as you only had the Print Screen function and then would have to dive into Paint or another program to crop it. Well, with Windows 10 and 11 , you have the keyboard shortcut Windows+Shift+S to capture a portion of your screen and copy it to the clipboard. That’s a pretty complicated shortcut to memorize, and requires contorting your fingers in weird ways to hit it properly. While possible, it’s easier to just remember a single keyboard shortcut, and that’s where this macro comes into play.

To the right of my copy macro key on my keyboard, I have a macro that takes a screenshot. It simply mimics me hitting Windows+Shift+S and drops me into the screenshot tool. From there, I use my mouse (which sits between my two keyboard halves like all mice should) and drag it across the portion of my screen that I want to capture. Now, that’s in my clipboard and ready for me to use the paste macro to insert into a program!

macOS users can benefit from the same thing, though on macOS it’s a different shortcut you’ll be programming into the macro. You’ll want to use the Shift+Command+4 shortcut inside the macro to capture a portion of the screen and copy it to your clipboard. However, with macOS, once you’re into the screenshot tool, you can click the spacebar to switch between capturing the entire window you’re hovering over or just a portion of the screen.

Exporting from Photoshop Made Easy

While I don’t use this macro much anymore (as my Photoshop usage over the past year has gone way down), there was a time that this saved me a lot of time. In Photoshop , if you want to “Save for web”, the keyboard shortcut is Alt+Shift+Ctrl+S. That’s a lot to remember, and it used to have me contorting my hand in a very weird way in order to hit it. Then, once you’re at that popup, you have to hit enter in order to actually save. I know there are other methods to save in Photoshop, but because of what I used to do, this was the best way to export for me.

So, what did I do? I created a macro, of course! With two key presses this time (one to switch layers on my keyboard, and one to trigger the macro), I could save a picture from Photoshop simply, without contorting my fingers.

This macro was a bit more complicated, and functions in two stages. First, it does the key press combination to trigger the save function, then it pauses for 100ms, and then it clicks enter. What this does is open the save dialog first, then wait for the dialog to fully open and be ready to interact with, and then click enter so I’m ready to go ahead and save the file.

You could, if you wanted, then program another 100ms pause and click enter again to go ahead and trigger the save function into the folder that it pops up. This would further streamline the process, but also remove the ability for you to rename or choose the destination folder during the save process, which is why I skipped it.

This alone saved me a lot of time every week when I was processing dozens of pictures every day, and sometimes hundreds per week.

Copy a Link and Shorten It in One Move (on macOS)

If you’re constantly shortening (or even affiliating) links on macOS, then this piece of software and macro are exactly what you should be leveraging. Using a piece of software called Short Menu , you can program a keyboard shortcut that will shorten any URL you have in your clipboard.

I used this often when I did deals writing, and had the keyboard shortcut programmed as a macro right next to my copy function. So, when I needed to affiliate or shorten a URL, I would start by using my copy macro, then click the button next to that to shorten or affiliate the URL, then click the next button to paste. I took something that would normally take about 6–10 keystrokes and shortened it to 3. That doesn’t sound like a massive change, but it makes an astronomical difference in your daily workflow for sure.

What Can You Macro?

As you see above, there are quite a few things that I've turned into a macro that you might not have thought of before. So, what can you macro?

There are so many mundane, repetitive things that we do on our computers every day that can be made simpler and faster by turning them into a macro. For me, I have a keyboard that supports multiple layers and allows me to create macros within its own software. For you, you might need third-party programs like AutoHotKey on Windows or HammerSpoon for macOS. Or, you could opt instead for something like Elgato’s Stream Deck, which is a dedicated macro keypad that has mini LCD’s which can be set to show different images to help you remember what each button does.

We reviewed the Stream Deck+ , if you need inspiration as to how to expand your desk setup further.

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May 14, 2024

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written by researcher(s)

Our research shows children produce better pieces of writing by hand. But they need keyboard skills too

by Anabela Malpique, Deborah Pino Pasternak and Susan Ledger, The Conversation

Children today are growing up surrounded by technology. So it's easy to assume they will be able to write effectively using a keyboard.

But our research suggests this is not necessarily true.

We need to actively teach students to be able to type as well as write using paper and pen or pencil.

Our research

Our research team has published two recent studies investigating children's handwriting and typing.

In a study published last month we looked at Year 2 students and their handwriting and keyboard writing. This study involved 544 students from 17 primary schools in Perth, Western Australia.

We assessed how easily students wrote stories using paper and pencil compared to writing stories using a laptop. We found they produced longer and higher-quality handwritten texts. This was based on ten criteria, including ideas, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.

These findings echoed our December 2023 study where we did a meta-analysis of studies published between 2000–2022. These compared the effects of writing by hand or keyboard on primary students' writing.

We looked at 22 international studies involving 6,168 participants from across different countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other non-native English-speaking countries, such as Germany and Portugal.

Our analysis showed primary students produce higher quality texts using paper and pen or pencil than when using a keyboard.

Why are kids stronger in handwriting?

In Australia—as in many other countries—children are taught to write by hand first. Keyboard writing is only added as an extra skill once handwriting has been mastered .

We know it is very important to continue to teach children to write by hand, despite so many advances in technology.

Studies show teaching handwriting in the first years of schooling is connected to improved spelling and greater capacity to write well and quickly in primary and later years of schooling.

Other studies show using handwriting to create texts (such as notes) promotes our capacity to learn and memorize information.

But they also need to learn how to use keyboards

We know it is also important for students be able to write quickly and accurately using a keyboard.

They will need to use keyboards to write for study, work and life as they get older. This process needs to become automatic so they can concentrate on the content of what they are writing.

Our research has consistently shown young people who can spell and write quickly and accurately are able to produce longer and higher quality pieces of writing. Other studies have shown when children face difficulties in handwriting or typing, they may often avoid writing altogether and develop a negative mindset toward writing.

Learning to type is complex

As our research suggests, students also need to be taught how to use a keyboard. Much like handwriting, it requires a complex set of cognitive, visual and motor processes, requiring frequent practice and instruction.

It involves learning the location of the keys on a keyboard, combined with spatial skills of positioning, and moving fingers to press the keys in the correct sequence. Students need time to practice so they can move beyond the " hunt and peck " motion (where you have to hunt visually for each key).

Research also suggests teaching about keyboards is more effective when spread out over several years.

First, children need to understand letter locations on the keyboard and the position of their hands, which can be developed via online practice exercises monitored by teachers. Accuracy and speed should not be emphasized until students have mastered where letters are.

Which comes first?

While students ultimately need to be able to write both on paper and using digital devices , there are unanswered questions about the order in which handwriting and typing should be taught or whether they should be taught together.

We also don't yet know if it matters whether students are learning to write via keyboards, touch typing on tablets or by using stylus pens (devices that look like pencils and write via screens).

More research is needed to support teachers, students and families.

How to help your child

Despite these unknowns, there are many things we can do to help students learn how to write on paper and using a keyboard. These include:

dedicating time for practice : teachers can build regular times in class to write and send home small tasks (such as writing a shopping list, finishing a story or describing a monster)

joining in : instead of "policing" your child's writing, show them what you write in your everyday life. As you write, you can talk about what you will write (planning) and you can share ideas about how you can make your writing clearer or more exciting.

talk about your mistakes and find ways of correcting your writing : when adults talk about their errors or doubts, they make them a natural part of the process.

ask children to read what they have written : this provides opportunities for correction and celebration. Praise children's bold attempts such as using new words or experimenting with expressions.

give children choice : this gives children some control. For example, they can choose a topic, they can mix art and letters or they can choose paper or keyboard.

display their writing : make children's writing visible on your walls or fridge or as wallpapers on your devices to instill a sense a pride in what they have done.

Provided by The Conversation

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I traded my mechanical keyboard for a magnetic one. I’m not going back

After four years of clacking, I was ready for a change.

I first made the jump from a membrane keyboard to a mechanical one in 2020 with an $80 Aukey keyboard. It was a hulking mess loaded with 104 keys, an enormous volume knob, and gaudy blue buttons specifically there for on-board RGB customization. Its flaws didn’t concern me, though; I was too busy obsessing over the sweet sound of clicking. It didn’t take much to turn me into a convert, as I could feel myself typing with better precision thanks to the tactile and audio feedback.

A lot has changed for me in those four years. A shedding cat and a new home co-working setup with my partner meant that my loud, hair-collecting PC setup had become a detriment to my needs. I needed a new solution, and Turtle Beach’s Vulcan 2 TKL Pro was the perfect experiment. The keyboard would once again push me out of my typing comfort zone by introducing me to the world of magnetic Hall Effect switches. Now that I’ve tried it, I’m not sure I’ll be going back anytime soon.

Magnetic typing

I began running into problems with my Aukey setup about a year into owning it. While I was fond of its loud switches, they tended to collect cat hair and other debris much quicker than I thought. I was constantly wrenching keys off to clean it, pulling up spools of dust. It didn’t hold up to wear and tear very well either, as keys would consistently stick on me after a few years of constant use. The last straw came when my girlfriend and I moved in together and I suddenly became hyper-aware of just how loud the switches were. That, paired with a move to a smaller desk space, meant that I had a lot of problems to solve.

While my original plan was to move to a similar Alienware mechanical keyboard , I decided to give the Vulcan 2 TKL Pro a try when it came across my desk for testing. Its compact size was a much better fit for my needs, so that was a good start. I plugged it in, watched its white frame light up with color, and started typing. I was taken aback for a moment; it felt and sounded completely different than what I was used to, but I couldn’t figure out why.

What I hadn’t realized at the time is that the Vulcan 2 uses magnetic Hall Effect switches instead of the standard mechanical ones I was used to. That’s a newer technology in which the keys don’t actually make physical contact with anything when pressed. Instead, they use magnets to register keystrokes. In theory, that leads to both more-precise typing and more-durable keys. Considering that my old keyboard needed constant maintenance, I was especially intrigued by that second part. Despite my initial unease about the feel, I decided to stick with it.

The Vulcan 2’s switches are much quieter than what I’m used to.

The first hurdle was getting used to what felt like a harder, shorter stop when I pressed a key down. The Vulcan’s switches felt a little more rigid than what I was used to originally, which initially felt a little hard on my fingers. Once I adjusted to that (using the Swarm 2 app to adjust actuation), I quickly got a sense for how satisfying Hall Effect switches can be.

My typing has felt more fluid than my old mechanical keyboard, as I can move between keys faster without losing accuracy. That’s helped by the fact that the Vulcan 2 uses some especially smooth key caps that almost make me feel like I’m gliding over porcelain tiles. They’re thin caps resting on high switches, leaving a lot of space for the RGB lights to shine through and confirm each individual keystroke with a quick flash.

While the feel may be an acquired taste, the drop in decibel level is a big upgrade. With no physical contact being made, the Vulcan 2’s switches are much quieter than what I’m used to. The sound is more in between a mechanical and membrane keyboard. They still make a noise, but it’s more of a muted clacking, as if I’m typing under a blanket. It’s a warmer, less harsh tone that I’m sure will be significantly less annoying to my girlfriend when she’s working one room away.

The big test, though, would come down to how well it would handle the mess that comes from a cat who loves to hang out on my desk. Her shedding was ultimately my mechanical keyboard’s downfall, and I hoped that Hall Effect switches would get rid of any contact interferences that might have been cutting into my keystrokes.

While it’s too early to say how that’ll shake out, I have noticed that it’s much easier for me to actually see that debris in my keyboard now. Because of its economical switch design, I can see straight down to the board and spot any stray hairs between keys. That makes it easier to maintain on the fly, as I can simply blow it out rather than wrenching keys off to even see the board. That makes me hopeful that I’ll have a keyboard that both lasts longer and looks cleaner.

For the time being, I don’t plan on packing up my Vulcan 2 anytime soon. I’m sold on the concept of Hall Effect tech for now thanks to precise typing, easy customization, and a gentler sound. Turtle Beach’s stab at it feels strong, especially at a $150 price point, even if I wish the keys had just a bit more flex to them (extras like a volume knob, palm rest, and the very useful Swarm 2 app make up for that nitpick).

Will my honeymoon phase stand the test of time, or will I be looking to the next big trend once my keys inevitably wear out? I’ll tell you in four years, but something tells me the Vulcan 2 will survive that wait.

Editors' Recommendations

• I replaced my gaming laptop with a Legion Go, and I’m not going back

Lenovo often has some of the best laptop deals around, and that’s no different today. Currently you can buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 laptop for $2,135, and it’s packed with great hardware. According to Lenovo, it usually costs $3,559 so you’re saving 40% here. Lenovo’s estimated value system can be a little optimistic so the actual original price may be different, but what we do know is that the new low price is fantastic for these specs. Here’s what to expect from the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11.

Why you should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 is well-designed for business use. It has a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1365U processor with a huge 32GB of memory so it’s perfect for extensive multitasking. There’s also 1TB of SSD storage which is great for storing your many files without needing to rely on cloud storage.

While gaming laptops tend to get all the love and attention these days, that doesn't mean that the gaming desktop market hasn't also been booming quite significantly. It used to be that you had to build your PC from scratch or buy from a boutique seller, but now even the big brands have gotten into the pre-built gaming PC market. One great example is the Omen 40L gaming desktop from HP, with this entry-level configuration going for just $800 rather than the usual $1,500, which amounts to a whopping $700 discount.

Why you should buy the OMEN 40L Gaming Desktop The Omen 40L has a lot of configurations to pick from, and while they aren't all a great deal, this one starts on an excellent foundation. At the heart of the build is an RTX 4060, an excellent 1080p GPU that should handle most modern games just fine with high graphical fidelity and above 100 frames per second. That said, you can do quite a few upgrades in the Customizer, and probably one of the better options would be the RTX 4060 Ti for an extra $160, although if you're willing to spend all of the discount, you could also potentially go for an RTX 4080 for $990.

Seventeen-inch laptops toe the line between portability and size, making them more expensive than your average laptop. Some of the best 17-inch laptops can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Luckily, there HP has come up with a very budget-friendly solution in the form of the HP laptop 17z, and while it's not one of the best laptops on the market, it is an excellent budget-oriented choice for a 17-inch laptop. Even better, HP currently discounts it down to $300 from the usual $560 price tag, which is a significant $260 off.

Why you should buy the HP Laptop 17z As the name implies, the HP Laptop 17z has a large 17.3-inch screen running a 1920 x 1080 resolution and can hit a peak brightness of 250nits, which isn't a lot, but it's good enough for a well-lit room, especially with its anti-glare coating. You could potentially upgrade to a touch version of the screen for $30, but since it would knock the resolution down to 1600 x 900, it's not worth it, especially with a larger 17.3-inch screen. What will be worth the upgrade is taking the networking option from the Wi-Fi5 and Bluetooth 4.2 standard up to the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 standard for an extra $20, which will make sure your laptop has a strong connection for streaming or doing online meetings and will be future-proof for at least the next 5-6 years.

Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11‑inch (M4) - US English - White

Product Information

Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro delivers an amazing typing and trackpad experience in a sleek, portable new design with an aluminum palm rest. The keyboard includes a 14-key function row for quick access to screen brightness, volume controls, and other features, and a USB‑C connector for pass-through charging. The floating cantilever design smoothly adjusts to multiple viewing angles.

A new larger trackpad with haptic feedback is perfect for precision tasks like editing a spreadsheet and selecting text, or simply navigating your iPad with intuitive and familiar Multi-Touch gestures. And a durable outer cover provides front and back protection, perfect for taking iPad Pro anywhere.

Thin and portable cantilever design provides smooth adjustability and delivers the perfect viewing angle.

Built-in larger glass trackpad with haptic feedback.

14-key function row for quick access to screen brightness, volume controls, and other features.

Comfortable backlit keys and a scissor mechanism with 1 mm travel for quiet, responsive typing.

Designed for Multi-Touch gestures and the cursor in iPadOS.

Durable machined aluminum hinge includes a USB‑C connector.

Folds into a case to provide front and back protection for traveling with iPad Pro.

System Requirements

iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) running iPadOS 17.4 or later.

Compatibility

Ipad models.

• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

The New York Sun

The challenge of thin mechanical keyboards.

Lofree’s Edge keyboard is impressively thin, but it’s not that great to type on.

Less than a decade ago, only enthusiast typists cared deeply about mechanical keyboards, and there were few options available. There were brightly-lit gaming keyboards, expensive hobbyist options, and then the inexpensive if generic mechanical keyboards of Keychron.

For the unfamiliar, a mechanical keyboard has little plastic switches under each key, and was the norm until the 1980s. Then, they were swiftly replaced by the cheaper, lighter, thinner membrane keyboard, which uses a single rubber membrane sheet to register all key taps.

If you’ve used an old keyboard that makes a loud thock sound on every press, that was mechanical. If you’re currently using a thin Apple Magic keyboard, or the cheap plastic Microsoft one that comes standard with a work computer; that’s a membrane keyboard.

Membrane keyboards worked well, and allowed for the creation of thin-and-light laptops, but some typists missed the satisfying thud, click, and feel of mechanical switches, leading to a renaissance in mechanical keyboards. More options are available than ever before, in all sizes, shapes, and price ranges, and some companies have started competing to get their keyboards as thin as possible.

Despite owning a range of keyboards, my go-to is the $159 Flow ; an elegant a ‘low profile’ mechanical keyboard by Lofree. With low profile switches and keys, the Flow packs a satisfying, smooth typing experience within a relatively thin package, but Lofree wanted to go even thinner. And so you get the Edge .

Currently on Kickstarter, the Edge has a full carbon fiber top, thin angular side profile, and it’s barely thicker than a Macbook Air, and yet still has super thin Kailh mechanical switches. It’s technically impressive, but rather unsatisfying to type on.

It provides more feedback and key travel than a generic membrane keyboard, but the typing experience has no character. Each press feels pretty flat and dead, and then the spacebar ruins it, with a pitched metallic clack with every press.

This is clearly because of the stabilizers — little metal rods used to support the larger keys, which nobody has quite cracked getting to sound pleasant. Ryan Norbauer is currently attempting to build a “perfect” luxury keyboard and published an extensive essay detailing the challenges of the “stabilizer problem.” On an ordinary keyboard, stabilizers are a frustration to deal with, but in such a thin chassis, they greatly soured the typing impression of the  Edge. This may be fixed on retail samples, but I doubt it.  

Beyond this, my biggest problem with the Edge is that premium membrane keyboards have also been improving, and in my experience, provide a superior experience for a Size 0 keyboard.

The easiest comparison here is between low-profile MX Mechanical and its thinner, membrane relative, the MX Keys , both from Logitech. By the logic of keyboard enthusiasts, the MX Mechanical should feel better; but though the MX Keys has less travel per key and no sound, it’s still a far more pleasant keyboard to type on. I regularly use it when swapping from my Flow. My Mechanical sits unused in a drawer.

What you like in a keyboard is very subjective, and the Lofree Edge will be a dream keyboard for some. It’s well priced, particularly with the Kickstarter discounts , and it comes with a fun stand made of the spare carbon fiber from making the deck.

But to my taste, the Lofree Flow is as thin as a mechanical keyboard can get while still being a truly compelling typing experience. If I want super thin, I’ll use my MX Keys; and if I want the satisfying thock of a mechanical switch, I am happy to deal with a bit more thickness to get it.

Mr. Anderson is a culture, technology, and fashion writer, and Life Editor for the world edition of the Spectator.

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TikTok challenges U.S. ban in court, calling it unconstitutional

Bobby Allyn

TikTok's suit is in response to a law passed by Congress giving ByteDance up to a year to divest from TikTok and find a new buyer, or face a nationwide ban. Kiichiro Sato/AP hide caption

TikTok's suit is in response to a law passed by Congress giving ByteDance up to a year to divest from TikTok and find a new buyer, or face a nationwide ban.

TikTok and its parent company on Tuesday filed a legal challenge against the United States over a law that President Biden signed last month outlawing the app nationwide unless it finds a buyer within a year.

In the petition filed in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the company said the legislation exceeds the bounds of the constitution and suppresses the speech of millions of Americans.

"Banning TikTok is so obviously unconstitutional, in fact, that even the Act's sponsors recognized that reality, and therefore have tried mightily to depict the law not as a ban at all, but merely a regulation of TikTok's ownership," according to the filing.

The law, passed through Congress at lightning speed, which caught many inside TikTok off guard, is intended to force TikTok to be sold to a non-Chinese company in nine months, with the possibility of a three month extension if a possible sale is in play.

Yet lawyers for TikTok say the law offers the company a false choice, since fully divesting from its parent company, ByteDance, is "simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally," the challenge states. "And certainly not on the 270-day timeline required by the Act."

Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University who specializes in technology regulations, said if TikTok loses this legal fight, it will likely shut down in the U.S.

"The problem for TikTok is that they have a parent company that has these obligation in China, but they're trying to live by free speech rules by the United States," Chander said in an interview. "The question is whether American courts will believe that that's even possible."

TikTok says law based on "speculative and analytically flawed concerns"

Lawmakers in Washington have long been suspicious of TikTok, fearing its Chinese owner could use the popular app to spy on Americans or spread dangerous disinformation.

But in the company's legal petition, lawyers for TikTok say invoking "national security" does not give the government a free pass to violate the First Amendment, especially, TikTok, argues, when no public evidence has been presented of the Chinese government using the app as a weapon against Americans.

Possible TikTok ban could be 'an extinction-level event' for the creator economy

According to the filing, the law is based on "speculative and analytically flawed concerns about data security and content manipulation — concerns that, even if grounded in fact, could be addressed through far less restrictive and more narrowly tailored means."

New DOJ Filing: TikTok's Owner Is 'A Mouthpiece' Of Chinese Communist Party

Constitutional scholars say there are few ways for the government to restrict speech in a way that would survive a legal challenge. One of those ways is if the government can demonstrate a national security risk. Also key, legal experts say, is the government showing the speech suppression was the least restrictive option on the table.

TikTok said Congress ignored less restrictive ways of addressing the government's national security concerns.

"If Congress can do this, it can circumvent the First Amendment by invoking national security and ordering the publisher of any individual newspaper or website to sell to avoid being shut down," the filing states. "And for TikTok, any such divestiture would disconnect Americans from the rest of the global community."

Since more than 90% of TikTok's users are outside of America, Georgetown's Chander said selling the U.S.-based app to a different owner would cannibalize its own business.

"You can't really create a TikTok U.S., while having a different company manage TikTok Canada," Chander said in an interview. "What you're doing essentially is creating a rival between two TikToks," he said. " It may be better to take your marbles out of the United States and hope to make money outside of the U.S., rather than sell it at a fire-sale price."

TikTok critics call app a 'spy balloon on your phone'

The filing sets off what could be the most important battle for TikTok. It has been fending off legal challenges to its existence since former President Trump first sought to ban the app through an executive order in the summer of 2020. That effort was blocked by federal courts.

Since then, Democrats and Republicans have shown a rare moment of unity around calls to pressure TikTok to sever its ties with ByteDance, the Beijing-based tech giant that owns the video-streaming app.

Trump's Ban On TikTok Suffers Another Legal Setback

Congress has never before passed legislation that could outright ban a wildly popular social media app, a gesture the U.S. government has criticized authoritarian nations for doing.

In the case of TikTok, however, lawmakers have called the app a "spy balloon on your phone," emphasizing how the Chinese government could gain access to the personal data of U.S. citizens.

Worries also persist in Washington that Beijing could influence the views of Americans by dictating what videos are boosted on the platform. That concern has only become heightened seven months before a presidential election.

Yet the fears so far indeed remain hypothetical.

There is no publicly available example of the Chinese government attempting to use TikTok as an espionage or data collection tool. And no proof that the Chinese government has ever had a hand over what TikTok's 170 million American users see every day on the app.

TikTok says it offers U.S. a plan that would shut app down if it violated agreement

TikTok, for its part, says it has invested $2 billion on a plan, dubbed Project Texas, to separate its U.S. operation from its Chinese parent company. It deleted all of Americans' data from foreign servers and relocated all of the data to servers on U.S. soil overseen by the Austin-based tech company Oracle.

While the plan was intended to build trust with U.S. lawmakers and users, reports surfaced showing that data was still moving between staff in California and Beijing.

In the filing on Tuesday, TikTok said it submitted an agreement to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which has been probing the app for five years, that would allow the U.S. to suspend TikTok if it violated terms set forth in a national security plan.

But, lawyers for TikTok say, the deal was swept aside, "in favor of the politically expedient and punitive approach," the petition states.

Mnuchin claims he will place a bid to buy TikTok, even though app is not for sale

Despite the new law giving TikTok the ultimatum of selling or being shut down, there are many questions around how the app could even be bought by another company or group of investors.

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told NPR on Monday, he is planning to assemble a group of investors to try to purchase TikTok without the app's algorithm.

Mnuchin, who declined to answer additional questions, said in between sessions at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles that the proposal to buy the app is still in the works, but he would not say when it would be formally submitted.

One major obstacle in any possible sale of TikTok is a glaring problem: The app is not for sale.

TikTok Ban Averted: Trump Gives Oracle-Walmart Deal His 'Blessing'

Despite the new law in the U.S., ByteDance says it does not intend to let go of the service. Furthermore, winning the support of China would be necessary, and officials in Beijing are adamantly against any forced sale.

In 2020, amid the Trump administration's clamp down on the app, China added "content-recommendation algorithms" to its export-control list, effectively adding new regulations over how TikTok's all-powerful algorithm could ever be sold.

ByteDance, not TikTok, developed and controls the algorithm that determines what millions see on the app every day. The technology has become the envy of Silicon Valley, and no U.S. tech company has been able dislodge TikTok's firm hold on the short-form video market. Experts say key to its success is its highly engaging and hyper-personalized video-ranking algorithm.

The algorithm, which involves millions of lines of software code developed by thousands of engineers over many years, cannot be easily transferred to the U.S., even if China did allow it, TikTok's challenge states.

Lawyers for TikTok argue that "any severance [of the algorithm] would leave TikTok without access to the recommendation engine that has created a unique style and community that cannot be replicated on any other platform today."

Xbox Cloud Gaming finally supports keyboard and mouse inputs on web browsers

M icrosoft just released a new update for Xbox Cloud Gaming that finally brings mouse and keyboard support, after teasing the feature for years . The tool is currently in beta release and works with both the Edge and Chrome web browsers. It looks pretty simple to use. Just select a game that supports a mouse and keyboard and have at it.

You can also instantly switch between a mouse/keyboard combination to a standard controller by pressing the Xbox button on the controller or pressing a key on the keyboard. The company says it’ll be rolling out badges later in the month to alert users which games support mouse and keyboard inputs.

For now, there’s support for 26 games. These include blockbusters like ARK Survival Evolved , Halo Infinite and, of course, Fortnite . Smaller games like High on Life and Pentiment can also be controlled via mouse and keyboard. Check the above link for the full list.

Microsoft hasn’t said what took it so long to get this going. The feature was originally presumed to launch back in June of 2022, but we didn’t get a progress update until two months ago . No matter the reason, KBM setups are practically a requirement for first-person shooters and, well, better late than never.