Keyboarding is the act of using a keyboard (such as that of a typewriter or computer) to type letters, numbers, and symbols in order to produce documents.
It involves entering data accurately and neatly using correct finger placement and posture.

Keyboarding is important because :

1. it helps you to Produce neat, legible, and professional documents.


2. it helps you to Save time and energy compared to handwriting.


3. it helps you to Provide job opportunities in offices and business environments.


4. it helps you to Improve communication skills and efficiency.


5. it helps you to Increase accuracy and reduce errors.


6. it helps you to Enhance the speed of data entry and documentation.

When typing, correct sitting posture is very important to avoid fatigue and to type faster and more accurately.

Guidelines for correct posture:

1. Sit upright and face the machine or computer directly.


2. Keep your feet flat on the floor with one foot slightly in front of the other.


3. Your elbows should be bent at a right angle and close to your sides.


4. Place your fingers lightly on the home keys.


5. Keep your wrists straight and low.


6. Your shoulders should be relaxed but not slouched.


7. Keep your eyes on the copy or screen, not on the keyboard.

The keyboard is divided into four rows and two sections.

Rows:

1. Top Row


2. Upper Row


3. Home Row


4. Bottom Row

Divisions:

1. Left-hand side of the keyboard


2. Right-hand side of the keyboard

The home row keys are the base positions where your fingers rest when typing.

1. Left-hand fingers rest on A, S, D, F


2. Right-hand fingers rest on J, K, L, ;


3. Both thumbs rest lightly on the space bar

These keys help you to reach other keys easily without looking down at the keyboard.

The alphanumeric keys are the letters A–Z, numbers 0–9, and certain symbols such as @, #, $, %, and &.
They are the main keys used to type text and numbers in documents.

Soft touch means pressing the keys gently without striking them too hard.
Using a soft touch helps you to:

1. Reduce finger strain and fatigue.


2. Increase typing speed and comfort.


3. Prevent damage to the keyboard or typewriter.

The basic service keys are keys that perform special typing or editing functions.
They include:

1. Space bar – for spacing between words.


2. Enter/Return key – to move the cursor to the next line.


3. Shift key – to type capital letters or upper symbols.


4. Caps Lock key – to keep all letters in capitals.


5. Tab key – for paragraph indentation or moving between cells.


6. Backspace key – to erase characters to the left.


7. Delete key – to erase characters to the right.

1. Use the right thumb for the space bar.


2. Use the little fingers for the Shift and Caps Lock keys.


3. Use the right little finger for Enter and Backspace keys.


4. Use the left hand for Tab.

Manipulation of the Basic Service Keys Using Soft Touch

When using the service keys, press each key lightly and release it immediately.
Avoid hitting the keys forcefully or holding them down for too long.
Practice makes your movement smoother and faster.

Correct Spacing and Punctuation Marks

Identification of Punctuation Mark Keys

Punctuation mark keys include:
. (full stop), , (comma), ? (question mark), ! (exclamation mark), : (colon), ; (semicolon), ' (apostrophe), “ ” (quotation marks), ( ) (brackets), - (hyphen), _ (underscore), and / (slash).

Correct Finger Placement

1. Use the right-hand little finger for punctuation marks on the right side.


2. Use the left-hand little finger for punctuation marks on the left side.


3. Always return your fingers to the home keys after pressing a punctuation mark.

Correct Use of Punctuation Mark Keys

Each punctuation mark has a specific use:

1. Full stop (.) – to end a sentence.


2. Comma (,) – to separate ideas in a sentence.


3. Question mark (?) – to end a question.


4. Exclamation mark (!) – to show strong feeling or command.


5. Colon (:) – to introduce a list or explanation.


6. Semicolon (;) – to link two related ideas.


7. Quotation marks (“ ”) – to show direct speech.

Correct Spacing After Punctuation Marks

1. Leave one space after a comma, semicolon, colon, or full stop.


2. Leave two spaces after the end of a sentence if using a typewriter.


3. Do not put a space before a punctuation mark.

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Summary

Keyboarding is the act of typing documents using a keyboard.
It requires correct posture, proper finger placement, and gentle manipulation of keys.
Understanding the functions of alphanumeric keys, service keys, and punctuation marks helps you to produce clear and accurate documents.
Practising regularly with correct spacing and soft touch improves both speed and accuracy.