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Punctuation marks · Math symbols · Brackets · Currency and special characters · Modifier and function keys · FAQ

Two rules for typing any symbol

1. Same finger as the key. Each symbol uses the finger that owns its key. ! is on the 1 key, so your left pinky types it.
2. Opposite Shift. If the key is on the left side, hold the right Shift. If it is on the right, hold the left Shift.

Punctuation marks

. Period

Also called: full stop, dot, point.

A period ends a sentence that tells something. It also shows up in web addresses, email addresses and decimal numbers.

How to type it: Press the . key with your right ring finger. No Shift needed.

Fun example: My dog likes to nap.

Everything about the period + practice drill →

, Comma

Also called: curl.

A comma makes a tiny pause inside a sentence. It separates items in a list and joins parts of a sentence.

How to type it: Press the , key with your right middle finger. No Shift needed.

Fun example: We packed snacks, water, and a map.

Everything about the comma + practice drill →

? Question Mark

Also called: query, interrogation point.

A question mark ends a sentence that asks something.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the / key with your right pinky.

Fun example: Can you type with your eyes closed?

Everything about the question mark + practice drill →

! Exclamation Mark

Also called: exclamation point, bang, shriek.

An exclamation mark shows strong feeling, like excitement, surprise or a loud command.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the 1 key with your left pinky.

Fun example: Wow, that rocket is fast!

Everything about the exclamation mark + practice drill →

; Semicolon

Also called: semi.

A semicolon joins two complete sentences that are closely related. It is a stronger pause than a comma but softer than a period.

How to type it: Press the ; key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: It rained all day; we played board games.

Everything about the semicolon + practice drill →

: Colon

Also called: double dot.

A colon says "here comes something": a list, an explanation, or the time.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the ; key with your right pinky.

Fun example: Bring three things: a pencil, a book, and a smile.

Everything about the colon + practice drill →

' Apostrophe

Also called: single quote, tick, prime.

An apostrophe shows that letters are missing (can't = can not) or that something belongs to someone (Mia's book).

How to type it: Press the ' key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: It's Sam's turn to pick the game.

Everything about the apostrophe + practice drill →

" Quotation Mark

Also called: double quote, quotes, speech marks.

Quotation marks go around the exact words someone said or wrote.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the ' key with your right pinky.

Fun example: "Ready for liftoff?" asked the captain.

Everything about the quotation mark + practice drill →

Math symbols

+ Plus Sign

Also called: plus, add sign.

The plus sign means add. It also means "and more" or "positive."

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the = key with your right pinky.

Fun example: 4 + 4 = 8

Everything about the plus sign + practice drill →

- Hyphen / Minus Sign

Also called: dash, minus, hyphen-minus.

This key makes a hyphen, which joins words (well-known), and a minus sign, which means subtract.

How to type it: Press the - key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: My six-year-old brother can count to 100.

Everything about the hyphen / minus sign + practice drill →

= Equals Sign

Also called: equal sign, equals.

The equals sign means "is the same as." Both sides of it have the same value.

How to type it: Press the = key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: 10 = 5 + 5

Everything about the equals sign + practice drill →

* Asterisk

Also called: star, splat.

An asterisk marks a note at the bottom of a page, and on computers it means multiply.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the 8 key with your right middle finger.

Fun example: 3 * 4 = 12

Everything about the asterisk + practice drill →

/ Slash

Also called: forward slash, stroke, solidus, divide.

The slash means "or," "per," or divide. It also separates parts of web addresses and dates.

How to type it: Press the / key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: Eat 1/2 of the pizza now.

Everything about the slash + practice drill →

% Percent Sign

Also called: per cent, percentage.

The percent sign means "out of 100." 50% means 50 out of every 100, which is half.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the 5 key with your left pointer finger.

Fun example: I got 100% on my spelling test!

Everything about the percent sign + practice drill →

< Less-Than Sign

Also called: left angle bracket, open chevron.

The less-than sign means the number on the left is smaller: 3 < 5.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the , key with your right middle finger.

Fun example: 2 < 7

Everything about the less-than sign + practice drill →

> Greater-Than Sign

Also called: right angle bracket, close chevron.

The greater-than sign means the number on the left is bigger: 9 > 4.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the . key with your right ring finger.

Fun example: 10 > 3

Everything about the greater-than sign + practice drill →

^ Caret

Also called: hat, circumflex, up arrow.

The caret often means "to the power of" on computers, so 2^3 means 2 × 2 × 2.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the 6 key with your right pointer finger.

Fun example: 2^3 = 8

Everything about the caret + practice drill →

Brackets

( Open Parenthesis

Also called: left paren, round bracket, open bracket.

An open parenthesis starts extra information inside a sentence or a math group. It always needs a closing partner.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the 9 key with your right ring finger.

Fun example: My cat (her name is Pixel) loves boxes.

Everything about the open parenthesis + practice drill →

) Close Parenthesis

Also called: right paren, close bracket.

A close parenthesis ends the extra information that an open parenthesis started.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the 0 key with your right pinky.

Fun example: (2 + 2) x 3 = 12

Everything about the close parenthesis + practice drill →

[ Open Square Bracket

Also called: left bracket, box bracket.

Square brackets add words that were not in the original quote, and in coding they make lists.

How to type it: Press the [ key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: scores = [10, 20, 30]

Everything about the open square bracket + practice drill →

] Close Square Bracket

Also called: right bracket.

The close square bracket ends what the open square bracket started.

How to type it: Press the ] key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: colors = [red, blue]

Everything about the close square bracket + practice drill →

{ Open Curly Brace

Also called: left brace, curly bracket, squiggly bracket.

Curly braces group things together. In math they hold a set; in code they hold blocks of instructions.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the [ key with your right pinky.

Fun example: {1, 2, 3}

Everything about the open curly brace + practice drill →

} Close Curly Brace

Also called: right brace, close curly bracket.

The close curly brace ends a group that the open brace started.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the ] key with your right pinky.

Fun example: {red, blue}

Everything about the close curly brace + practice drill →

Currency and special characters

$ Dollar Sign

Also called: dollar, peso sign, cash sign.

The dollar sign means money in dollars (and pesos). It goes before the number: $5.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the 4 key with your left pointer finger.

Fun example: The ice cream costs $2.50.

Everything about the dollar sign + practice drill →

@ At Sign

Also called: at symbol, commercial at, snail, monkey tail.

The at sign means "at." It sits in the middle of every email address, and on social apps it points to a person.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the 2 key with your left ring finger.

Fun example: Email me at mom@example.com.

Everything about the at sign + practice drill →

# Number Sign

Also called: hash, hashtag, pound sign, octothorpe, sharp.

The # sign means "number" (#1) and makes hashtags that group posts about the same topic.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the 3 key with your left middle finger.

Fun example: We are the #1 typing team!

Everything about the number sign + practice drill →

& Ampersand

Also called: and sign, and symbol.

The ampersand means "and." You see it in names of companies and stories, like "Ava & the Rabbit."

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the 7 key with your right pointer finger.

Fun example: Salt & pepper go together.

Everything about the ampersand + practice drill →

_ Underscore

Also called: underline, low line, understrike.

The underscore is a flat line at the bottom. It joins words where spaces are not allowed, like in usernames and file names.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the - key with your right pinky.

Fun example: My game name is space_cat_7.

Everything about the underscore + practice drill →

\ Backslash

Also called: reverse slash, back slant.

The backslash leans backward. It is used mostly on computers, for folder paths in Windows and special codes in programming.

How to type it: Press the \ key with your right pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: C:\Games\TypeRockets

Everything about the backslash + practice drill →

| Vertical Bar

Also called: pipe, bar, stick.

The vertical bar is a straight up-and-down line. Coders call it "pipe" and use it to connect commands or mean "or."

How to type it: Hold Shift with your left pinky, then press the \ key with your right pinky.

Fun example: Home | Lessons | Games

Everything about the vertical bar + practice drill →

~ Tilde

Also called: squiggle, twiddle, swung dash.

The tilde is a wavy line that means "about" (~10 minutes) and sits on top of letters in Spanish, like ñ.

How to type it: Hold Shift with your right pinky, then press the ` key with your left pinky.

Fun example: The trip takes ~20 minutes.

Everything about the tilde + practice drill →

` Backtick

Also called: grave accent, backquote, grave.

The backtick is a tiny slanted mark at the top-left of the keyboard. Coders use it to mark code, and it adds accents in some languages, like è.

How to type it: Press the ` key with your left pinky. No Shift needed.

Fun example: Type `hello` to show code.

Everything about the backtick + practice drill →

Modifier and function keys

These keys do not type a symbol. They change what other keys do or control the computer.

Each key has its own kids' guide with Windows, Mac and Chromebook tips: see Keyboard Keys Explained, or explore keyboard facts for kids.

Practice typing symbols

Ready to try them? Each symbol page has a short drill. The lessons on numbers, periods and question marks, exclamation marks and apostrophes and commas and quotes build these reaches step by step. You can also practice every letter key.

Keyboard symbols FAQ