Do you push the spacebar with your left or right thumb? Both?

[jmann]

I realized that I always push it with my left hand (I'm left handed), I noticed this because all the finish is worn off the spacebar on the left side. :p It is very noticeable with the black keys. What thumb do you push the spacebar with?

[dmr727]

It depends on which finger typed the last letter of the word - if it's a finger on my left hand, my left thumb hits the spacebar. My right hand - my right thumb.

FWIW, I'm left handed.

[jmann]

It depends on which finger typed the last letter of the word - if it's a finger on my left hand, my left thumb hits the spacebar. My right hand - my right thumb.

That is the proper way we are taught in schools but I was never able to do it automatically with my right and. My right is stupid. :)

[Tomorrow]

I'm a righty.

When I took typing in eighth grade, they taught us to use our right thumb, so I've done it ever since.

Curiously, when I use AutoCAD, I use only my left hand on the keyboard, including my left thumb on the spacebar (which acts as the Enter key).

[dmr727]

That is the proper way we are taught in schools but I was never able to do it automatically with my right and. My right is stupid. :)

I never took a real typing class - I guess I just fell into that way of doing it. Your post is making me actually pay attention to it. For some reason every so often my right index finger will hit the spacebar too. I can't find much rhyme or reason to it.

[fireshot91]

I don't even know, I tried to test this right now, while I was typing this sentence, and heck, I think I pressed the spacebar with my middle finger? My pinky?

Wasn't my thumbs that's for sure.


Ah there we go, it's either my left thumb, or my right index finger. I type fastest this way, even though I know it might not be correct. Nope, I know it's not correct :P. Sometimes I press the left handed keys with my right hand, yet I still manage to get about 80-100 wpm without errors, typing this way.

[iBookG4user]

I push the space bar with my right thumb and I'm right handed.

[r.j.s]

Whichever is closer at the time - usually the right.

[toolbox]

For me the left thumb - i am also right handed

[macjram]

I wish there was an option for using both because I'm watching myself type right now and whatever the last letter is I use the opposite thumb.

[jmann]

I wish there was an option for using both because I'm watching myself type right now and whatever the last letter is I use the opposite thumb.

Can I add another option? or restart the poll? I completely forgot. :(

[iObama]

Right. I never EVER use the left thumb. Just feels too weird. I'm a righty, BTW.

[r.j.s]

Can I add another option? or restart the poll? I completely forgot. :(

I think the mods have to do it.

[jmann]

I think the mods have to do it.

I asked. Or even if they deleted the poll so I could recreate it correctly. :)

[SilentPanda]

I thought I used my left thumb but while typing this it has become apparent that my left thumb doesn't do anything at all.

Left pinkie - left shift, left ctrl
Left thumb - hey it's not lazy! It does left option and left command. Which I rarely use. So it's kinda lazy.
Remaining left fingers go on various keys over to the 7, Y, G, and V keys.

Right thumb does space.
Right pinkie is enter and a few miscellaneous punctuation.
I don't use the right modifiers really ever.

I took a typing class in 7th or 8th grade and never could get the hang of the proper way to do it. But I think that was in part since I had been typing since I was 6 or 7 anyway.

Home row is for chumps! :D

[jmann]

Home row is for champs! :D

I fixed it for you. :)

[zephead]

I guess us righties are in the minority here for once. :eek:

I never thought about it before, but I always use my right thumb. I tried pushing the spacebar with my left thumb but it's a little awkward, and I keep unconsciously hitting the spacebar with my right thumb.

[bc008]

For me the left thumb - i am also right handed

Same for me :) I can actually see the little shine spot from my left thumb now that I look

[aethelbert]

Left thumb, I am right handed. I never really noticed before you asked and had to watch myself type to find the answer.

Same for me :) I can actually see the little shine spot from my left thumb now that I look
Arg... that was mean, now I see it too. Good thing the top case is getting replaced soon!

[redking31591]

i'm right handed and I press it with my left.

[OutThere]

Absolutely always with my right thumb. The right half of my spacebar always gets way worn down while the left side remains good as new!

[designgeek]

I totally just realized that I don't use my left thumb for anything. Weird.

[huntnboy04]

left, and I am right handed. well I probably use both..

[ucfgrad93]

I generally hit the space bar with my right thumb.

[Love]

Whatever's closer. However I find my self using my right hand quite a bit for it .

[agkm800]

I am 110% right-handed, but I've found out that I dominantly use my left thumb for the space key when I type.

The left side of the space key on my laptop has a very shiny area and that's how I found out my tendency and I thought it's interesting.

[Cassie]

Neither, ever. I almost always use my right index finger. Scratch that, make it 100% that finger.

I took the mandatory typing classes in elementary school, but I never learned to type correctly. I'm the sort of "hunt and peck" kind of typist, except there isn't really any hunting involved. ;) I probably should learn to type the correct way, but I'm up to 70 WPM this way, and I'm satisfied with that. :p

[mrmayor92]

i use i my right index finger too..... i really had to think about this one because i type so damn much everyday :)

[Dagless]

95% left, 5% right it seems to be. I didn't use my right at all typing this. (not even that bit. or that bit. or th... yea.

[XnavxeMiyyep]

I'm left handed, and I actually had no idea which thumb I used.

However, I typed a few sample sentences, and it seems no matter what, I always use my right thumb.

[AngryApple]

I use my right thumb to press the space bar. I also never use shift to make an uppercase letter. I use capslock. :p

[MKSinSA]

but I use whatever thumb's available (predominant right) but depending on the situation can just as easily go with any old finger. With all the Cmd-Shift-Alt combo contortions you need with Mac, you go with whatever's free!

[tobefirst]

Always the right thumb. My left thumb just kind of hangs there not doing anything, hovering over my right thumb. My left hand makes up for it by being the only hand I use for shift.

[jessica.]

Righty here. :D

[ikermalli]

I always press the space bar with my right thumb, probably because I type weird, I leave my right thumb on the spacebar, my left thumb just hovering over it (I never use it to hit space) and when I type I on my right hand I use everything but my thumb and on my left hand I only use my index and middle finger to type unless I'm hitting shift then I use my pinky finger.

[jmann]

Well it looks like the righties have taken the lead away from the lefties who were winning at the beginning. :p I wonder if it will even back out? Meanwhile the people who type "properly" with both thumbs are in the minority.

[jason221]

I use my left thumb, probably because I'm left handed.

[twistedlegato]

For some reason i seem to switch between every word i type :confused:

It doesn't even matter which is closer, they just seem to take turns....

[Designer Dale]

It seems to be all with the right thumb for me. I never even thought of it until this thing came up.

Dale

[gillboyswims96]

both, but even tho im right handed i think i use my left hand more...

[killerrobot]

Back in the day when taking typing classes (on a typewriter :eek:) it was taught to use the right thumb. Never broke that habit.

[CJS7070]

I press it with my right thumb... It's a lot more difficult to do it with the left--I just tried with this sentence, I couldn't do it!

[Rt&Dzine]

I use my right thumb for spacebar. It must be a carryover from typing classes.

[jlewis2k1]

very interesting idea. I noticed that I hit it with my right hand regardless.. I am a righty.

[theLimit]

I usually use the thumb on the same hand as the last letter I typed. I learned to type in typing class in the eighties using manual and electric typewriters. I am right handed.

Oftentimes I only use one hand on the keyboard and the other on the mouse, sometimes using the mouse left handed, sometimes right handed. Sometimes I type with my right hand while using my left on the (music) keyboard. Sometimes I'll type with everything but my right thumb when it's wet.

[gusious]

Right. I'm right handed.

[dmmcintyre3]

Right.

My PB's spacebar is barely worn and it is only on the right side.

[eMac4ever]

I'm right-handed and left-thumbed. Interestingly, when I, just now, tried vigorously jiggling my fingers (while keeping my hands still) in mid-air, the fingers on my left hand seemed to move more readily than those on my right. Also, when I widen the spaces between my fingers, as if I were going to run them through my hair, the fingers on my right hand moved more awkwardly. Is this the same for everyone? If it is, then "thumb-dominance" seems to be associated with the hand possessing higher finger dexterity.

[Shotglass]

I push it with my index fingers, mostly the right one.

[ian.maffett]

For me, right trumps left. If only left is on the keyboard, etc., then left it is...
It is funny, though... when I am typing my left thumb just ... dammit, now I am looking at it. It's just hanging out there, not doing anything at all. LoL.
Thanks for the poll.

[mscriv]

I'm right handed so I use the right more often. But, in general use i find that I do use both, especially when my right hand is on the number pad. Obviously, there's no space bar over there.

[Unspoken Demise]

I use my nose.
Makes people think I'm a crazy person.

"Are you ok?"
"Yeah*thunk*I'm*thunk*just*thunk*spacing.

[Mord]

Which ever is closer though usually my right, I type in a very freeform manner basically using whatever finger seems convenient at the time, seems to work well as I can hit 80wpm easy, I've never got on well with strict touch typing, I also one hand type often while doing other things so each hand is used to taking over the job of the other if it's nearby.

[evilgEEk]

Right thumb. Every single time. My left thumb just hangs there in midair being quite useless.

Although when I'm thumb-typing on the iPhone I use both thumbs. Just depends on what (where) the last letter was.

I'm also right-handed.

[Stridder44]

I push it with my index fingers, mostly the right one.

Glad to see I'm not alone on this one. I thought I was crazy at first but it's just the keyboard on my MBP is so small. I wasn't even aware I used my right index finger until reading this thread.

[spillproof]

I don't know let me test now. Okay, well it seems that I only push it with my left. It might be becasue I'm a lefty and do not know how to properly type. I tend to only use my index finger on my right hand and all but my pinky on the left. Interesting.

[jmann]

Right thumb. Every single time. My left thumb just hangs there in midair being quite useless.

Although when I'm thumb-typing on the iPhone I use both thumbs. Just depends on what (where) the last letter was.

I'm also right-handed.

Weird, I just checked what thumb I use for my iPhone spacing, and oddly it is the right one as compared to using exclusively left on the computer. :eek:

[Malfoy]

pretty sure right. yep it would appear my right. if it makes you feel any better I use my left hand for shift keying always.

[MacManiac76]

It seems I always use my right thumb to press the spacebar, I am right-handed. Never really thought about it until I read this thread. However I do use both shift keys, whichever is opposite the hand I'm using to press the main key.

[Ntombi]

I had to type to figure it out. :o I don't type the traditional way, because I also started typing before I "learned" how.

Anyway, after typing this to test it out, it seems that I hit the spacebar with my right index finger almost all the time. That's weird. :confused:

Oh well, I'm not likely to change anyway. 2+ decades of typing this way seems to work for me.

[Melrose]

I said left, but I think it's pretty equal on both hands...

[macbook yes]

I use my right index finger. I absolutely hate hitting things with the side of my thumb. Thats why I was overjoyed when the alumbooks came out with the entire trackpad being a button. No more hitting the button with the side of the thumb. Other than this, I type pretty normally. I use 2 hands and all. Though I rarely use my pinkies.

[Shadow]

Right thumb. The space bar has become a little slanted down on that side - annoys me quite a lot. :o

[instaxgirl]

Turns out I hit the space bar with my right index finger.

My typing just keeps getting more and more messed up. I use my right thumb to hit the trackpad button.

[jabingla2810]

I use my right middle finger...

I pretty much use my right middle finger and my left index and middle finger exclusively to type.

Never noticed that before, but I type pretty quick with this "set up", so it works for me.

[doubleohseven]

Both. I've done a touch typing course that made me use both of my thumbs to press the space button.. so since then, both.

[MacManiac76]

I think another thing this thread has shown is how many non-traditional typists there are out there. Not necessarily hunt-and-peck typists. Hitting the spacebar with your index finger? Really? :confused: This seems so counterproductive to me it's absurd. But to each his(her) own I guess. Whatever works for you is all the really matters. ;)

[Gin Gin]

I also took a typing class in high school, on actual typewriters & do actually touch type. The woman that taught that class was a real old school polyester wearing stickler. I think the actual name of the class was "Typing & business skills" or something like that. The "business skills" had to do with women in the office setting should wear scant makeup & jewelry & dress conservatively. The class was in 1990, not 1960!

Anyone else that took a proper typing class still put 2 spaces at the end of a sentence? You can see from this post that I do, can't help it. It bugs me when some people on the interwebs don't put ANY space at the end of sentences.

[jmann]

Anyone else that took a proper typing class still put 2 spaces at the end of a sentence? You can see from this post that I do, can't help it. It bugs me when some people on the interwebs don't put ANY space at the end of sentences.

I can see that you only put one space, because vBulletin only renders one space not two. :p

[Gin Gin]

I can see that you only put one space, because vBulletin only renders one space not two. :p

Whoops! I hadn't noticed that.:o I still put 2 spaces though, because I've been doing it so long it's automatic.

[jmann]

Whoops! I hadn't noticed that.:o I still put 2 spaces though, because I've been doing it so long it's automatic.

I know you do. I can see them when I see your actual text, during a quote. ;) I'm too busy to put two spaces, I don't have that much time. :p