On the iPhone, the punctuation keys and alphabet keys appear on two different
keyboard layouts. That’s a serious hassle, because each time you want
a period or a comma, it’s an awkward, three-step dance: (1) Tap the „ key
to get the punctuation layout. (2) Tap the period. (3) Tap the ABC key, or just
press the Space bar, to return to the alphabet layout.
Imagine how excruciating it is to type, for example, “a P.O. Box in the U.S.A.”!
That’s 34 finger taps and 10 mode changes!
Fortunately, there’s a secret way to get a period, comma, or another punctuation
mark with only a single finger gesture.
The iPhone doesn’t register most key presses until you lift your finger. But the
Shift and Punctuation keys register their taps on the press down instead.
So here’s what you can do, all in one motion:
➊ Touch the „ key, but don’t lift your finger. The punctuation layout
appears.
➋ Slide your finger a onto the period or comma key, and release. The
ABC layout returns automatically. You’ve typed a period or a comma with
one finger touch instead of three.
if you’re a two-thumbed typist, you can also hit the „ key with your left thumb,
and then tap the punctuation key with your right. it even works on the = subpunctuation
layout, although you’ll probably visit that screen less often.
In fact, you can type any of the punctuation symbols the same way. This technique
makes a huge difference in the usability of the keyboard.
This same trick saves you a finger-press when capitalizing words, too. You can put
your finger down on the L key and slide directly onto the letter you want to type
its uppercase version.
