{"id":933,"date":"2026-09-16T00:17:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T00:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eslhelpdesk.com\/blog\/?p=933"},"modified":"2026-09-16T14:40:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T14:40:11","slug":"navigating-the-keyboard-in-english-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eslhelpdesk.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/navigating-the-keyboard-in-english-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Keyboard in English: Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Are Those Funny Symbols Above the Number Keys?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beneath the “Function Keys,” which are in orange in the diagram below, you’ll see a (blue) row with a number on the bottom and a symbol on the top. You might recognize these symbols but not know their English names. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is the correct English word for each of these symbols?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1: Above the numeral ONE (1) is an exclamation mark<\/strong>. ! <\/strong>This is a punctuation mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2: Above the numeral TWO (2) is the “at” sign<\/strong>. @ <\/strong> You’ll see this sign in supermarkets: Two lbs (pounds) @ $1.50\/each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Above the numeral THREE (3) is the “pound”<\/strong> or the “hash” sign<\/strong>. # <\/strong> You’ll see this sign on telephones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Above the numeral FOUR (4) is the dollar<\/strong> sign.<\/strong> $<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Above the numeral FIVE (5) is the percent sign.<\/strong> %<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Above the numeral SIX (6) is the carat.<\/strong> ^ <\/strong>This sign is used in proof-reading<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Above the numeral SEVEN (7) is the ampersand.<\/strong> &<\/strong> This commonly means “and.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Above the numeral EIGHT (8) is the asterisk.<\/strong> * <\/strong> This commonly means “and.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Above the numeral NINE (9) is the open parens.<\/strong> ( <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Above the numeral TEN (109) is the close parens.<\/strong> ) <\/strong> Together, the open parens<\/strong> and the close parens<\/strong> are callled “parentheses<\/strong>.” (You might have a comment in parenthesis, like this.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last two keys on the top of the numeric line are the underscore _ <\/strong>and the plus sign<\/strong>. The underscore is commonly used in the names of work or computer files: names.on.the.keyboard_English.class.doc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course you know that to type either the underscore key or the plus sign, you must simultaneously<\/strong><\/strong>* hit the SHIFT key and the symbol key. <\/strong>
*Simultaneously means at the same time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I’ll list this lesson’s vocabulary<\/strong>. See if you can pronounce and point to each one on your keyboard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n