December 13, 2011
- QWERTY (noun)
- What does it mean?
- : a standard typewriter or computer keyboard
- How do you use it?
- Jill could text her friends more quickly on her new cell phone, since its keypad was a QWERTY.
- Are you a word wiz?
Around what date do you think the word "QWERTY" came into written use?You're a word wiz if you picked D! The word "QWERTY" came into written use in the late 1920s. When typewriters first came out in the mid-1800s, the keys were in alphabetic order. Because there are lots of commonly used letters next to each other when keys are placed alphabetically, the machines would often jam. The QWERTY mixed up the keys to slow down typists so their typewriters wouldn't jam as much. You may be wondering where we got the word "QWERTY." Just look down at the first six letters on a typical keyboard and you will have your answer.