⌨️ Lesson: Type the Underscore (_)
The underscore (_) is typed with Shift + -. Hold left Shift with your left pinky and tap the key with your right pinky. These 4 exercises take it from a single tap to real-world uses, with a live keyboard showing the exact fingers.
How to Type the Underscore (_) Correctly
The underscore — also called low line, underline character — lives on the number row of a standard US keyboard. Hold the left Shift key with your left pinky, tap - with your right pinky, then release both. It shares the hyphen key. Hold the left Shift, then tap with your right pinky.
The underscore replaces spaces in file names and usernames and is the standard separator in snake_case code. Practising it now means you can type it without looking down when you meet it in emails, code, passwords or documents.
Note: keys can move on non-US layouts (UK, German, French and others), so if the symbol does not appear, check that your keyboard language is set to US English.
Hold left Shift with your left pinky and press the - key with your right pinky.
Your right pinky types the - key. The left pinky holds the left Shift key, so both hands share the work.
The underscore replaces spaces in file names and usernames and is the standard separator in snake_case code.
Keep Practising
Related lessons: Hyphen · Equals Sign · Capital letters · All typing lessons