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QWERTY (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The encyclopedia article on the QWERTY layout, with its history of the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and the Remington No. 2 of 1878.
- How much weight it carries
- Community-edited and heavily referenced. Useful for dates and history, but it is a secondary summary: the original patents and company records are the primary sources.
Facts taken from this source
- The QWERTY article reports that some studies on keyboard layout have suggested that, for a skilled typist, layout is largely irrelevant.
“some studies on keyboard layout have suggested that, for a skilled typist, layout is largely irrelevant” (Layout comparison section)
- The economists Stan Liebowitz and Stephen Margolis have noted that rigorous studies are inconclusive as to whether alternative keyboard layouts offer any real benefits.
“rigorous studies are inconclusive as to whether they actually offer any real benefits” (Layout comparison section)
- In November 1868, Christopher Sholes changed the arrangement of the second half of the alphabet on his prototype typewriter, moving N to Z from right to left.
“In November 1868 he changed the arrangement of the latter half of the alphabet, N to Z, right-to-left.” (History section)
- Wikipedia says the QWERTY layout was devised and created in the early 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes, a newspaper editor and printer.
“The QWERTY layout was devised and created in the early 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes” (History)
- Wikipedia says there is evidence that placing often-used letter pairs farther apart increases typing speed, because it encourages alternation between the hands.
“there is evidence that to place often-used letter pairs farther apart increases typing speed, because it encourages alternation between the hands” (History)
- Some historians reject the explanation that Densmore's letter-pair study shaped QWERTY, and attribute the letter groupings to feedback from American Morse telegraph operators.
“Others consider this conjecture to be unfounded, suggesting instead that the letter groupings evolved from American Morse telegraph operators' feedback” (History section)
- Wikipedia says the common belief that QWERTY was designed to slow typists down is false, and that the layout was meant to speed typing up.
“Contrary to popular belief, the QWERTY layout was not designed to slow the typist down” (History)
- Wikipedia says the QWERTY layout became popular with the success of the Remington No. 2 of 1878.
“The layout became popular with the success of the Remington No. 2 of 1878” (History)
- The QWERTY design is based on the layout of the Sholes and Glidden typewriter, which E. Remington and Sons sold from 1874.
“The QWERTY design is based on a layout included on the Sholes and Glidden typewriter sold by E. Remington and Sons from 1874.” (Lead section)