The pound sign and the at sign
You learn the pound sign and the at sign: both are typed with Shift on a British keyboard.
How to find the key
- Tap the pound sign on the 3, with Shift.
- Tap the at sign on the apostrophe key, with Shift.
- Hold Shift with the pinky of your other hand.
- Type the pound sign before the number.
1234567890
qwertyuiop
asdfghjkl;'
zxcvbnm,./
shiftshift
A worked example
£12
- Hold the right Shift with your right pinky.
- Reach up with your left middle finger to the 3 and tap it for the pound sign.
- Release Shift.
- Type the 1 with your left pinky and the 2 with your left ring finger.
More examples
only £5
- Type only and a space.
- Make the pound sign with Shift and the 3.
- Release Shift and reach for the 5 with your left index finger.
me@home
- Type me.
- Hold the left Shift with your left pinky.
- Stretch your right pinky to the apostrophe key and tap it for the at sign.
- Release Shift and type home.
Watch out
You press Shift and the 2 and get inverted commas instead of the at sign.
On a British keyboard the at sign is Shift and the apostrophe key. Shift and the 2 gives inverted commas.
Tips
- Type the pound sign before the number: £5, not 5£.
- Hold Shift with the pinky of the other hand, as always.
Why it works
The pound sign is Shift and the 3. The at sign is Shift and the apostrophe key. These differ from an American keyboard, where the 3 gives a hash and the apostrophe key gives inverted commas. Hold Shift with the pinky of your other hand.