Tech Tip for Writers #106: Auto-add a Period, Caps Lock, and More on an IPad

Tech Tips for Writers is an (almost) weekly post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have shared. Feel free to post a comment about a question you have. I’ll cover it in a future Tip.

Q: Typing on the iPad keyboard is slow. You have to access two different screens to type most messages. How do I speed that up without buying (and installing) a separate QWERTY keyboard?

A: Here’s one time-saving tip: IPads and most Smartphones will add a period (which inconveniently is on the second screen) if you double-space.

Cool.

Double-tapping seems to be a secret shortkey for many tools. For example, if you double-click the shift key, it turns the CAPS LOCK on.

That’s not all. Here are some other auto-adds for your iPad:

• split the keyboard by tapping and holding the keyboard button located at the bottom right of the keyboard (when it’s in view), and select Split.
• push Home and the power button simultaneously to take a screenshot that is saved to your camera roll
• shake the iPad to undo your last typed entry

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More on iPads:

Need a File on Your iPad? Here’s an Easy Way

Yes You Can Publish Direct to IPad

8 Digital Tools for Writing

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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 15 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, CSG Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, CAEP reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and a weekly contributor to TeachHUB. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.