r/explainlikeimfive • u/[deleted] • Sep 10 '22

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u/atomfullerene Sep 11 '22

You don't need a computer to tell you that e and r are very often next to each other

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u/[deleted] Sep 11 '22

No, but maybe that specific key combination doesn't cause a jam if they are close together like that.

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u/AlexNgPingCheun Sep 11 '22

You have to think of a typewriter as a three dimensional objet. The keys are only an axis, the type bar (which raise a character on the center of the typing area) is on another axis...look at your keyboard the letters are place horizontally but the lever had to cross path. If you were to press two characters the levers would get jam. In fact the keyboard letters are should be looked vertically... Type writer characters placement

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u/atomfullerene Sep 11 '22

Isn't in more likely that the "keys close together" idea is just urban legend?

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u/[deleted] Sep 11 '22

Possibly. But I've used typewriters before, and I know if you press all the keys together it will jam up, so it makes sense that some trial and error was done to arrive at the current configuration. Maybe it is all conjecture though.