Abby's Left Hand Modifiers Dictionary

Table Of Contents

Design

This dictionary is inspired by and can essentially be seen as a combination of Emily's Modifiers and Achim Siebert's Left Hand Modifier Keys. Essentially, it allows every shortcut to be typed in two strokes and using only the left hand. As such, only the following keys are used:

Key layout

In some combinations, the asterisk key is used. This requires the asterisk key to be pressed using the left hand, which should be fine on most hobbyist writers but may be a problem on some professional writers.

Modifiers

The first of the two strokes in each combination is used to specify the modifier keys that should be pressed. It is also possible to not press any modifier keys, since some applications have shortcuts that are activated by just a single keypress.

Single modifier keys

Patterns for single modifier keys.

Stroke Modifier Explanation
Control ControL
Alt ALT (reversed)
Shift SHift
Super (Windows/Command) Purely positional, no phonetic basis

Modifier key combinations

Modifier key combinations are made by stacking the chords for individual modifier keys on top of each other, with three exceptions:

  • The Ctrl + Alt + Super combination is given TKPWHRAO, with an additional O due to a conflict with TKPWHRA for Alt + Super.
  • The Ctrl + Shift + Super combination is given SKPWHRO, with an additional O due to a conflict with SKPWHR for Shift + Super.
  • The Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Super combination is given STKPWHRAO, with an additional O due to a conflict with STKPWHRA for Alt + Shift + Super.
Stroke Modifiers
Alt + Shift
Ctrl + Alt
Ctrl + Shift
Ctrl + Alt + Shift
Ctrl + Super
Alt + Super
Ctrl + Alt + Super
Shift + Super
Ctrl + Shift + Super
Alt + Shift + Super
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Super

The pattern for no modifier keys is TKPWHR. This presses a key specified in the second stroke without any additional modifier keys.

Stroke Modifiers
None

Keys

The second of the two strokes in each combination specifies what key to press along with the modifiers (if any) selected above.

Letters

The patterns for letter keys are the same as the fingerspelling pattern for that letter (without the asterisk), except for E, I, and U which have been given special patterns so they fit on the left hand. (Using E, EU, and U for E, I, and U still work, but are not shown below.)

Stroke Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Z (alternate)

Numbers

When AO is held, STPH will act as binary number input for numbers 0-9.

Stroke Number
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Function Keys

When R is held in addition to the pattern for any number 1-12, the corresponding function key will be used.

Stroke Function Key
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12

Numpad

When * is held in addition to the pattern for any number, the number key on the numpad will instead be used.

Stroke Number
0 (numpad)
1 (numpad)
2 (numpad)
3 (numpad)
4 (numpad)
5 (numpad)
6 (numpad)
7 (numpad)
8 (numpad)
9 (numpad)

Symbol keys

Stroke Key Explanation
. PeRiod
, CoMMa
/ SLash
\ BackSLash
; SemiCoLon
' QUOte
[ Bracket Left
] Bracket Right
- DasH
= eQUAls
ˋ GRave

Navigation keys

Holding down A (for arrow) will cause PKWR to act as arrow keys.

Stroke Key
Up
Down
Left
Right

Holding down * in addition to the stroke for any arrow key will cause the keys to act as page up, page down, home, and end.

Stroke Key
Page Up
Page Down
Home
End

Other keys

Stroke Key Explanation
Caps Lock Caps Lock + asterisk
Scroll Lock SCroll Lock + asterisk
Num Lock Num lock + asterisk
Space SPace
Return ENTeR
Tab TaB
Backspace BackSpace
Delete DeLete
Escape eSCApe
Insert iNSert
Menu Menu + asterisk
Print Screen SCreen PRint

Only modifiers

The pattern TPHO ("no") allows only modifier keys to be pressed, with no other keys included.

Stroke Key
None

Cancel

If you pressed a modifier key pattern on accident, you can use SKPH to cancel it.

Stroke Key
Cancel

Examples

Strokes Keys Pressed Use

Ctrl + A Select all (Windows or Linux)

Super + A Select all (Mac)

Alt + F4 Close window (Windows or Linux)

Ctrl + Alt + T Open terminal (Linux)

Super (Windows key) Open start menu (Windows)

Print Screen Take screenshot