Qwerty and

Azerty

Rodel Serrano
Introduction

QWERTY and AZERTY are two keyboard layouts that are used for typing on

computers and other devices. The main difference between the two is the arrangement of

letters and symbols on the keyboard. QWERTY is the most commonly used layout in the US

and other English-speaking countries, while AZERTY is used in France and some other

French-speaking countries. The AZERTY keyboard layout places commonly used French

characters like é, è, and ç in more accessible positions. This can be advantageous for French

speakers, but it may make it harder for non-French speakers to use. Understanding different

keyboard layouts, such as QWERTY and AZERTY, is significant as it affects typing speed and

accuracy. Knowing the differences between the two can help individuals type more

efficiently and avoid errors. Ultimately, the choice of which layout to use is a matter of

personal preference.

Historical Background

The QWERTY keyboard layout Is one of the most widely used keyboard layouts in the

world today. It was first developed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes, a newspaper

editor and printer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sholes was looking for a way to improve the

typing speed and accuracy of his people and came up with the QWERTY layout. The name

QWERTY comes from the first six letters of the keyboard’s top row.

The AZERTY keyboard layout, on the other hand, was developed in France in the late

19th century. It was created to accommodate the French language, which has several

accented characters that are not present in the English language. The name AZERTY comes

from the first six letters of the keyboard’s top row in France.
 Over the years, the QWERTY keyboard layout has become the standard for English-

language typewriters, computers, and other electronic devices. Its popularity can be

attributed to the fact that it is easy to learn, and its layout makes it easy to type quickly and

accurately.

Similarly, the AZERTY keyboard layout has become the standard for French-language

typewriters, computers, and other electronic devices. It is designed to make it easy for

French speakers to type quickly and accurately, with all the necessary accented characters

readily accessible.

In conclusion, the QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts have been around for over

a century now and have become the standard for English and French language keyboards

respectively. The layouts have undergone several modifications and improvements over the

years but still remain relevant today.

Key Layout and Placement

When it comes to typing, the keyboard layout plays a crucial role. The QWERTY and

AZERTY keyboard layouts are two of the most commonly used keyboard layouts in the

world. The QWERTY keyboard layout is primarily used in English-speaking countries, while

the AZERTY keyboard layout is commonly used in French-speaking countries. In this article,

we will analyze and compare the layout of letters, numbers, and special characters on both

QWERTY and AZERTY keyboards, as well as the positioning of common keys and their

significance in typing efficiency for respective languages.

The QWERTY keyboard layout was developed in the 1870s and was designed to

reduce the likelihood of mechanical typewriter key jams. The QWERTY keyboard layout is
named after the first six letters on the top row of the keyboard. One of the significant

benefits of the QWERTY keyboard layout is its efficiency in typing English words. The layout

of the keys is such that the most frequently occurring letters in English words are placed in

easily accessible positions, making typing faster and more efficient.

On the other hand, the AZERTY keyboard layout was developed in the 1890s and is

mainly used in French-speaking countries. The AZERTY layout is named after the first six

letters on the top row of the keyboard. One of the significant benefits of the AZERTY

keyboard layout is its efficiency in typing French words. The layout of the keys is such that

the most frequently occurring letters in French words are placed in easily accessible

positions, making typing faster and more efficient.

The placement of common keys also differs between the QWERTY and AZERTY

keyboards. For example, the @ symbol is located on the QWERTY keyboard by pressing the

shift key and the number 2 key, while on the AZERTY keyboard, the @ symbol is located by

pressing the Alt Gr key and the letter 0 key. Additionally, the location of the shift key is

different on both keyboards, with the shift key being slightly larger on the AZERTY keyboard.

In conclusion, both the QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts have their benefits

and drawbacks. The QWERTY keyboard layout is efficient in typing English words, while the

AZERTY keyboard layout is efficient in typing French words. However, the placement of

common keys and the positioning of keys on both keyboards differ, leading to a difference in

typing efficiency.
Finger Placement and Ergonomics

When it comes to typing, proper finger placement and ergonomics are key to typing

speed and accuracy. The QWERTY and AZERTY layouts are two of the most commonly used

keyboard layouts. The recommended finger placement for both layouts is similar, with the

fingers of each hand resting on the home row keys. The home row keys are the middle row

of keys on the keyboard, which include the letters A, S, D, F, and J, K, L, and ; on QWERTY

and A, Z, E, R, and T, Y, U, I, O, and P on AZERTY.

For QWERTY, the left index finger should rest on F and the right index finger should

rest on J. The left pinky should rest on A and the right pinky should rest on ;. The left ring

finger should rest on D and the right ring finger should rest on L. The left middle finger

should rest on S and the right middle finger should rest on K. On AZERTY, the left index

finger should rest on R and the right index finger should rest on U. The left pinky should rest

on A and the right pinky should rest on P. The left ring finger should rest on Z and the right

ring finger should rest on M. The left middle finger should rest on E and the right middle

finger should rest on I.

The proper finger placement contributes to typing speed and accuracy as It allows

the fingers to easily locate the keys and reach them without having to stretch or strain. This

also reduces the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additionally, proper ergonomics, such as keeping the wrists straight and at a comfortable

angle, can help prevent discomfort and fatigue during extended typing sessions.
Usage and Popularity

The QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts are two of the most common keyboard

layouts In use today. The QWERTY layout is predominantly used in the United States,

Canada, and Australia, while the AZERTY layout is more commonly used in France and

Belgium.

The QWERTY layout was designed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes and

was intended to prevent mechanical typewriters from jamming. The layout arranges the

keys in such a way that the most commonly used letters are spread out across the keyboard,

reducing the likelihood of keys jamming when typing quickly. Over time, the QWERTY layout

became the standard for typewriters and later, computer keyboards. Today, it is the most

commonly used keyboard layout in the world, with variations used in most English-speaking

countries.

The AZERTY layout, on the other hand, was developed in France in the early 20 th

century. The layout is similar to QWERTY, but with a few key differences. For example, the

letters A and Q are switched, as are the letters Z and W. This layout was designed to

accommodate the French language, which uses different letters and accents than English.

The AZERTY layout is also used in Belgium, which has three official languages: French, Dutch,

and German.

In conclusion, the popularity and usage of QWERTY and AZERTY layouts are largely

based on historical and linguistic factors. The QWERTY layout is widely used in English-

speaking countries due to its origin as a typewriter keyboard layout, while the AZERTY

layout is popular in French-speaking countries due to its design to accommodate the French

language.
 When it comes to typing, proper finger placement and ergonomics are key to typing

speed and accuracy. The QWERTY and AZERTY layouts are two of the most commonly used

keyboard layouts. The recommended finger placement for both layouts is similar, with the

fingers of each hand resting on the home row keys. The home row keys are the middle row

of keys on the keyboard, which include the letters A, S, D, F, and J, K, L, and ; on QWERTY

and A, Z, E, R, and T, Y, U, I, O, and P on AZERTY.

For QWERTY, the left index finger should rest on F and the right index finger should

rest on J. The left pinky should rest on A and the right pinky should rest on ;. The left ring

finger should rest on D and the right ring finger should rest on L. The left middle finger

should rest on S and the right middle finger should rest on K. On AZERTY, the left index

finger should rest on R and the right index finger should rest on U. The left pinky should rest

on A and the right pinky should rest on P. The left ring finger should rest on Z and the right

ring finger should rest on M. The left middle finger should rest on E and the right middle

finger should rest on I.

The proper finger placement contributes to typing speed and accuracy as it allows

the fingers to easily locate the keys and reach them without having to stretch or strain. This

also reduces the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Additionally, proper ergonomics, such as keeping the wrists straight and at a comfortable

angle, can help prevent discomfort and fatigue during extended typing sessions.

Challenges and Adaptability

Switching between QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts can be a challenge for

individuals who need to work with both. The main challenge is the muscle memory that is
developed when typing on a particular keyboard layout. This can cause confusion and slow

down the typing speed when switching between the two layouts.

One strategy to adapt to this challenge is to practice typing on both keyboard layouts

regularly. This can help to develop muscle memory for both layouts and reduce the time it

takes to switch between them. Another strategy is to use keyboard stickers or labels to help

identify the keys on the different layouts. This can be especially useful for individuals who

are still learning the new layout.

Another challenge is the placement of some commonly used keys, such as the @

symbol, which is located on a different key on AZERTY than on QWERTY. To overcome this

challenge, individuals can use keyboard shortcuts to access these symbols quickly. For

example, on AZERTY, the @ symbol can be accessed using the AltGr key and the 0 key.

In conclusion, switching between QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts can be

challenging, but with regular practice and the use of helpful tools like keyboard stickers and

shortcuts, individuals can quickly adapt and overcome these challenges.

Conclusion

QWERTY and AZERTY are two keyboard layouts used for typing on computers and

other devices. QWERTY is the most commonly used layout in the US and other English-

speaking countries, while AZERTY is used in France and some other French-speaking

countries. The QWERTY layout is named after the first six letters of the keyboard’s top row

and is designed to make it easy for English speakers to type quickly and accurately.
 Key layout and placement are crucial for typing speed and accuracy. The QWERTY

layout is named after the first six letters on the top row of the keyboard, making the most

frequently occurring letters in English words easily accessible. On the other hand, the

AZERTY layout was developed in the 1890s and is mainly used in French-speaking countries.

It is designed to make it easy for French speakers to type quickly and accurately, with all the

necessary accented characters readily accessible.

Finger placement and ergonomics are key to typing speed and accuracy. The

QWERTY layout is predominantly used in the United States, Canada, and Australia, while the

AZERTY layout is more commonly used in France and Belgium. The QWERTY layout was

designed in the 1870s by Christopher Latham Sholes to prevent mechanical typewriters

from jamming.

Switching between QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts can be challenging due to

muscle memory development when typing on a particular layout. One strategy to adapt to

this challenge is to practice typing on both layouts regularly. This can help develop muscle

memory for both layouts and reduce the time it takes to switch between them.

In conclusion, switching between QWERTY and AZERTY keyboard layouts can be

challenging, but with regular practice and the use of helpful tools like keyboard stickers and

shortcuts, individuals can quickly adapt.

 References

Hanna (n.d) https://www.techtarget.com/contributor/Katie-Terrell-Hanna

Typingpal (2023) https://www.typingpal.com/en/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-

QWERTY-QWERTZ-and-AZERTY-keyboards

Pitman (2022) https://www.pitman-training.com/advice-hub/pitman-blog/fun-typing-facts-

qwerty-keyboard-history-typing-speed/#:~:text=The%20Qwerty%20keyboard%20that

%20we,and%20led%20to%20jammed%20keys.