# Don't press tab and space **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110 "2011-05-16T17:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/1 "2011-05-16T17:23:17Z")
Cause if you do, your post will be posted before you are ready. Is this a bug or a feature? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/2 "2011-05-16T17:25:30Z")
You’re right. I just tried that and it submitted my post before I was ready. Remind me not to try that again. ---
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/3 "2011-05-16T17:27:14Z")
Try it. I touch type, and since tab doesn’t work I then press a space, without thinking. This posts your reply, when you are in the middle of drafting it. I vote it’s a bug ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/4 "2011-05-16T17:29:22Z")
Well, I rarely press tab, so it’s unlikely I’ll do it accidentally. It’s cool to do once you’re aware of it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/5 "2011-05-16T17:32:43Z")
Let me try out this new ETA: Well, son of a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/6 "2011-05-16T17:35:52Z")
Here, hold my beer wh ETA … Ah, I see what’s happening. The ‘post reply’ button is next in tab order after the reply box. In edit mode, the ‘save’ button in next. So tab does what it’s supposed to do, move to the next object that should have focus. The space bar does what it’s supposed to do, push/select/activate whatever form object has focus at that time. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/7 "2011-05-16T17:49:53Z")
Yeah, I see that now. When I press tab, “Post Quick Reply” gets highlighted. I would think that “Enter” would activate it instead of “Space.” Learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/8 "2011-05-16T17:52:11Z")
Space activating a button is a somewhat general activity. I only know of tab order and using space to activate things from creating MS Access forms–as early as 1997 I think. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/9 "2011-05-16T18:34:46Z")
I’ve known about this (and been using it on message boards) for about 12 years now. It works on most message boards and also Facebook (when you’re writing a status or post). It’s gotten to the point where I don’t even have to think about it anymore. [Here’s two](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12140980&highlight=spacebar#post12140980) [previous instances](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13620634&highlight=spacebar#post13620634) where I mention this feature on here. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/10 "2011-05-16T18:42:30Z")
How about a Fresca? Well, whadayouknow. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/11 "2011-05-16T18:44:33Z")
> [@Sandwich](#): > > Cause if you do, your post will be posted before you are ready. > > Is this a bug or a feature? It’s a feature. Tab moves from field to field in most windows applications. Space will press a button if you happen to be on one. BTW, Shift typically does things backwards. Tab moves forward from field to field, Shift+Tab moves backwards. In a browser window, space will be the same as page down, Shift+Space will work as Page up. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/12 "2011-05-16T18:46:35Z")
hel ETA: -lo ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/13 "2011-05-16T19:10:47Z")
Candleja ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/14 "2011-05-16T19:22:44Z")
Test ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/15 "2011-05-16T19:28:44Z")
**Don’t press tab and space** Speaking of which, you should never ever push the [History Eraser Button](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DUmoJNQK2o&feature=player_detailpage#t=6s). The beautiful _shiny_ button. The jolly _candy-like_ button … Oh, and don’t press alt-F4. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/16 "2011-05-16T19:59:38Z")
> [@](#): > > BTW, Shift typically does things backwards. So shift-space will unsubmit your post? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/17 "2011-05-16T20:26:09Z")
Only within five minutes of posting. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/18 "2011-05-16T22:16:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So shift-space will unsubmit your post? If you figure out how to shift space, let me know–I’m working on my doomsday device. ---
**Author:** ![Walther\_Ego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Walther\_Ego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walther_Ego)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/19 "2011-05-17T08:16:29Z")
I’ve always wanted to have a drink in at the Press Space Bar. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110/20 "2011-05-17T08:39:48Z")
Would you run a tab? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-press-tab-and-space/582110.md?page=2)