# Ode to the Letter
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 14, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212 "2012-07-14T15:59:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/1 "2012-07-14T15:59:13Z")
The letter C that is. Something broke in my keyboard a ouple of days ago, and now I have to press down really hard to get the letter to appear. That’s the letter C. So if you notie any words in my posts missing a C, it means I’ve negleted to press down hard enough and have not aught it.
One thing, I’m seeing how few words use C. Thank goodness it’s not E or something.
---
### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/2 "2012-07-14T16:02:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> The letter C that is. Something broke in my keyboard a ouple of days ago, and now I have to press down really hard to get the letter to appear. That’s the letter C. So if you notie any words in my posts missing a C, it means I’ve negleted to press down hard enough and have not aught it.
>
> One thing, I’m seeing how few words use C. Thank goodness it’s not E or something.
If it gets bad, you can find a C somewhere, copy it to your clipboard, and then paste it wherever you want with ctrl-v.
If the V key breaks, you’re on your own.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/3 "2012-07-14T16:06:54Z")
It must be said:
> [@](#):
>
> Bounder: Why don’t you say the letter ‘K’ instead of the letter ‘C’
>
> Tourist: what you mean…spell bolour with a K
>
> Bounder: Yes
>
> Tourist: Kolour. Oh that’s very good, I never thought of that what a silly bunt
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/4 "2012-07-14T16:13:28Z")
See? Now I an say unt without getting a mod note. Feel my power!
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### Author:  [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/5 "2012-07-14T20:51:55Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> See? Now I an say unt without getting a mod note. Feel my power!
punt?
FYI, if it gets bad enough, you can use ALT key combinations with the numeric keyboard to type. ALT-67 should give a capital C, and ALT-99 should give a lower case c. I can’t test it on my laptop - no numeric keyboard..not even a fake one overlapping some standard keys. But I’ve used the trick in the past to type on my old laptop, when the ‘.’ key died.
-D/a
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### Author:  [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/6 "2012-07-14T22:23:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#):
>
> If it gets bad, you can find a C somewhere, copy it to your clipboard, and then paste it wherever you want with ctrl-v.
>
> If the V key breaks, you’re on your own.
Copy it with which ctrl-what, exactly? 😉
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/7 "2012-07-15T02:48:19Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#):
>
> punt?
>
> FYI, if it gets bad enough, you can use ALT key combinations with the numeric keyboard to type. ALT-67 should give a capital C, and ALT-99 should give a lower case c. I can’t test it on my laptop - no numeric keyboard..not even a fake one overlapping some standard keys. But I’ve used the trick in the past to type on my old laptop, when the ‘.’ key died.
> -D/a
C c
There. You’re right. Thanks. That’s good to know. Honestly, it feels like there’s something stuk underneath the key. It’s not that I have to press it down hard beause it gives all the way. Even when I press hard, it still feels stuk up on high. But pressing down hard does give me C. I really should take the key off and look, but I tend to srew up the simplest mehanial operations. I fear breaking the entire omputer. Or computer. See? Just have to press down onsiously.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/8 "2012-07-15T03:34:01Z")
Well, something just went “pop,” and now the letter C is back to normal. ccccccc. All of those were made using normal pressure. But good to know about that Alt trick.
We plan to get a new computer sometime this year, so I don’t want to have to fool with buying a new keyboard for this one.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/9 "2012-07-15T03:53:31Z")
> [@LeeshaJoy](#):
>
> Copy it with which ctrl-what, exactly? 😉
You only need the C key to work once, or use the mouse.
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/10 "2012-07-15T03:55:52Z")
C is for cookie and that’s good enough for me.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/11 "2012-07-15T04:14:09Z")
> [@Zebra](#):
>
> C is for cookie and that’s good enough for me.
I usually delete my cookies. ☹
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### Author:  [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/12 "2012-07-15T13:28:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> Well, something just went “pop,” and now the letter C is back to normal. ccccccc. All of those were made using normal pressure.
There’s a lesson here. Posting questions on an internet message board actually CAN help! 🙂
Seriously though..maybe something was stuck under the key and finally worked its way out.
-D/a
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/13 "2012-07-15T15:20:41Z")
That’s what we figure. The letter C is now alive and well. But handy to know about that Alt trick.
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### Author:  [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/14 "2012-07-15T17:37:07Z")
BTW…there are alt codes for lots of other useful things.
[http://www.alt-codes.net/](http://www.alt-codes.net/) has a list.
-D/a
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ode-to-the-letter/628212/15 "2012-07-16T02:23:55Z")
Thanks again. Very useful.