# That darned elusive space bar **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858 "2016-11-24T01:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/1 "2016-11-24T01:57:16Z")
This has been irritating me for years. (Like many other things.) When I type on a touch screen (Android phone, Android tablet, Windows Surface), I often miss the space bar and hit N or M instead. So an otherwise coherent _sentencembecomesngarbled beyondnrecognition_, and then I have to try to aim at the offending letters with my big fingers and replace them with spaces, thus wasting precious seconds. Does this happen to you ? If so, how do you avoid it ? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/2 "2016-11-24T15:11:32Z")
I often tap like you do; My finger makes contact higher on the keyboard than I think it does. I end up with digits in my words and ns & ms instead of spaces between them. The only cure is to watch the screen as you’re typing. As you’ve noticed, it’s far slower to correct mistakes after the fact without cursor keys. Over time you can train yourself to aim at the right place so your finger makes contact where it should. But it takes the immediate negative reinforcement of “damn, that was an ‘n’ not a space, type backspace, type spacebar deliberately, continue” over and over. If instead you correct mistakes afterwards you’ve only been training your fingers to type wronger and wronger. Remember: “Perfect practice makes perfect. Crappy practice makes crappy.” ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/3 "2016-11-24T19:24:27Z")
Androids in a space bar? I’m there, man. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/4 "2016-11-24T19:55:00Z")
Ack! I totally do this all the time on my iPhone! I wish the autocorrect was better at detecting and fixing it ☹ ---
**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:** [November 24, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/5 "2016-11-24T20:31:22Z")
What I do all the time on this Motorola android is hit the backspace instead of the “m” key which then usually autocorrects my new word to something completely incomprehensible. Or I hit the “?” Instead of the “!” which completely changes the meaning of things. “Way to go?” Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/6 "2016-11-24T21:10:47Z")
Nvandvm?ivdon’tvknowvwhatyou’revtalkingvabout. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/7 "2016-11-24T21:57:42Z")
They seek it here They seek it there Those texters seek it everywhere Is missing it, for the course, par? That damned elusive space bar! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/8 "2016-11-24T22:23:34Z")
Just try one of these [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Spaceport_Bar#/media/File:Tales_from_the_Spaceport_Bar.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Spaceport_Bar#/media/File:Tales_from_the_Spaceport_Bar.jpg) [https://www.blackgate.com/2016/01/04/vintage-treasures-tales-from-gavagans-bar-by-l-sprague-de-camp-and-fletcher-pratt/](https://www.blackgate.com/2016/01/04/vintage-treasures-tales-from-gavagans-bar-by-l-sprague-de-camp-and-fletcher-pratt/) > **[Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Chalmun%27s_Spaceport_Cantina)** > > Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina, also known simply as Chalmun's Cantina, or as the Mos Eisley Cantina, was a drinking and dining establishment located in the city of Mos Eisley on the desert world of Tatooine. Although a dimly lit tavern known for... ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/9 "2016-11-24T22:55:56Z")
Yes, it happens to me and there’s no way to avoid it. I have watched carefully where my finger was going and watched helplessly as the “m” registered while my finger was clearly, unambiguously, touching the space bar. It happens both on Android and on IOS. The only real solution is to use my laptop to post and not my tablet and certainly not my phone. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/10 "2016-11-25T00:51:35Z")
I have sort of a weird, but related problem. I swipe my finger over the keys. It’s supposed to automatically separate the words, but sometimes it’ll run two words together, and then I usually have to move the cursor to the right spot, and hit the space bar to separate them. And sometimes I’ll swipe a little too fast and it’ll insert a word I didn’t intend to type. Hint for those using Android: If you long-press on the space bar, it’ll display the line you’re on right above and you can slide your finger along the space bar to move the cursor to where you want it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/11 "2016-11-25T03:02:27Z")
“Hey! We don’t serve their kind here! Your space bars. They’ll have to wait outside. We don’t want them in the Droid!” ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/12 "2016-11-25T03:06:00Z")
Using the Swype black keyboard my space buttons are “v” or “b,” and my delete key is perilously close to the “l” so if I’m tap-typing on it I end up typing a lot of stuff like: “What’svup? I’mvgoingvtobthebstorevllllllllllllll” ---
**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:** [November 25, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/13 "2016-11-25T03:19:45Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > “Hey! We don’t serve their kind here! Your space bars. They’ll have to wait outside. We don’t want them in the Droid!” Clap clap clap clap clap. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/14 "2016-11-25T04:18:34Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Hint for those using Android: If you long-press on the space bar, it’ll display the line you’re on right above and you can slide your finger along the space bar to move the cursor to where you want it. I long-pressed the space bar on my Android phone for about 5 minutes, then sheepishly looked around to see if anyone was laughing at me for falling for this. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2016, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/15 "2016-11-25T05:04:09Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I long-pressed the space bar on my Android phone for about 5 minutes, then sheepishly looked around to see if anyone was laughing at me for falling for this. It’s not a joke. If you tap and hold the space bar, the line you’re currently typing will appear just above the top row of keys and you can swipe left and right to move the cursor. [Cite.](https://www.google.com/amp/lifehacker.com/swipe-across-the-space-bar-in-google-keyboard-to-move-t-1784220445/amp?client=lightning) > [@](#): > > Android: Google’s keyboard packs a ton of simple gestures, but you could miss them if you don’t know they’re there. For example, if you want to move your cursor, swipe left and right across the space bar. My stock keyboard on my LG phone does this. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/16 "2016-11-25T05:55:36Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It’s not a joke. If you tap and hold the space bar, the line you’re currently typing will appear just above the top row of keys and you can swipe left and right to move the cursor. > > [Cite.](https://www.google.com/amp/lifehacker.com/swipe-across-the-space-bar-in-google-keyboard-to-move-t-1784220445/amp?client=lightning) > > My stock keyboard on my LG phone does this. Sorry, but if i press and hold the spacebar nothing happens until I take my finger off, then it just types a single space. That’s using the stock keyboard on my Sony phone. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/17 "2016-11-25T06:13:58Z")
What I hate is the home button being right below it, meaning I wind up tapping that instead. The v/b thing is less of a problem–though I don’t know why they can’t just obviously detect that and fix it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/18 "2016-11-25T12:25:34Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Sorry, but if i press and hold the spacebar nothing happens until I take my finger off, then it just types a single space. That’s using the stock keyboard on my Sony phone. Same for me on a Samsung S7. Long-tap or swipe on spacebar does nothing unusual. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/19 "2016-11-25T12:37:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Same for me on a Samsung S7. Long-tap or swipe on spacebar does nothing unusual. OK, I assumed it came on all Android phones. I should learn that nothing is standard with Android like it is with Apple. But if you want it, you can download the Google keyboard from the Play Store. I might even download it myself since it seems to have some functions my keyboard doesn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858/20 "2016-11-25T19:43:48Z")
The space bar isn’t a problem for me. I have trouble hitting the CR I constantly hit the m or . Instead of CR [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-darned-elusive-space-bar/772858.md?page=2)