# Which key do you press for "Press Any Key"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742 "2012-01-26T16:02:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 26, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/1 "2012-01-26T16:02:46Z")
When I opened the “[Press Any Key](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639790)” thread in GQ I was expecting it to be about which key you usually press when asked to do so, but it wasn’t. So I’m going to ask that question. When your computer requests you to “Press Any Key” which key do you usually press? I’m suspecting “Space Bar” and “Enter/Return” will be popular choices. I usually go with one of those myself, as the space bar is almost always the biggest key on the keyboard and one of my fingers usually lingers over the “Enter/Return” key by default. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/2 "2012-01-26T16:03:32Z")
I make a pointy finger and randomly bang on the keyboard, just like it asks. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/3 "2012-01-26T16:08:24Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’m suspecting “Space Bar” and “Enter/Return” will be popular choices. Yes, they will. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/4 "2012-01-26T16:10:29Z")
Ctrl. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/5 "2012-01-26T16:11:59Z")
Depends on the situation. If I’ve just pressed another key and my finger is near it, I’ll press it again. If I’m in ‘home position’ for touch typing, I’ll probably press J. (index finger of right hand.) If my hands are nowhere near the keyboard, I’ll probably head for the space bar. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/6 "2012-01-26T16:14:53Z")
Generally, I press whichever key is closest to my hands at the time. If I’m typing, it’s ususally the space bar as I always have at least one thumb hovering over it. If I’m using a mouse when the command comes up, it’s usually the enter key on the numerical pad as it’s closest to the mouse pad. If I’m on my laptop using the touch pad, it’s probably the space bar again, as it’s directly above the touch pad. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/7 "2012-01-26T16:16:55Z")
[This one.](http://bytelove.com/any-key.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/8 "2012-01-26T16:18:46Z")
I have actually thought about it and determined that the space bar is the best choice, because if you accidentally press it twice, you aren’t going to mess up whatever the next instruction was going to ask you. So, it really is best, children, to select the neutral key on the keyboard. But if I’m feeling bold and adventurous (like maybe right after I’ve decided to include the optional tabasco sauce in the recipe I just made), I’ll just _on purpose_ whap the K key. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/9 "2012-01-26T16:22:40Z")
I let the cat pick a;ljsdf;owiaenv ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/10 "2012-01-26T16:27:26Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I have actually thought about it and determined that the space bar is the best choice, because if you accidentally press it twice, you aren’t going to mess up whatever the next instruction was going to ask you. You mean like [Tab](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gugbMw4LigY). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/11 "2012-01-26T16:30:18Z")
I’m usually not thirsty at these times. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/12 "2012-01-26T16:32:57Z")
Way back in school a teacher made us press the space bar when prompted to press any key. I still press the space bar. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/13 "2012-01-26T16:37:00Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > [This one.](http://bytelove.com/any-key.html) I’ve suddenly got the urge to build and market little single button USB keypads with just one of those keys. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/14 "2012-01-26T16:42:04Z")
Either the space bar, or I mash my hand in the general direction of the keyboard. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/15 "2012-01-26T17:07:51Z")
I can’t find a key marked “any.” ☹ Until I can find the Any key, I’ll keep hitting Return or the space bar. If I really feel like living dangerously, I might press X or H. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/16 "2012-01-26T17:26:54Z")
My co-worker’s space bar (no one said I had to press any key on _my_ keyboard). ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/17 "2012-01-26T17:29:07Z")
Enter. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/18 "2012-01-26T17:33:09Z")
I look around for the “any” key, and if I can’t find it, I call tech support. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/19 "2012-01-26T17:34:25Z")
Spacebar when I’m doing normal typing stuff, Enter on the keypad if I’m doing data entry. ---
**Author:** ![cdsilv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cdsilv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdsilv)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742/20 "2012-01-26T17:41:33Z")
either \ key, because without pressing another key simultaneously is doesn’t “DO” anything…good way to wake up a sleeping computer as welll [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-key-do-you-press-for-press-any-key/610742.md?page=2)