# Which letters have the most wear on your keyboard? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300 "2010-08-15T03:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/1 "2010-08-15T03:03:39Z")
I was just noticing that the N and the M on my keyboard have signs of wear–the N is almost totally rubbed off and part of the M as well. What keys are wearing the most on your keyboard? I’m making this a poll so if you don’t see it yet give me a little more time. You can select more than one answer. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/2 "2010-08-15T03:41:08Z")
I’ve been banging away on [this keyboard](http://mavrinac.com/aaron/hp51852027.gif) for nine years, and none of the letters show any wear at all. The volume knob has gone missing, though. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/3 "2010-08-15T03:43:19Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I’ve been banging away on [this keyboard](http://mavrinac.com/aaron/hp51852027.gif) for nine years, and none of the letters show any wear at all. > > The volume knob has gone missing, though. I’ve never had a keyboard more than three years. Still, I’ve never had a keyboard show letter-wear. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/4 "2010-08-15T03:51:31Z")
The space bar, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/5 "2010-08-15T03:57:49Z")
> [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](#): > > I’ve never had a keyboard more than three years. Still, I’ve never had a keyboard show letter-wear. Several of mine have keys that are much shinier than the others, even if the letters are still intact. ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/6 "2010-08-15T04:13:29Z")
I’ve only used my current keyboard for a couple years but the W and S are starting to wear a bit. My old keyboard I used for more than a decade has the S almost worn off and the A and W starting to wear. Guess I strafe left more than right. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/7 "2010-08-15T04:28:25Z")
It’s kinda hard to tell which ones are worn… I’ve got a sort of a “Das Laptop” thing going; named after [Das Keyboard.](http://www.mygamer.com/news_images/3508SquallSnake7.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/8 "2010-08-15T12:25:26Z")
The A and S keys get shiny first and then the print leaves. Often the keyboard is failing by then and I replace it. If the letter is merely getting feint, I use a Sanford Ultra Fine marker to rewrite it. I know where the key is. I just feel comfortable seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/9 "2010-08-15T12:40:12Z")
I’ve had this keyboard for three years now and the “N” is down to the left vertical line of the “n” The “A” key in the lower right is worn a bit too All other keys are fine. I just notice my space bar also has noticable wear on it too. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/10 "2010-08-15T13:30:04Z")
My “A” and my “Enter” are looking a little faded. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/11 "2010-08-15T13:43:52Z")
My “N” is down to the top-left corner. The “A”, “S”, “D” and “C” keys are also worn from gaming. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/12 "2010-08-15T13:53:21Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > The space bar, for sure. Yep. My space bar is the only key with visible wear. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/13 "2010-08-15T14:59:37Z")
W,A,S, & D, I’m a gamer. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/14 "2010-08-15T16:14:40Z")
M and M, H and C. The space bar has nothing to wear off so I have no idea if it’s more worn. I just realized I hover right over that N when I type so maybe I graze it more than I thought. The N is completely gone; the M is almost gone. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/15 "2010-08-15T16:24:29Z")
The lower right part of my H key is worn away, so it looks like a backwards 4 (an open-top 4, not the kind on this font). I have no idea how it happened; I’m not a touch typist, so I don’t graze over it. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/16 "2010-08-15T17:15:17Z")
Most of the keys on my keyboard show at least some wear and about half of them are totally blank. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/17 "2010-08-15T17:47:00Z")
My “L” is completely gone. The “E”, “S” and “N” are unreadable. Also the right side “shift” key is unreadable. For follks who type in English, I would expect “E” and “S” to be the most used letters. ---
**Author:** ![be\_bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@be\_bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/be_bright)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/18 "2010-08-15T23:08:14Z")
I think I selected 8 letters (I’m on a laptop). 😛 The letters haven’t worn off my keys – it looks like there’s an additional protective layer over them – but the surrounding areas are VERY shiny. Does keeping your fingers on the middle row of letters make the keys more prone to wear? I’m a pretty fast typer and my fingers barely lift off the keyboard whilst typing. The middle-right section of my space bar is pretty shiny as well. I actually never noticed till now that I only use my right thumb to press spacebar. 😃 My right thumb doesn’t touch _any_ keys! Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/19 "2010-08-15T23:43:36Z")
My “E” is literally gone. It even has some small gouges. The “R” is a bit banged up. Everything else looks okay. Not sure what that means. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300/20 "2010-08-15T23:47:33Z")
This is an easy question - aoeuidhtns, which by no coincidence whatsoever is the home row on a Dvorak keyboard. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-letters-have-the-most-wear-on-your-keyboard/550300.md?page=2)