Most English speakers are accustomed to the QWERTY keyboard and use it regularly on their phone, home computer, or at work. However, start typing quickly on a German keyboard and you’ll quickly run into problems because the letter layout is very slightly different – ​​a change that turns it into a QWERTZ keyboard. “QWERTY” comes from the first six keys that appear on the upper left row of a traditional English-language keyboard, whether physical or digital. This is an easy to see and pronounce label that quickly identifies the layout. No, the “YUIOP keyboard” and “ASDFG keyboard” would never have gotten stuck. So it’s QWERTY!
The QWERTY keyboard dates back to 1874 with the launch of the Remington No. 1 typewriter by Christopher Latham Sholes and Carlos Glidden. Interestingly, not everyone agrees on why the letters appear the way they do. According to Smithsonian Magazine, some historians say the layout was designed to reduce the chances of metal bars jamming (see image below) by creating a larger space between some commonly used letter pairs, while others say it was to help telegraphers avoid errors when transcribing Morse code.
The QWERTZ keyboard, which began appearing on German typewriters in the early 20th century, replaces the Z at the bottom left of a QWERTY keyboard with the Y that sits just to the right of the T. In German, Z is a more frequently used letter, so it made sense to place it where it is easier to access. The Z also appears before the U, making it easier to type ZU, a common combination of letters in German.
How QWERTZ improves German typing
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Reducing the risk of jamming does not appear to have been the motivation for this particular configuration. The letter Y is used much less in German than in English, so it made sense to banish it to the lower left corner of the keyboard. In order to increase typing convenience, Z was placed at the heart of the keyboard, as Z appears more frequently in German than in English.
By the time QWERTZ appeared on German typewriters, users were already familiar with QWERTY, so manufacturers decided to keep the basic layout and make only minor changes to accommodate German typing patterns. Although they are relics of ancient typewriter technology, recognizable letter layouts remain vital functions on our modern phones and computers. When you think about it, it’s a wonderful example of how familiarity and availability can make some cool retro gadgets look really rather modern.
QWERTY variants also exist for English-speaking users
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Interestingly, even QWERTY keyboards themselves have slight differences between English-speaking regions. The physical form factor of the keyboard used in the United States and Canada is generally built to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications, while UK keyboards generally follow International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications. Differences between the two include the Enter/Return key on many North American keyboards appearing as an inverted “L” spanning two rows, whereas UK keyboards generally have a slightly wider Return key in a single row.
Another obvious difference is currency symbols. On a standard British keyboard, Shift+3 produces the £ (pound sterling) sign, while the same action on a North American keyboard produces the # symbol. North American layouts place the $ sign on the 4 (Shift+4) key, where it also appears on UK keyboards. And of course, the tech giant also offers region-specific setups, such as QWERTZ, for German-speaking markets.
Dedicated keyboard enthusiasts take it a step further by creating custom hardware and performing tasks like key remapping. They can also choose different keyboard switch colors and materials for visual cues and feel. Yes, this is a whole new level of deliciously cheesy!
