Abby’s Left Hand Modifiers Dictionary

Design

This dictionary is inspired by and can essentially be seen as a combination of Emily’s Modifiers and Achim Siebert’s Left Hand Modifier Keys. Essentially, it allows every shortcut to be typed in two strokes and using only the left hand. As such, only the following keys are used:

In some combinations, the asterisk key is used. This requires the asterisk key to be pressed using the left hand, which should be fine on most hobbyist writers but may be a problem on some professional writers.

Modifiers

The first of the two strokes in each combination is used to specify the modifier keys that should be pressed. It is also possible to not press any modifier keys, since some applications have shortcuts that are activated by just a single keypress.

Single modifier keys

Patterns for single modifier keys.

Stroke	Modifier	Explanation
	Control	ControL
	Alt	ALT (reversed)
	Shift	SHift
	Super	Purely positional, no phonetic basis

Modifier key combinations

The pattern for the alt + shift combination is SHA.

Stroke	Modifiers
	Alt + Shift

Combinations using control (but not super) are formed using KHR for control and adding A for alt and S for shift.

Stroke	Modifiers
	Ctrl + Alt
	Ctrl + Shift
	Ctrl + Alt + Shift

Combinations using super and fromed using KPWR for super and adding H for control, A for alt, and S for shift.

Stroke	Modifiers
	Ctrl + Super
	Alt + Super
	Ctrl + Alt + Super
	Shift + Super
	Ctrl + Shift + Super
	Alt + Shift + Super
	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Super

The pattern for no modifier keys is TKPWHR. This presses a key alone without any modifier keys.

Stroke	Modifiers
	None

Keys

The second of the two strokes in each combination specifies what key to press along with the modifiers (if any) selected above.

Letters

The patterns for letter keys are the same as the fingerspelling pattern for that letter (without the asterisk), except for E, I, and U which have been given special patterns so they fit on the left hand. (Using E, EU, and U for E, I, and U still work, but are not shown below.)

Stroke	Letter
	A
	B
	C
	D
	E
	F
	G
	H
	I
	J
	K
	L
	M
	N
	O
	P
	Q
	R
	S
	T
	U
	V
	W
	X
	Y
	Z
	Z (alternate)

Numbers

When AO is held, STPH will act as binary number input for numbers 0-9.

Stroke	Number
	0
	1
	2
	3
	4
	5
	6
	7
	8
	9

Function Keys

When R is held in addition to the pattern for any number 1-12, the corresponding function key will be used.

Stroke	Number
	F1
	F2
	F3
	F4
	F5
	F6
	F7
	F8
	F9
	F10
	F11
	F12

Numpad

When * is held in addition to the pattern for any number, the number key on the numpad will instead be used.

Stroke	Number
	0 (numpad)
	1 (numpad)
	2 (numpad)
	3 (numpad)
	4 (numpad)
	5 (numpad)
	6 (numpad)
	7 (numpad)
	8 (numpad)
	9 (numpad)

Symbol keys

Stroke	Key	Explanation
	.	PeRiod
	,	CoMMa
	/	SLash
	\	BackSLash
	;	SemiCoLon
	'	QUOte
	[	Bracket Left
	]	Bracket Right
	-	DasH
	=	eQUAls
	`	GRave

Navigation keys

Holding down A (for arrow) will cause PKWR to act as arrow keys.

Stroke	Key
	Up
	Down
	Left
	Right

Holding down * in addition to the stroke for any arrow key will cause the keys to act as page up, page down, home, and end.

Stroke	Key
	Page Up
	Page Down
	Home
	End

Other keys

Stroke	Key	Explanation
	Caps Lock	Caps Lock + asterisk
	Scroll Lock	SCroll Lock + asterisk
	Num Lock	Num lock + asterisk
	Space	SPace
	Return	ENTeR
	Tab	TaB
	Backspace	BackSpace
	Delete	DeLete
	Escape	eSCApe
	Insert	iNSert
	Menu	Menu + asterisk
	Print Screen	SCreen PRint

Only modifiers

The pattern TPHO (“no”) allows only modifier keys to be pressed, with no other keys included.

Stroke	Key
	None

Cancel

If you pressed a modifier key pattern on accident, you can use SKPH to cancel it.

Stroke	Key
	Cancel

Examples

Strokes	Keys Pressed	Use
	Ctrl + A	Select all (Windows or Linux)
	Super + A	Select all (Mac)
	Alt + F4	Close window (Windows or Linux)
	Ctrl + Alt + T	Open terminal (Linux)
	Super (Windows key)	Open start menu (Windows)
	Print Screen	Take screenshot

GitHub

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