Why Does The "N" On A Keyboard Wear Out First?

@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
June 21, 2011 7:00pm CST
This never happened on electronic typewriters. I could type, type and type some more but the lettering on the keys just NEVER wore out. So, why do they wear out on computer keyboards? I don't get it. Is it the cheapo stickers they use instead of having the lettering embossed onto the keys? The first letter to go (with me at any rate) is always the "N" key. Why is that, does anybody know? Whatever the reason it's bloody annoying as we pay enough for keyboards without the quality of them being severely lacking. Does this happen with you? Do you go through keyboards on a regular basis or have you had the same one for a long time? Is it the same with laptop keyboards as mine is a desktop, wireless version? Since 2001 I've had 4 keyboards but there again the HP wired one is stored upstairs. For reasons unknown to me the wired versions last longer. I had my Sony one for quite some time before I went wireless (with an Advent) and I now have a Microsoft 800 that I adore but the wearing out problem remains. Cutting corners, perhaps?
9 people like this
24 responses
@mturacom (632)
• India
22 Jun 11
The most used alphabet in English language is 'e' but the wearing out may depend on typing style and other personal factors. But I have been using my current laptop from a few years now and have also used it heavily but I haven't noticed the problem yet. All the letters are clearly visible and no button is showing the signs of wear out in the near future. But I have seen many desktop keyboards wearing out as I think it is the case with most desktop keyboards. Very expensive keyboards may be exception but it just happens with most keyboards. Also most desktop keyboards need more pressure to get pressing registered as compared to laptop keyboards so that might also reduce the wear out time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Thanks for that! I do believe the desktop keyboards are a bit naff, quality-wise but there again I've never had a laptop to compare. I might take a good look at the in-laws' Toshiba laptop next time I'm there and see how their keys are bearing up. Mind you, neither of them do as much typing as I do so my guess is they're all fine.
• United States
22 Jun 11
I have about 4 letters that don't show up on the keypad because they are worn off. I told the OP it is a good thing I touch type and don't need to look at the keys to type. If I had to look at the keys I wouldn't be able to write.
1 person likes this
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
22 Jun 11
maybe in the English Alphabets, N is the frequent letter is present aside from vowels....
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Apparently, it's the 5th one but it's probably down to the fact it's on the bottom row. This is significant from what others are saying here.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
22 Jun 11
Having you been using your keyboard to type a lot of 'nonsense'? There 3 N's in that
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
22 Jun 11
Teeheeeeeee
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Oh God yes, all the time!
• Philippines
22 Jun 11
I have been using my keyboard for several years already and it is only this year that I noticed that some keys have faded letters. For me the ones that got worn out first were the letters -- A S D & E. I am a touch typist so I don't mind much if the letters get worn out. I've memorized the placement of the letters anyway. Other people who try to use my computer are the ones who complain about the faded keys.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Jun 11
E is the commonest letter in many languages and A and S are pretty high on most lists. I see that you are from the Philippines so I wonder what language you mostly type in - Tagalog or Spanish, perhaps?
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
22 Jun 11
it supposed to be Vowels is the letters that first to wear out and not Consonants....
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
23 Jun 11
I have mentioned to you before about my old HP keyboard and how awesome it is. I was without it for about a month but have been using again in my new house with my new computer for the last week and it is so much easier to use. I never did notice that there was one key which was showing a minor amount of fading until you pointed it out here. Yes, it is the N key for some reason. Maybe because it is in the middle and we often hit it by mistake? Or maybe it is just a really common letter? I just noticed how many times I hit it in this post and it is 21 times!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
23 Jun 11
We are starting to settle now in the new place finally after first getting the keys 3 weeks ago. We only finally got out of the old house a week ago, so it was two weeks of transition time, sorting out dramas with the internet, power, phone, water leaks, blocked drain,etc.... It was one problem after another, but I feel we will be happy here now all that is sorted.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Jun 11
There you go..it's more popular than you might think, the letter "n." How's it going in your new gaff (house)? Fine I hope.
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
19 Nov 15
If your laptop is manufactured by Apple or other companies based in the United States and the letter N is the first to deteriorate or wear out, it appears to be a sort of discrimination!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Nov 15
@antonbunot Number 2, eh? How strange! Mind you, on my number 2 now (as I have an Apple keyboard these days which I love) it doubles up as an @ so is that the same with yours?
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
19 Nov 15
Just kidding. . . the first to get damaged in my laptop is the number 2!
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
22 Jun 11
The initial thought I got when I read your discussion is perhaps you type a lot of "No" hehehe.. because as I recall the "Y" in our keyboards where usually the first ones to start fading. However, with this one, no letter has started fading yet. Perhaps it depends on the type of keyboard you have and the kind of touch you use. I usually use my nails and tips of my fingers because I have long nails (well not that long). My keyboard is nice because it's light to the touch and reacts fast. I got fed up of buying those keyboards that were cheaper and lighter because it just doesn't sound as good as this one. Further, there came a point in my life where I needed to change keyboards almost every months because the ants were eating them! I don't know why, I've tried everything and it only ended when I bought this must more pricey keyboard. My partner said that perhaps the cheaper keyboards had some parts which attracted ants. Anyway, while typing this I was counting the number of times I had to type "N" and I think I type the "I" or the vowels more. So I'm really wondering why a specific letter - usually consonant start to fade first. Have a great MyLot experience!
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
Keyboard - A device that any computer needs in order to function properly. This is my original genius keyboard and I'm loving it to bits. It hasn't failed me over the months that I have been using it because after several of my keyboards have been eaten by ants (even if I don't eat in front of my computer) on a weekly basis! This time, I no longer needed to deal with pest problems.

They say that the main reason why I had ant problems with my previous types of keyboard was the fact that most of the cheaper keyboards used some parts that actually attracted ants. Which was certainly a pain.

Now, I'm happy with my keyboard and I like the sound it makes when I do type fast. It hasn't failed me once because of the accuracy of the keys and because the keys are not wobbly as they are before.
I think it is. The lighter the keyboard is, the cheaper it is. I bought genius keyboard. It's heavy and the keys don't really move sideways (as the cheaper ones would) and it's soft to the touch and since I don't like the large bulky ones, this keyboard actually looks like that of a laptop keyboard only the spaces are not that close together. I have attached a photo of it here.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
So, you reckon you get what you pay for? Does that mean the dearer keyboards are better quality? Which one did you buy?
1 person likes this
@gtdonna (1738)
22 Jun 11
I wish I k_ow the a_swer to your question_ but alas, I refuse to type the letter _ and wear it out more si_ce it is bei_g used so much. So I resolve to try and omit all the letter _ in my reply to see if it works and it did However, I thi_k it has more to do with the fact that certai_ letters are commo_ like __ S, a_d the vowels...so they get used more ofte_ tha_ others. In today fast paced world, time is _ot take_ a_ymore to do a great job i_ the ma_ufacturi_g process, so what we get is ofte_ quick, work that soo_ have to be recalled or wear out faster. Just replace the dashes with the dreded N and you will get the message
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Wow, I think you've created a new language there my friend!
@elitess (5070)
• Ipswich, England
22 Jun 11
Hello Janey. As a kid, and i haven noticed this today to other children that the most used letters usually go away first. The first one for young ones are W, A, S, D used for controls in most games in the recent years.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Hi! Good job I don't do any gaming then lol. Only ones using the mouse, such as Bejeweled 3 which I can become addicted to if I don't watch out!
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
22 Jun 11
Most people are right handed. Most people use their right index finger to depress the N key which uses more pressure than the other keys. ergo: The N lettering is smudged more.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
I'm ambidextrous!
• India
22 Jun 11
I too agree with this logic. As with most of the right handed people may be the index finger exert more pressure causing letter N to delete or fade faster. The best is to stick a transparent plastic tape to avoid deletion of these letters. But usually now even the good companies are being compromising with their products which is resulting in the low quality products.
1 person likes this
@jeneias (608)
• United States
22 Jun 11
That's interesting. I've never had any letters wear out on my keyboards. But if it's really a problem, why not try out those cool new laser keyboards? Ya know, that one that 'projects' a keyboard onto your desk? I'd get one of those if I had a desktop...or enough money, haha!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Laser keyboard eh? I'd never heard of them until you mentioned it. Sounds extremely cool though. Are they expensive?
• Canada
23 Jun 11
I keep my keyboards forever. The one Im using now is a tiny keyboard. The numbers arent on the right side, only the letters. For me the first to go are M, N,
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Jun 11
Sounds like a good idea to me, many thanks!
@kolsti87 (521)
• United States
22 Jun 11
Hmm I'm a bit confused by this as I have also noticed this. It might be because "N" is one of the most commonly used letters in the alphabet. It's probably just cheaper to make the keyboard, well cheaper!
• Malaysia
22 Jun 11
@kolsti87: I thought it was 'E'!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
I thought it was 'E' too but it's always the 'N' that wears out first. Very strange!
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
25 Jun 11
I have had that happen years ago at work and from what I have seen it is those cheap plastic keys on those keyboards. I now own a Mac at home and have for quite some years now. I have never had that happen with the Mac. I think these PC companies make those computers and keyboards cheap with cheap material. Thats why they are cheap and do not last long. Maybe you should get one of those clear covers for your keyboard. May that will help.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Jun 11
I agree that the Mac keyboards are made better than the PC versions.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Jun 11
Back in the day when the old style of typewriter was used, the keys were made in such a way that they were much less likely to wear than modern keyboards (partly because, in those days, you couldn't just buy a new keyboard and so the whole machine was made to last). These days, a keyboard is a 'disposable item' and when it wears out, it can be easily replaced. Most of the keys on a keyboard are identical bits of plastic. All that makes them different is the letter which is stencilled onto the top after the key is made. These days, it seems, although the ink used to print the letters is remarkably hard-wearing, it is only on the surface and wears off after several hundred thousand times that key is used. The most commonly used letters in English are (in order) ETAO NRIS HDLF CMUG YPWB VKXJ QZ. The actual order varies a little depending on the type of text and is also different for every language. I think that the reason that your 'N' key is more worn is that it is the only one of the first 8 letters which is on the bottom row of the keyboard. It therefore is likely to be hit harder or more 'full on' than the others, even though they are more frequent. Looking at my keyboard, I can see, for example, that ERTIO (on the top row) have the bottoms of the letters worn away and that ASH and L on the middle row tend to be worn on the right hand side but N has nearly disappeared (and M is on its way out).
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
What an amazingly detailed response..thanks very much!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
22 Jun 11
I hadn't noticed that I have to say. But of course the most used letters will wear out first. Looking down on my keyboard, my letter N is one of the healthiest on there! On the other hand, A, S, and H are ailing fast. So for me, A, S and H are obviously the most deployed...:o)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
How interesting! Thanks for that.
@AmbiePam (84632)
• United States
22 Jun 11
After reading your discussion I took a look down at my keyboard and three of the letters on my keyboard have "rubbed" off. And the 'N' is one of them. I don't know if it went first, but I find it funny that I'm not the only one whose 'N' is missing!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
I'm glad I'm not the only one lol.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
22 Jun 11
is it just the lettering that is wearing out or do the keyboard themselves wear out? because I used the same keyboard for 7 or 8 years at the State and a LOT of letters were gone, but since I don't look at the keyboard it didn't matter... in my case, the "m" is only one that seems to be losing any of its letters... but at work I think "Q" and "Z" were the only ones withOUT most of the letters gone - the "X" was one of the first, but I was always having to key "TX" because that's Texas' abbreviation.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Yes, I meant the lettering, not the keyboard itself wearing out. I've often wondered if laptop keyboards are the same. I'd be most upset if I bought one, only to find its keyboard is as bad as the "desktop" versions.
• Australia
22 Jun 11
I don't know if it's always the n key. My mother has a keyboard that's just lost the c button which is in her name and email and making accessing the internet and sites such as facebook impossible. I know that one of our old keyboards lost the n key before others.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
Did it come off altogether or wear out?
• United States
22 Jun 11
lol you had me examining every letter on my key board and no I have not worn out any keys. Though this one is only 6 months old and can't recall wearing out any letters. It must be that the N is being used more then the others and that the materials used to create the letters are simply of cheaper materials. I can believe this as almost everything in electronics seems to be made out of cheap plastic.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Jun 11
LOL! You hit the nail on the head there...this cheapo plastic is everywhere isn't it? However, my monitor is nicer to look at (and bigger) than my old one as it has a shiny, black surround that makes it look more expensive than it really is. Also, my shiny, black printer is ace too so I cannot understand why Microsoft has the shiny plastic surround on its keyboard but the keys themselves are an after-thought. I see it all the time. If these keyboards were used at work it would cost a fortune replacing them all, which is why John's work uses Macs (for a variety of reasons) and I loved playing on one of the keyboards recently. Pity he couldn't nick me one! Haha!