Is left shift key + control key a shortcut to deletion?

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Level 1

60 points

Is left shift key + control key a shortcut to deletion?

Touch-typing and all of a sudden a whole paragraph or half a sentence is deleted 😕 and the cursor can wind up in the To: or Subj: line! I can only think that my pinky finger is touching the control or fn key slightly at the same time as the shift key. (Hopefully it is nothing worse as far as the computer's operation is concerned.) Is the left shift key + the control key, or the shift key+fn some kind of shortcut for deletion and the cursor jumping to a different place on the page or into the address area? Or what actually might cause this to happen, often now. Do I just need to control 'fat fingers' and curl my fingers more precisely or does this description indicate something more serious for this MacBook Air (10.10.5) ? It hasn't happened before now. Thank you for any attention you might give to this concern.

OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 7:48 AM

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Answer 1

ManSinha

Level 6

12,183 points

Apr 16, 2016 7:35 PM in response to allan299

Just tried it out - did not do anything - tried on Pages and Word

The keyboard shortcut for delete as you know, is Cmd+Delete

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Answer 2

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 17, 2016 4:08 AM in response to ManSinha

Thank you for trying it out. I have been told that a 'jumping cursor' on a laptop can be caused by a battery that is swelling and interfering with the trackpad -what do you think of this idea? I guess i'll experiment and see if the jumping cursor happens only when on battery.

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Answer 3

kaz-k

Level 9

51,240 points

Apr 17, 2016 6:11 AM in response to allan299

If your pointer is jumpy when you use a trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse - Apple Support

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Answer 4

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 17, 2016 6:24 AM in response to kaz-k

I found that putting 'jumping cursor' into the search brought up helpful responses including some

links to Apple tutorials whose suggestions seem to be helping.

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Apr 17, 2016 10:04 AM in response to allan299

Check the condition of your battery. A swelling battery is a failing battery and it can cause a lot of mechanical damage, that may not be covered under warranty. (Age of your MacBook Air was not given)

You should provide the specific model of your MacBook Air.

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Answer 6

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 17, 2016 2:02 PM in response to Lanny

MacBook Air 13" (mid 2013) Processor 1.3 GH3

memory 4 GB 1600 MH3 DDR3

graphics Intel HD Graphics 5000 1536 MB

So far I have cleaned the trackpad, am keeping my hands curved so as not to accidentally hit the trackpad.

This jumping behaviour started at the same time as i moved from clicking to tapping the trackpad -- i wish

i could make it less responsive to the tap (or do i just need to ease into a light touch?)

If these and the other Apple tutorial on jumping cursor eliminate the issue (which at the Notebook discussion topics many uses seem to experience with the MacBook Air, do you still say that i should have the hardware checked out? Even after warranty is over can one still go into the 'geniuses' at the Apple Stores and get an opinion, without cost?

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