Essential Typewriter Usage and Maintenance

How to Change a Typewriter Ribbon

To verify if the ribbon is completely spent, set the ribbon color selector to the other color and type several words. Often, on a two-color ribbon, only the top half is used up while the other half remains new.

1. Carefully observe how the ribbon is threaded through the machine's guides. Note particularly if the spool is wound from the outside in.
2. Set the ribbon color selector to red and press two keys simultaneously until they lock in the up position. This will hold the ribbon carrier up and make it easier to change.
3. Wind the entire used ribbon onto one of the spools.
4. Unthread the ribbon from the guides and remove both spools from the machine. Detach the old ribbon from the now-empty spool.
5. Unroll approximately 12 inches of the new ribbon from its spool and place the spool in the machine.
6. Hook the end of the new ribbon onto the empty spool and place it in the machine.
7. Thread the new ribbon through the guides, ensuring it runs freely from one spool to the other.
8. Unlock the keys to return them to their normal position and set the ribbon color selector to blue (or black).

Rules for Word Separation (Hyphenation)

The current trend is to avoid separating words as much as possible. However, words must sometimes be separated to maintain a relatively uniform right margin. According to commercial practice, it is acceptable to leave five or more spaces at the end of a line, but not fewer than three.

Best Practices for Hyphenation

1. When separating a word, the hyphen must be placed at the end of the line, never at the beginning of the next one.
2. Never separate proper names, abbreviations, or numbers.
3. Avoid separating a word if it is the last word of a paragraph or a page.
4. Avoid ending more than two consecutive lines with hyphenated words.
5. When possible, separate compound words between their component parts.
6. Only separate words by syllable. Never leave a single letter separated from the rest of the word.

Typing Roman Numerals

Roman numerals are written using capital letters. When typing a series of Roman numerals, leave two spaces after each comma.

Commercial or Business Correspondence

This refers to documents whose content is related to trade or a company's internal operations.