Why is it that sometimes when I go back to insert a letter or correct something

[askyourgran]

the type starts deleting what I've already typed. How do I get out of that? I'm not aware that I've pressed a wrong key.

[factor-fiction]

Frustrating isn't it. I'm not sure how it happens but I know to resolve it you need to press Insert.

[askyourgran]

Thanks factor, it dosn't happen all the time but it usually happens when I've done nearly a page full and I've made the correction at the top half of the page.

[Clanad]

One source says "The Delete key discards the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed place. On many notebook computer keyboards the key labeled Delete (sometimes Delete and Backspace are printed on the same key) serves the same purpose as a Backspace key. The Backspace key deletes the preceding character."

So it's likely you inadvertently depressed the Backspace and/or Delete key ...

[starmack]

Post your query into Technology section see left margin).

I used to have this problem all the time...but forget how I solved it!

Good luck

[rinkins]

Factor 30 is right, just press insert. If you press it again it changes from inserting text to overwriting it which is what is happening. When you are in word it will actually show you at the bottom of the screen what mode it is in, same as if you have caps lock on

[askyourgran]

Thank you clanad, I used the backspace to delete the letter(s) i didn't want, then I continued to type in the one I wanted, but when I type another letter it deleted the next one to it as well, so that I end up re-typing the whole lot. Unless I make a new paragraph.

[jno]

what rinkins says. If Insert is on it will insert letters - ie add them to what you've got. If it's off, new letters will type over the top of old ones, if your cursor is in the middle of some text.

[askyourgran]

Thanks very much all of you, I get so annoyed with myself when this happens, it doesn't happen all the time. Perhaps I hit the insert key 'off' instead of the delete key.
I've never noticed the message at the bottom of the screen rinkin. Doh! Thank you all again, another little niggle solved.

[mike11111]

Easily done, as the insert key is next to the delete key (on my PC anyway) and I have often done it myself. but, as has been said, pressing insert again solves the problem.