Ubuntu :: Can't Type An Exclamation Mark

I can't type an exclamation mark with my keyboard. I can type other symbols that require the shift key (~ @ # $, etc) but Shift + 1 does not give an exclamation point. Here's the intriguing part: following a tip from another thread, I changed my Visual Effects setting (System > Preferences > Appearance > Visual Effects tab) from the default "Normal" to the setting "None". Immediately after doing this, I was able to type exclamation points. Problem solved, right?

experiment to make sure the Visual Effects setting was really the culprit. So I flipped my Visual Effects back to the default "Normal", and sure enough, I stopped being able to type exclamation marks. Having verified the (apparent) cause of the issue, I tried my solution of changing the Visual Effects to "None". Of course the "solution" didn't work this time (so much for my great idea) and I am left unable to type an exclamation point.

I have concluded that the fault must lie within my user's configuration (I can type as many exclamations as I want when logged in as other users).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yarui: If you think it's something going on with your user account, you could try renaming your home folder from your name to something else temporarily.That way the next time you log in none of your config files will be loaded. If this fixes the problem you will know that it has something to do with your config files in your home folder. You could then try to narrow it down by testing out your config files in the same way one by one, if you have the patience for that.