Who is credited with inventing the modern typewriter, a key device that made fast and legible writing possible in offices?

Introduction / Context:
Before computers and word processors, typewriters were the primary machines used for creating professional documents, letters and manuscripts. The development of a practical typewriter greatly improved office efficiency and legibility of written communication. This question asks you to identify the inventor most commonly credited with creating the modern typewriter that led to widespread commercial adoption.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question concerns the modern typewriter used in offices.
• The device allowed fast, uniform and legible text production on paper.
• The options include inventors from different scientific and technical backgrounds.
• You are expected to know which one is linked directly with the typewriter invention.

Concept / Approach:
Christopher Latham Sholes, an American inventor, is generally credited with inventing the first practical and commercially successful typewriter in the nineteenth century. He also contributed to the development of the QWERTY keyboard layout. The surname Sholes is frequently used in general knowledge questions to represent this achievement. Shockley is famous for transistor development, and Howe is associated with improvements in the sewing machine, not with typewriting. Therefore, the correct answer for the inventor of the typewriter in this context is Sholes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is about the invention of the typewriter, a mechanical writing machine.Step 2: Recall that Christopher Latham Sholes is the name linked with the first practical commercial typewriter and the QWERTY layout.Step 3: Check the options and identify Sholes as option B.Step 4: Note that Shockley relates to semiconductors and Howe to sewing machines, so they cannot be the correct answer here.Step 5: Select Sholes as the inventor of the modern typewriter.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of office technology and reference books on inventions consistently list Christopher Latham Sholes as the pioneer of the typewriter. Diagrams of early typewriters often mention his name and his collaboration with other inventors and manufacturers. You will not find Shockley or Howe credited with typewriter design in reputable sources, which confirms that Sholes is the correct answer to remember for competitive exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shockley is known for his work on transistors and is associated with the rise of modern electronics and computing, not mechanical writing machines. Howe played an important role in developing sewing machines, a completely different area of technology. The option None of these is incorrect because the correct inventor name, Sholes, is present in the list. Therefore, only option B correctly matches the invention of the typewriter.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be unsure because typewriters are less common today and therefore confuse their inventor with someone from the electronics era. Others may guess based on which name seems most familiar in general science. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to remember a few classic pairs: Sholes for typewriters, Bell for telephone and Marconi for radio. Keeping these associations clear makes invention questions much easier to handle.

Final Answer:
The modern typewriter is credited to Christopher Latham Sholes, represented here by the option Sholes.