diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a904c2d..71e4731 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ Behavior details:
 - free-form answer editors support pi-style `@` file path autocomplete for quickly mentioning project files
 - `Esc` closes the editor and returns to navigation mode
 - `Ctrl+C` dismisses the entire ask flow immediately, even from note/free-form editing, without saving the current draft
+- use `n` for the active option note and `Shift+N` for the current question note
 - `Space` toggles the active option on single-select questions too, but does not auto-advance
 
 ## Local development
diff --git a/docs/contract.md b/docs/contract.md
index bfc64ae..2c44d1d 100644
--- a/docs/contract.md
+++ b/docs/contract.md
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ This document defines the stable external behavior. It does not explain internal
 - single-select, multi-select, and preview questions
 - inline free-form answers for non-preview questions
 - pi-style `@` file path autocomplete inside free-form answer and note editors
-- question notes via `Ctrl+N`
-- option notes via `N`
+- question notes via `Shift+N`
+- option notes via `n`
 - number-key quick selection
 - submit/cancel review tab
 - transcript-friendly call and result rendering
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ Main flow:
 - `Ctrl+C`: dismiss the entire flow immediately, even while editing a note or free-form answer
 - `1..9`: select or toggle the matching option
 - `Space`: toggle the active option
-- `N`: edit the active option note
-- `Ctrl+N`: edit the current question note
+- `n`: edit the active option note
+- `Shift+N`: edit the current question note
 
 Editing flow:
 
diff --git a/src/ui/constants.ts b/src/ui/constants.ts
index 6525243..ab12cc6 100644
--- a/src/ui/constants.ts
+++ b/src/ui/constants.ts
@@ -12,17 +12,17 @@ export const UI_DIMENSIONS = {
 } as const;
 
 export const UI_TEXT = {
-	questionNoteTitle: "Question note",
-	reviewTitle: "Review your answers",
-	readyToSubmit: "Ready to submit your answers?",
-	unanswered: "→ (unanswered)",
-	footerInput: " Enter submit · Esc save and close",
-	footerNote: " Enter save · Esc save and close",
+	questionNoteTitle: "Note",
+	reviewTitle: "Review answers",
+	readyToSubmit: "Submit answers?",
+	unanswered: "→ unanswered",
+	footerInput: " Enter submit · Esc close",
+	footerNote: " Enter save · Esc close",
 	footerSubmit: " ↑↓ select · Enter confirm · Esc cancel",
 	footerMulti:
-		" ⇆ tab · ↑↓ select · Space toggle · Enter continue · N option note · Ctrl+N question note · Esc dismiss · 1-9 quick toggle",
+		" ⇆ tab · ↑↓ select · Space toggle · Enter continue · N/Shift+N note · Esc dismiss",
 	footerDefault:
-		" ⇆ tab · ↑↓ select · Enter confirm · N option note · Ctrl+N question note · Esc dismiss",
-	editorPlaceholderInput: "Type your answer...",
-	editorPlaceholderNote: "Add a note...",
+		" ⇆ tab · ↑↓ select · Enter confirm · N/Shift+N note · Esc dismiss",
+	editorPlaceholderInput: "Type answer...",
+	editorPlaceholderNote: "Add note...",
 } as const;
diff --git a/src/ui/input.ts b/src/ui/input.ts
index 7708d0b..33d65f8 100644
--- a/src/ui/input.ts
+++ b/src/ui/input.ts
@@ -89,11 +89,11 @@ function getNavigationInputCommand(data: string): AskInputCommand {
 }
 
 function isOptionNoteShortcut(data: string): boolean {
-	return data === "n" || data === "N";
+	return data === "n";
 }
 
 function isQuestionNoteShortcut(data: string): boolean {
-	return matchesKey(data, Key.ctrl("n"));
+	return data === "N";
 }
 
 function parseDigit(data: string): number | null {
diff --git a/tests/input.test.ts b/tests/input.test.ts
index 6e40871..e29071d 100644
--- a/tests/input.test.ts
+++ b/tests/input.test.ts
@@ -103,3 +103,22 @@ test("ctrl+c dismisses the flow from both navigation and editing modes", () => {
 		kind: "dismiss",
 	});
 });
+
+test("note shortcuts use n for option notes and Shift+N for question notes", () => {
+	const navigation = createInitialState({
+		questions: [
+			{
+				id: "q1",
+				prompt: "Question?",
+				options: [{ value: "a", label: "A" }],
+			},
+		],
+	});
+
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(navigation, "n"), {
+		kind: "openOptionNote",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(navigation, "N"), {
+		kind: "openQuestionNote",
+	});
+});
diff --git a/tests/render-helpers.test.ts b/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
index a22e82a..5048119 100644
--- a/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,6 @@ test("renderEditorBlock reapplies background after editor reset sequences", () =
 });
 
 test("editing footers do not advertise tab navigation", () => {
-	assert.equal(renderFooterText("input"), " Enter submit · Esc save and close");
-	assert.equal(renderFooterText("note"), " Enter save · Esc save and close");
+	assert.equal(renderFooterText("input"), " Enter submit · Esc close");
+	assert.equal(renderFooterText("note"), " Enter save · Esc close");
 });
diff --git a/tests/render-question.test.ts b/tests/render-question.test.ts
index be9c89e..3a21fe1 100644
--- a/tests/render-question.test.ts
+++ b/tests/render-question.test.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test("selected custom option keeps its label and renders editor below", () => {
 	});
 
 	assert(lines.some((line) => line.includes("Type your own")));
-	assert(lines.some((line) => line.includes("Type your answer...")));
+	assert(lines.some((line) => line.includes("Type answer...")));
 });
 
 test("selected multiline custom option renders full editor block", () => {