As you probably know, the carriage is the moving part of the typewriter. Every time you type a letter, the carriage will move a space to the left so the paper is in the right place for the next key strike. The carriage holds the paper in place using a roller. However, inserting the paper into the carriage and making sure it is straight is not the easiest thing in the world as the roller holds the paper tight.
Luckily most typewriters have a feature to help with this. The carriage release, usually a switch on the right side of the carriage, loosens the roller so you can slide the paper about to get it straight. Just don't forget to tighten it up again before you start typing!
