A matrix head wire print position shift apparatus which includes a plurality of longitudinally movable print wires (42) which are disposed in guides (56, 60, 64). One of the guides (64) supports the printing ends of the wires (62) and is transversely shiftable between a first print position and a second print position by a shiftable support (68). In the first print position the print wires are selectably operable to print characters defined by a first set of adjacent substantially tangential circularly shaped dots. In the second print position the wire print devices are selectably operable to enhance printing of the characters with a second set of overlapping dots which are offset by one-half dot space from the first set. The shifting device (70, 94, 110) is located within the print wire housing (10).