An improved method and apparatus to shift discharge spots produced in a gas discharge display panel, in accordance with given input information so that said discharge spots may be display-held in a desired display position. The shift operation is performed by supplying shift voltages sequentially to shift electrodes. A feature of this invention is to oscillate the discharge spots while they are being display-held in a display position, by supplying an operating voltage alternately to adjacent two shift electrodes during a display period. By oscillating the discharge spots during the display period, an operation margin is obtained which is equivalent to the operation margin available during the shift period, and operation of said display panel can be stabilized to avoid misfiring.