The ability to type quickly and accurately has become an essential skill that is almost as important as reading or writing. It’s a tool we lean on daily, from drafting emails to penning down elaborate reports, coding software, or simply communicating with others via digital platforms. With that in mind, imagine the time and energy you could save if you could double or even triple your typing speed.
This article aims to turn this possibility into a reality by helping you understand and master the art of touch typing. We’ll delve into the concept of touch typing, explore how to prepare effectively for typing, familiarize you with your keyboard, provide guidance on practice, and introduce you to incredible tools like TextExpander that can help you blaze through sentences at breakneck speed.
What is touch typing?
Touch typing is the ability to type without looking at the keyboard. It’s a skill that relies on muscle memory to find keys quickly, enabling you to focus on the screen rather than searching for individual letters on the keyboard. Touch typing not only increases your typing speed but also reduces the strain on your eyes, as you don’t need to shift your gaze between the keyboard and the screen constantly.
What is a good typing speed per minute?
40 words per minute (wpm) is a respectable typing speed for most purposes. Beyond that:
- 50+ wpm: Above average
- 60+ wpm: High speed
- 70+ wpm: Transcription speed
- 120+ wpm: Competition speed
Is typing 40 wpm good?
40 wpm is about average.
Is 300 wpm good?
At 300+ wpm, your speed would not only be competition-grade but would put you in league with world record holders.
How much accuracy is required for typing?
An average accuracy rates depend on grade level. An adult should be expected to type with 98% accuracy or higher, especially for roles that demand precision, such as finance.
Steps to Improve Your Typing
Here are some proven strategies to improve your typing speed and accuracy.
Set Up Your Workspace for Success
Follow this checklist to ensure that your checklist is set up correctly:
- Ensure your workspace is clean and clutter-free.
- Your keyboard and mouse should be within easy reach, and the monitor should be at eye level.
- The lighting around your desk should be adequate but not too glaring or bright because it can put a strain on your eyes if you are there extensively.
A well-organized workspace minimizes distractions, making it easier to focus on your typing.
Correct Your Posture and Position
One of the most overlooked aspects of typing faster is the correct sitting position:
- Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor and your back comfortably supported.
- Your shoulders should be relaxed, and your elbows should be at a right angle.
Without a proper sitting position, your body could be strained if you type for longer periods.
Familiarize yourself with the Keyboard
The keyboard layout might differ slightly based on the region or manufacturer. However, the most commonly used is the QWERTY layout. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the key placements, and pay special attention to the ‘home row’ keys: A, S, D, F, J, K, L, and the semicolon. When touch typing, your fingers should always return to these keys.
Learn the Correct Hand Posture
Place your left-hand fingers on A, S, D, F, and your right-hand fingers on J, K, L, and the semicolon. Your thumbs should rest on the space bar. Additionally, your fingers should be arched so that they are not touching other keys when you type. When typing, strive to move your fingers, not your hands, and apply a gentle touch rather than forcefully pressing the keys.
Know Your Baseline Speed (Words per Minute, WPM)
Before you start practicing, determine your current typing speed. Numerous online tools are available to measure your words per minute (WPM). Knowing your starting point is vital as it allows you to set realistic goals and track your progress. Improving becomes easier if you can see the progress you are making.
Pick a Practice Method, and Stick to It
Below, we’ll offer some suggestions for online tools you can use to practice and improve your typing accuracy and speed. Whichever method you choose, stick to it! Constantly jumping between programs makes it impossible to track your progress reliably and will set you back again and again. Quickly try a few, pick one, and grind it out.
Practice Every Day
This should go without saying, but you should practice your typing every single day, if only for a few minutes. There’s no reason not to, and the more consistently you practice, the sooner you’ll build up muscle memory.
Focus on Accuracy Over Speed at First
As with anything related to hand-eye coordination and muscle memory, such as typing, swinging a hammer, or playing a musical instrument, you should focus on developing accuracy in the beginning, and don’t worry about speed until later.
Type as slowly as you need to to hit 98% accuracy consistently. As your muscle memory develops, your speed will naturally begin to pick up, and typing individual words will feel automatic.
Set Goals
Setting goals can motivate you and give you a clear path to follow. Remember to start small. A good place to start is an increase of 5 WPM every week. Once you start accomplishing this goal, you can gradually raise the bar as you get more comfortable. Improvement takes time, and it is different for everyone. Remember to not be discouraged if your speed is not increasing as much as you would like initially.
Track Your Progress
Consistently tracking your progress is key to improvement. Regularly check your WPM and strive to beat your previous records. Make sure to not minimize your accomplishments and to celebrate your small victories as they will motivate you to keep pushing.
Best typing tutorials
Here are the best online typing tutorial programs. We specifically selected programs that emphasize accuracy before speed:
- AgileFingers: Offers a comprehensive typing tutor focused on developing speed and accuracy through a mix of customizable typing exercises, courses, and games. AgileFingers allows users to track their progress and improve muscle memory with interactive, engaging drills designed for all skill levels.
- SpeedTypingOnline: A user-friendly platform for anyone looking to boost their typing speed and efficiency. It features timed tests, customizable exercises, and real-time progress tracking, making it ideal for users who want to improve their typing skills and monitor improvements over time.
- TypingClub: An interactive typing platform designed for learners of all ages, with a wide array of lessons and gamified exercises that make learning to type enjoyable. Featuring detailed progress tracking, TypingClub provides a structured, step-by-step approach to building speed and accuracy in typing.
Tools to Increase Your Typing Output If You Can’t Type Faster
What if you need to increase your typing output, but you can’t type any faster? You have a few options:
Text Expansion
There are many text expansion tools available that let you create shortcuts for commonly typed words and phrases. The category leader is TextExpander, which is available for Chrome, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. TextExpander lets you type a short abbreviation that expands into a longer text Snippet. For instance, you can set it up so you can type “myname” and it expands into your full name.
While Snippets can be very simple, you can add more complex items like Fill-in fields and optional sections to customize them. With an Org account, you can seamlessly share Snippets with your coworkers so everyone can have a consistent repository of Snippets.
Predictive Typing
AI-powered tools like predictive typing are all the rage. With these, the software tries to guess what you’ll type next, displaying the proposed text, usually in light gray, which you can add with a key press. Apple’s macOS and iOS both offer predictive text, as does Google Docs and many other applications. A commercial option that works across many different platforms is Lightkey.
Voice Dictation
Many people find they can speak faster than they can type, and medical dictation is especially popular. With dictation, you can speak into a microphone and the software automatically translates your speech into text. Most operating systems now have this built in, like macOS, Windows, and iOS. However, a favorite among dictation enthusiasts is Dragon by Nuance.
Type Even Faster with TextExpander
TextExpander is a fantastic tool that can help you type faster by creating custom keyboard shortcuts. For example, you could set up a shortcut that automatically expands “brb” into “be right back”. It’s a handy way to speed up your typing, especially if you often use the same phrases or sentences. To learn more about TextExpander, check out this comprehensive article: “Type Faster with TextExpander.”
In conclusion, typing faster is a valuable skill that can greatly increase your productivity. It might seem daunting at first, but with the right techniques, plenty of practice, and tools like TextExpander, you’ll be hitting those high WPM numbers in no time!
