I really want to learn to slow down less when typing bigger words.
By mjd88 - updated: 9 years, 3 months ago - 15 messages
I notice frequently that whenever I type hard words, my speed tends to slow up a bit.
I'm definitely getting a lot better at typing thanks to the website type racer. I've only played 9 games on this site so far and I enjoy the fact that after you're done, it points out where you made mistakes.
I still like type racer too. I realize that unlike type racer, it doesn't pit you against someone else, and I like that. I like that I can type at the pace that I'm comfortable typing at.
Also, I can never seem to break the 100wpm barrier without it dropping, especially with type racer. Some days I'm really fast, others I'm slower. I wish I could be consistent all the time too, even on my worse days where my fingers just don't feel as quick.
I would say that on average, my speed is about 60-85wpm.
Currently my stats on type racer are this:
681 type races completed
Average speed all time: 68wpm
Average speed in the last 10 races: 78wpm
Last race: 82wpm
Best race: 99wpm
Races won: 203
Skill Level: Typemaster
Rank (WPM percentile): 91%
and my exp level is typist 5. :)
I discovered this site from Reddit and I'm glad to have found it.
No matter how little you slouch, it is not healthy to sit down for hours at a time. It's best to stand up or walk around for at least a few minutes every 30 to 60 minutes.
By vfdavis - posted: 9 years, 7 months ago
I think it's actually a good idea to slow down a little bit for longer words. As they tend to have patterns that short words don't.
Of course there's small things that you can do that speed you up a fair bit for longer words. Practice all of the common three and four letter combinations that longer words have, until they just become normal.
Such as, ing, sion, tion, ism, mis, and ough. I tend to find writing long words is like breaking them down into the patterns that they have tends to speed you up.
At that point you're not preparing for two letters but your fingers move to letters that are actually quite far ahead in the word. It's cool like that because longer words feel a lot shorter when you start doing that. It's not too much of a speed increase though, so don't expect magic. ;)
By mjd88 - posted: 9 years, 7 months ago
Never thought of doing that, but I'll give it a shot :)
By kaikaikaikaikai - posted: 9 years, 7 months ago
It's natural to slow down on words that are used less frequently or have unusual key combinations. Having a look at your profile here, I'd like to point out that you should probably work at your accuracy to improve your speed (aiming for 95% or better is a good measure). I know Typeracer, and there is no penalty for mistakes: You don't have to go back and correct wrong letters. This can really grind in bad habits and is very different from real-world typing, which is why I dropped Typeracer after two days.
By this - posted: 9 years, 6 months ago
Over time, I seem to have developed muscle memory for certain words/key combinations. When I encounter text which requires a keystroke pattern which I do not encounter as frequently, I tend to need to slow down to prevent stray keystrokes from slipping in.
The other strange tendency I have noticed is to misspell complex words in a way that is more phonetic or intuitive (so "chrysanthemum" might become "crisanthemum"). Of course, your blocker might be completely different. Perhaps you could try practicing on passages with lots of unfamiliar words?
By kaikaikaikaikai - posted: 9 years, 6 months ago
That tendency you describe is intriguing. It is as though you type auditive, and when the spelling doesn't make sense in a phonetic way, you misspell it.
What I've noticed and found strange is that I interchange a and o from time to time. "Words" becomes "Wards", "dark" becomes "dork" and so forth. Maybe I type more visual than you do and interchange them because they look similar? Just a crude hypothesis, but interesting phenomena none the less.
By toddhicks209 - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
To prevent interchanging "A" and "O", it might help you to push your computer back if you're using a desktop. If you're using a laptop, push the top part of your computer back. Following these suggestions will help you see your typing exercise and test content better.
By vfdavis - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
My computer is against the wall, and my chair is at the appropriate position. I never understood why I make that mistake. And if you're thinking it's a vision thing, that's definitely not it. This tends to happen when I'm typing from my mind.
By derig - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
Interesting. How far away should your chair be from the desk?
And how far should a regular PC keyboard be from..., say your elbows. Closer or father away?
derig :)
By kaikaikaikaikai - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
So you have that problem of interchanging As and Os, too? xD
I don't know if it's a vision thing for me, frankly, but I'd rather guess 'not', too. I never have trouble mixing up As and Os while reading.
By vfdavis - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
A little over the length of your fore-arm. You don't want 90° angles in your elbows, but you want the keyboard to be at a "relaxing distance" (My keyboard is about waist height)
By kaikaikaikaikai - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
I'd say what's most comfortable to you, just try to keep a straight posture. I also found that having both feet on your ground helps; it makes me more alert.
Comparing myself to vfdavis, my monitor (not my desk) also a bit farther away than arm's length: I can touch it with an outstretched index finger. My keyboard is slightly above belly button height. It really depends on body types I guess: a person with long torso and relatively short limbs (like me) will choose a different setup than someone with long arms and legs.
By derig - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
Thanks vf, you give the best advise!
And I thought I was the only one who mixed up "a" and "o" while typing. :)
My average is going a bit down as I'm trying to figure out a good way to sit. I want at least 67 average. More if possible. But I must say, I'm so glad it's Friday!
Thanks again,
derig :D
By vfdavis - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
As long as you don't strain any part of your body, and feel comfortable in every way. And can sit like that for a long time. You should have a good posture.
(Think about how a slouch will make the small of your back sore in no time.)
When I sit up straight, and put my hands over my keyboard as such as my arms are in a nice resting position. I can feel an almost immediate boost in confidence with every stroke. And thus can do some of my best typing like that for anything up to a couple of hours.
That could be psychosomatic, and just be me. But comfort is the best detail.
By toddhicks209 - posted: 9 years, 3 months ago
No matter how little you slouch, it is not healthy to sit down for hours at a time. It's best to stand up or walk around for at least a few minutes every 30 to 60 minutes.
