Typing tips, how to make type faster and master the keyboard

1) Accuracy

I had been trying to improve my speed for months and I was not seeing much improvement. Once I slowed down and started being more accurate instead of trying to type faster I started seeing an increase in my typing speed. I feel more in control as well. I still have a way to go for my personal goal but am pleased to see that I am now improving and relaxing more.
Learn to be accurate first then improve speed. Because if you make mistakes all the time the longer it will take you to type. Every time you backspace takes longer than if you slow down just a tad so you can type accurately. I still makes a lot of mistakes but I realize when I slow down to be accurate I actually tend to type slightly faster.

2) Practice

For new typists: Practice. Get used to the home keys work to the point where you do not need to look at both what you are typing, or your fingers on the keyboard.

For advanced typists: Practice. Develop muscle memory for typing certain types of commonly used letter parings. Identify the combinations of letters for certain words that give you trouble and practice typing them in particular to the point where you no longer need to think when doing so.
My tip to improve your typing speed is to not only practice often, but practice correctly. Try to get rid of bad typing habits and replace them with good ones. For example, you should use every single finger when typing instead of relying on the use of fingers with which you're most comfortable. Full utilization of both hands is necessary to achieve your highest typing potential.

3) Stretching

When my wrists get stiff from typing, I grab my fingers with one hand and stretch out my arm to full length and pull on my fingers back slowly. I then, stretch my fingers by opening and closing them, bend my hands back and forth, and rotate my wrists.
if you feel a little sore on the fingers or knuckles, just put your arms up high, and wriggle your fingers (only do this if your fingers feel sore. ) and if your knuckles hurt just put your left hand into a fist and do the same with the right. With the bottom of your left fist, tap the knuckles on your right hand and vice versa.

4) Know your keyboard

My tip to improve your typing speed is to feel for the "F" and the "J". As most know, those are the letters you feel for first on the keyboard. As time goes by, and you learn how to type without looking, you will not even really have to "feel" for the "F" and the "J" you will just learn the keyboard.
It is also important to familiarize yourself with the keyboard you are using. - This is essential as, if you can map the keyboard out in your mind, you wont need to look away from the screen to locate the key you need. This would also minimize time spent between getting your many thoughts onto the screen before loosing them (again).
If you are typing 60 wpm or higher, and want to get better, and not get carpal tunnel: buy a mechanical keyboard. I use red switch that I bought for both gaming/typing, and after an hour of typing, my fingers still feel fine. I wouldn't recommend red for most typists--It doesn't have the feedback that other switch types have, and takes a while to get used to not bottoming out the keys all the time.

5) Rhythm

What is important is developing a rhythm, not to hurry, but to be accurate, first-priority. Speed comes naturally with practice and time. Further, one must push one's self to perform better, but acknowledging that efficiency only is established, along with effectiveness. In closing, one must learn to type only what one sees/reads; never change the words, unless, of course, it is an editing ... exercise/test. One only types what one sees or reads!

Start training

Touch typing

Touch typing is typing without looking at the keyboard. The idea is to teach your fingers the location of each keys. The F and J keys have a raised bar or a dot allowing your finger to identify them. Once you have placed your two indexes on those keys, the other fingers are placed on the keys next to them.

In order to type fast you have to be careful about which finger to use to press a key. Take a look at the drawing below. Each color match a finger. For example the left index is light green and has to type only the light green keys.

typing test tips

Certain keys are special. ASDF and JKL; are the base positions for your fingers.Your fingers go from the base position to the key that you want to press.

A good first thing to do when your learn touch typing is to memorize the keyboard and create a mental map of the associated fingers. You have to be able to press any key without even thinking. For example if I say C you have to think move the middle finger down and press C instantly. You can only achieve this through practice. You have to build up the muscle memory of each fingers.

Key ideas

* Place your indexes on F and J
* A key has to pressed by the same finger all the time
* Don't look at the keyboard, your eyes should always look at the screen
* Go practice!

Take a typing test

User tips



key_hero 12 years, 4 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...stop reading these stupid tips because everyones different you GOON. Go teach yourself how to type and soon you will be as good as me.

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kyla21369 12 years, 4 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... don't never stay on the computer too long and all i ever do is play Papa's Pancakeria and be Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! And i don't even be on that long i stay on each for one hour yep that's it!

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attam 12 years, 4 months ago
If you are already a decent touch typist, but want to increase your speed from 60 to 80 WPM or more, try reading/thinking ahead of your fingers and mentally prepare for the words you are about to type.

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roxygurl3 12 years, 4 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I...stop and stretch them. Curling and uncurling a few times helps get the cramp out. Also drinking lots of water plus proper posture, are all ways to ease the discomfort.

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mikeh 12 years, 4 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... lose your life, and devote it to making your speed faster. that's what professionals do i think.

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meamea 12 years, 4 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...reading the quote first and when i'm about to make a mistake i know it and i just pause before i make it.

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lindseykilback 12 years, 5 months ago
That is a good typing tutor. I wish it had a way to adjust the amount of time you can time the test so that we will keep typing for longer than the 1 minute it can currently allow just for muscle memory. Also, I wish it had a way to input your own data to practice with.Nice job anyways because after all this thing is free??!

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marilu 12 years, 5 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... put up what i'm doing, i rest my hand in warm water, then lotion them, dry the excess lotion, then rest for a complete hour and get back to my work.

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zzappzoe 12 years, 5 months ago
Last year i started really trying to type because of school. I felt so slow and since I have been practicing i have gotten a ton better!! JUST PRACTICE and smile! :D

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valthar2002 12 years, 5 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... hold your hands steady and let your fingers move. Loosen up your fingers and hands before typing. Also concentrate on your typing.

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mordorson 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is practicing over and over. There's no trick, no memorization, just muscle memory, and I have my own style of typing, not focusing over the home keys, that never worked for me. So of course my typing will be slower than most, but I can still get it faster.

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dreamsonfire 12 years, 5 months ago
Watch and like this video of me typing 209 wpm on typeracer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Fv-LpCQrY
Thanks guys.
And my tip to improve: practice.

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jacque27 12 years, 5 months ago
Wish me luck I am going for a typing test tomorrow for a Relay Officer ( with deaf people). Have not had a test since I was in my late teens or had a job as a constant typist. since I was 24 - now 50.
Out of all the typing sites I have been practising on over the last couple of days I would say this is the best one.

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subbu.007 12 years, 5 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...<a href="http://www.keyhero.com/profile/subbu.007/?ba" title="subbu.007's typing test profile"><img src="/static//badges/226/typing-test-67915.png" alt="subbu.007's typing test WPM" style="vertical-align:middle"></a>

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jennyxkiim 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...

I'm actually still looking for something to help me improve my typing speed. LOL.
so, if any good advice, let me know please ! (:

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user20015 12 years, 5 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... massage and quickly hold fingers and wrists under cold running water :)

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