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



jstar73 12 years, 5 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to keep shouting "88 MILES AN HOUR!" like on the movie 'Back to the Future' after every typing test and eventually you will get there!

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kaylaseagirl 12 years, 5 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to listen to my elementary school computer teacher! She had this amazing rhyming spiel that told users exactly where to put their fingers!

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kaylaseagirl 12 years, 5 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I keep writing! Perseverance is important! After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

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alstrjacob 12 years, 5 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...go as fast as feels natural, and no faster. Getting frantic will only result in more mistakes. Gradually your speed will improve with practice.

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surgicaldisease 12 years, 5 months ago
You type fast by continuing to practice! the more often you type in complete sentences, and spell correctly your WPM will go up immensely. Just keep at it, and you'll be awesome! Haven't any worries about everyone else around you if they type faster than you, just go at your own pace until you get the hang of it!

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spellinator 12 years, 5 months ago
Let go and use the force. Let it flow through your fingers. Don't think, just do. If you think, you'll slow down. You either feel it or you don't.

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michael 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed was hitting escape and getting a new quote every time a quote with bad grammar came up. Seriously, if you can't take the time to go back and proof read your quote don't bother submitting it in the first place.

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user19598 12 years, 5 months ago
@lindseykillback: don't look at the keyboard! Practice basic key location drills (fj, fj, kd, kd, etc.) before you move up to passages and such.

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lindseykilback 12 years, 5 months ago
can you guys please help me improve my typing speed. I mean could you please help me with suggestions on how to improve my typing speed. I currently type at around 26-30 wpm and I have tried to increase it to at least 45wpm for the past 2 weeks with no success. Currently, i must look at the keyboard while typing. Could you please help me with suggestions on how to type without looking at the keyboard while typing.
I will really appreciate your help.
Thank you so much

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eggman 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...
Well, I don't actually touch type. I have my own little messed up way of doing it. My right hand does nearly all of the work, while my left hand only handles the letters u-p, j-l, n, and m. I always use my left thumb for space, and I only use the right shift key. Don't restrict your fingers to only using certain keys, just use whichever one is closest.

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johnyanthony 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is... even when your computer is switched off just use the keyboard and learn exactly where each key is located.

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mohit91 12 years, 5 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is that i started typing practice when i was just a little kid, but however, it has been reduced as compared to old days since i stopped working on it for last 2 or 3 years but i am working on it again and will surely reach the number i want to achieve.

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user19362 12 years, 6 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I...eat a chalupa, or a chorizo, or a chimichanga, or sometimes just a taco. im the best.

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naanglin 12 years, 6 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I know that I should rest a little and then keep on typing after I've rested. I also like to eat and sleep whenever possible.

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naanglin 12 years, 6 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to keep typing; don't give up. If you keep on trying to improve, eventually you will. In the end, when you think about how much time you spent on all that typing, instead think of how it will help you in the future and how all that time was worth it.

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naanglin 12 years, 6 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I take a break to go eat something, sleep, read, play basketball, or do something else that will hurt my fingers even more.

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