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



spell08 12 years, 9 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...
Don't slouch in your computer chair.
Curve your fingers.
Don't pull up your shoulders - it will make your arms tired.
Don't do the test too many times in a row, it can
tire out your wrist, and long-term possibly injuring your hand.

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mairah 12 years, 9 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I...pause for a while take a deep breath relax and continue to try my best.

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kimbsy 12 years, 9 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to type much faster than you are typing at the moment. If you manage to always type faster than you used to, then your typing speed will almost definitely improve.

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tiffany_gray 12 years, 9 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...when I sit up straight and rock side to side it kinda helps. It makes me look stupid while I type but it helps

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misscandycane2 12 years, 9 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... practice, practice, practice. Eventually your fingers will be used to the keyboard and you'll be typing with no trouble at all.

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kat928 12 years, 9 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I stop typing and stretch my fingers, hands and arms. It is best to take a break from time to time to let you fingers rest.

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kat928 12 years, 9 months ago
my advice to typing well is: learn to type correctly first then go for speed. once you've learned to type without looking then you can think about speed.

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czassylady 12 years, 9 months ago
I am still trying to improve my typing skills.. though it's hard most of the time but I will not give up till I achieve the average speed. :)

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michaelbrittany 12 years, 9 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is I learned if you have been typing for a while and still make mistakes try hard not to make mistakes. I have improved as much as 5 words per minute just by making less mistakes. this contradicts what I said yesterday but it works.

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twilight1 12 years, 9 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is..
MUSIC! MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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michaelbrittany 12 years, 9 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to practice practice practice. also actually try to move your fingers faster even if you make more mistakes.

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moodyjingo 12 years, 9 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...
Well, not being under pressure. When I don't think about typing and just DO IT, my typing speed improves.

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awanti 12 years, 9 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... Normally i put my fingers on any vibrator device or i will rube my both my hands,,,

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ghardin72 12 years, 9 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I stretch my hands and crack my knuckles! (I know, that's not a good thing to do.) :)

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rez 12 years, 10 months ago
One tip is to keep your wrists elevated while typing or at least on the same plane as your fingers. That way your hand won't actually "drag" as you type. This can be accomplished by holding your wrists up or by resting them on a platform attached to the keyboard.

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chorster 12 years, 10 months ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is that I kept practicing. It's really not so bad once you get familiar with the keys. The hard part is typing fast.

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