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!

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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



skwan 13 years ago
Still having trouble with "C" "V" and "B"
Currently typing "R", "T", "Y", "F", "G", "C", "V", "B" all with left index finger...
Need to work on switching "C" to left middle finger.

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puppadoodee 13 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... not look at the key board and don't rush but use accuracy and speed will come with practice

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mgm99 13 years ago
This is really nice effort. I have never loved typing so much and the other software designed for the same purpose were never so absorbing like keyhero. I have suddenly re-found my urge to go beyond 60WPM. Many thanks.

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amy21 13 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to keep the non-striking fingers on their home keys. When I type fast, my hand tends to rise off the keyboard as the striking finger pushes down. After a while, I need to slow down to regain a sense of where the keys are. As an exercise, I ignore the clock and deliberately type without lifting the excess fingers. This enhances the muscle-memory and increases finger flexibility. Later, when I go for speed tests again, there is a noticeable improvement. This is like working out the kinks in your golf swing on the driving range before hitting the course.

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melhimshaker 13 years ago
I'm wondering if the guys that have speeds extremely high such as above 140 are true typers or they just using a program to type that fast?

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jsd6793 13 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to recognize where all the keys are so that way you don't have to keep looking down at your fingers. Use the bumps on the F and the J. That is where you will put your index fingers.

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sugaz_momma11 13 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... not let my wrists lie flat on the keyboard and take my time. Read everything presented to me carefully and stick to a comfortable pace.

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user434 13 years ago
Do not necessarily use the same finger to type the same key; use whichever finger is most comfortable, which can vary based on the context of the letters in the word. Do not type each word at uniform speed. Speed through the easier words and take a little more time on the harder words to ensure accuracy. Always focus on the word after the word you are currently typing so there are no unnatural pauses in your typing. I recommend using caps lock instead of shift to type capital letters to allow more flexibility in the hand that you would normally use shift with. Finally, with regard to online typing games, for whatever reason my scores seem to register higher in Google Chrome. Although this won't actually improve your speed, it could improve your nominal scores on certain typing sites.

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losers989 13 years ago
4-8 Hours And 52 Minutes My fingers Hurting even!!!!!!
The Keyboards making me so angry ugghh!!!!.......
But one thing i am Not really fast in typing thats all......
Just So Angry...... Even when i look at my picture i look so sick of looking at it......

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jcarz 13 years ago
An honest message to everyone on the site

To increase your typing speed, you need to practice. But don't sit there for hours on a day trying to. Take it simply, and maybe try 10 tests a day, but be focused on the words you're typing, so you are less likely to make mistakes. Accuracy is key. All the top typists have extremely fast accuracy, so focus on spelling the words correctly first time rather than making and correcting mistakes

Also, consider if you actually need a super-quick typing speed like the ones shown. Fast typing for an extended duration, could lead to Repetitive Strain Injury of the fingers, hands and wrists, so it's okay to type at an average speed

Finally, I'd like to say that this is an excellent site. Some of the messages within these typing tests are really motivating and humbling, so its well worth being consistent in your goal to increase your speed.


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shortbusridah 13 years ago
I have a keyboard from SomeCompany. It's really uncomfortable...it makes me feel like im bathing in the fiery depths of hell, walking down the streets engulfed in darkness swallowed by the evil, feeling liek their are demands behind every shaddow, my skin getting cold. my skin beggins to pale...i am dead

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abbcdde 13 years ago
Thanks buddy for your reply...i never thought people type so fast :P I will try n increase my speed as much as possible :D heehee anyways thankz again :)

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kuldeep1824 13 years, 1 month ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I...<a href="http://www.keyhero.com/profile/kuldeep1824/?ba" title="kuldeep1824's typing test profile"><img src="/static//badges/60/typing-test-18080.png" alt="kuldeep1824's typing test WPM" style="vertical-align:middle"></a>

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k4s3 13 years, 1 month ago
My typing speed is slow. It is due to old age, I think. All the youngsters are very fast today. Being an old man crossed 62 cannot win in a race with a small boys and girls of below 30 or 40 years. I do agree this fact. Any how, my best wishes to all of you...Bye Kmcs

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fairyflies11 13 years, 1 month ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... stetch them and try to relax...if you relax your hands your fingers can move faster..

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spychsam 13 years, 1 month ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to don't look at the keyboard while your typing. Be confident in yourself that you know where the keys are without looking and you can type as fast as you want!

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