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



kurtlewin20 13 years, 8 months ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to control your breathing. I have found by observing my own that if i hold my breath i can go my fastest than if i don't.


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touchtype 13 years, 9 months ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I start my Workrave application (I don't keep it running all the time). It reminds to take breaks and even has some relaxation exercises.

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kurtlewin20 13 years, 9 months ago
When I first hit the game, I average 58 at my best. But that was before, now I can speed up through 70+ wpm. Imagine how this site has helped achieve. I say, this is much more effective than typing master.

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user598 13 years, 9 months ago
I don't have a tip, i'm just trying to use 9 fingers to type, so i'm pleased when I hit 32 wpm. I don't know what the average is for 9 fingers.

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airmom1c05 13 years, 10 months ago
Security Error: Content at http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/ may not load data from http://www.keyhero.com/?forceauth.

This is repeatedly showing up in the message section of my error console. What should I do so I can sit here and type, type, type? :)

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ibm 14 years ago
Thank you archersutw. I actually whisper the words as I type them. It also helps to whisper it to the beat of a song so you have a rhythm when you type. As for a the typing tests that just shows 1 letter at a time I am not as fast with. I typically average around 140ish with those. Plus common words are much easier for me to type than some phrases that have long words that I rarely type. I hope those tips will help you in your endeavor.

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wgomtr 14 years ago
Minha dica para melhorar a sua velocidade de digitação é ...<A title="wgomtr's typing test profile" href="http://www.keyhero.com/profile/wgomtr?ba"><IMG style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" alt="wgomtr's typing test WPM" src="http://static.keyhero.com/badges/8/typing-test-2537.png"></A>

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wgomtr 14 years ago
Minha dica para melhorar a sua velocidade de digitação<A title="wgomtr's typing test profile" href="http://www.keyhero.com/profile/wgomtr?ba"><IMG style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" alt="wgomtr's typing test WPM" src="http://static.keyhero.com/badges/8/typing-test-2537.png"></A> é ...

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archersutw 14 years, 1 month ago
sby1955 best tip.

i dont believe the smoking one though, if i stop my fingers get jittery and i cant type accurately, i end up mishitting the wrong keys.

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archersutw 14 years, 1 month ago
play video games where if you don't type fast you die/lose.

that's how i learned how to type at a young age, at least. it was sink or swim in terms of communicating.

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user348 14 years, 1 month ago
I love doing these tests....they keep my fingers nimble! I used to type 117 wpm - so far the highest has been 90.53.....I guess that's not bad for a 68 yr old!!

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user271 14 years, 1 month ago
As I congtinue to age (mid 50s now) I find that my fingers are starting to 'slur', much in the same manner as a stroke victim slurs their speech. It's not a pleasant reality to face up to but with the onset of arthritis, I find that this type of typing test (without self-correcting tecnnology) is therepeutic

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mseibolt 14 years, 1 month ago
As I continue to age (mid 50s now) I find that my fingers are starting to 'slur', much in the same manner as a stroke victim slurs their speech. It's not a pleasant reality to face up to, but with the onset of arthritis, I find that this type of typing test (without self-correcting technology) is therepeutic.

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takky00 14 years, 1 month ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...practice as much as possible, it is not fun, but if you want to improve, it is the only way!!!:-)

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pattinson 14 years, 1 month ago
My tip, as much as I fight myself to practise it, concentrate. It really helps to concentrate only on the letters/word we are typing. Cut out all other distractions. It is a bit difficult to attain that level of keen piercing concentration for 1-2 minutes. But I believe whoever does it excels.
Another thing I have learned is- don't crave for speed. Accuracy is priority number 1. Then speed is simultaneous when accuracy is achieved.

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ryta 14 years, 1 month ago
My tip to im<A title="ryta's typing test profile" href="http://www.keyhero.com/profile/ryta?ba"><IMG style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" alt="ryta's typing test WPM" src="http://static.keyhero.com/badges/4/typing-test-1483.png"></A>prove your typing speed is to...

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