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



moonlitrabbit0218 7 years ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I do my finger exercises that I do for piano. It helps to relax my fingers and massages them while still stretching them.

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hazard 7 years ago
A tip for typing: It's better if you don't have an extremely strict, defined assigning of keys to fingers. Sometimes, I use the left hand for y, but other times I use the right hand. It all depends on what the letters are before and after the y.

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edisonnews 7 years ago
nothing yet, because I've been trying to improve my layout ever since which totally ruined my typing speed. I cannot recommend to anyone to start optimizing stuff if his typing speed is already >= 80wpm... ;)

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user955834 7 years ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I shake them out the way I do when I am about to practice piano. I clench them together tightly, open them wide with a snap, and shake them until they go slightly numb. Maybe not the best practice but it makes them feel better.

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muckle 7 years ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...

Raising my eyes up, for sure. Or rather, focusing on the text more. I don't know. Mostly practice as well.

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porcupine_mama 7 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to... take it slow at first and focus more on your accuracy over speed. You can't expect your fingers to type as quickly as your eyes can read! Remember - it's not a race and the only way one really improve is through practice.

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scarlettn 7 years ago
I really enjoy doing this because I am typing faster than I usually do. And that I have not a lot of mistakes when I am typing a qote.

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awesomesauceme 7 years ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I take a rest and then try later. It's not worth it to overwork yourself, you won't enjoy it, so you should take it slow.

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yno4ever 7 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to try to memorize the keyboard (take your time if you need to!) and work your way to getting faster. One day, you'll become faster than me!

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reginaluna 7 years ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to practice everyday for at leased 30 minutes minimum to help you with your accuracy and with your mistakes per minute. If you practice more than the minimum you will most likely improve quicker. Good Luck!!!!

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user263319 7 years ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I contract and relax my fingers and arms and also walk a little to come back into action.

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zackgotskills 7 years, 1 month ago
My tip to improve your typing speed is to...
Do NOT look at the Keys while typing.
Learn where Home Row is.
Do NOT be horrible at typing.

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user724289 7 years, 1 month ago
I would use a good quality keyboard like a logitech k120 if you want to do any amount of typing without getting fatigued very quickly.

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drivernaut 7 years, 1 month ago
What really helped me improve my typing speed is...working my new job as a commercial underwriter. I am constantly sending out emails all day and have built a new skill of typing compared to when I first started.

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shantae_man 7 years, 1 month ago
When my fingers hurt after too much time on the keyboard, I... Become Gamer and tell my fingers to stop hurting and they become perfectly fine afterwards.

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kristiano 7 years, 1 month ago
Learn the standard finger placement (home row) first and then customize yourself according to consistent appearance of vowel or consonant patterns in your language.

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