The process of writing or inputting text by pressing keys on a typewriter, computer keyboard, cell phone, or calculator is known as typing. It differs from other types of text input, such as handwriting and speech recognition. Text can be represented by letters, numbers, and other symbols.

Typing quickly and accurately is a skill that will benefit you no matter where your career takes you. Despite the fact that modern technology has resulted in people typing a lot of messages on smartphones with their thumbs or pointer fingers, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to do at least some of your work on a desktop or laptop computer.

The less you have to think about the mechanics of typing correctly and efficiently, the more you can think about the content of what you’re typing. You’ll produce better work with fewer mistakes that need to be corrected later. An employee who has mastered typing is adaptable and available for a wide range of tasks. During a meeting, you might be asked to type notes on the spot. If your abilities are inadequate, you may experience anxiety and stress. Typing is an important office skill, so devote some time to typing practice.

Today, we’ll look at some tips to improve your typing skills.

Begin Slowly

Familiarize yourself with the proper keyboard hand position and begin with slow typing of the most common words in the language. This will allow you to concentrate on reducing errors. You can then try increasing your speed. Refrain from looking at your hands, and your brain will eventually train your fingers to fly over the keys.

1. Sit up straight in a chair and place the keyboard or laptop at a comfortable height on a table or desk.
2. Place your feet flat on the ground.
3. Place the screen 15 to 25 inches away from your eyes, with your eyes slightly down.
4. Maintain a 90-degree bend in your elbows and try to put as little strain on your shoulders, arms, wrists, and elbows as possible. You want to avoid developing any habits that could lead to long-term repetitive stress injury.
5. Examine the keys before you begin. The layout for standard English-language keyboards is known as “QWERTY”—a non-alphabetical arrangement that has been around since the 1800s. Some keyboards may have some function keys in different locations, or they may be slightly curved in the middle or on the edges for ergonomics, but the alphabet and punctuation keys will be in the same location.
6. Place your left and right pointer fingers on the F and J keys, respectively. Many keyboards have a small raised tab on those letters to help you orient your fingers without having to look. Allow the remaining fingers on each hand to rest on the keys in the home row (D, S, and A for the left hand; K, L, and; for the right hand). The space bar is occupied by both thumbs.
7. With your fingers on the home row, you’ll train your hands to reach all of the other keys without looking. This is known as “touch typing.” Essentially, each finger is in charge of the keys just above and below the home row key on which it is resting. Consider placing vertical dividers around each finger. The right pinky controls the return, shift, and delete keys, while the left pinky controls the shift, caps lock, and tab keys. Because our pinky fingers aren’t always strong, it may feel awkward at first, but with practice, it will feel more natural.

To Avoid Mistakes, Begin By Typing Slowly

The speed of typing is measured in words per minute (WPM). Stella Pajunas, who typed 216 wpm on an IBM electronic typing machine in 1946, was the fastest recorded typist. That is unfathomable to the majority of us. For the average person, 60 to 80 wpm is sufficient. Some typing-intensive jobs may require something faster, but this will be clearly stated in the job description.

Uncorrected errors count against you when WPM is calculated. It’s simple to go back to a computer. Typewriters are harsher in their corrections. Starting slowly will teach you to type accurately first, then gradually increase your speed as you learn. Typing the document correctly the first time saves time on copyediting and proofreading. It is much easier to avoid making a mistake in the first place than it is to find and correct it later.

Many word processing programs provide auto-correction or a bright red underline for errors, but they cannot catch everything. To truly want to improve your typing skills, you must seek improvement without the assistance of correcting technology.

Don’t Look Down Your Hands

Instead of looking down at your hands, fix your gaze on the screen. This can be challenging at first, especially if you haven’t mastered the exact placement of the keys. Looking at the screen, on the other hand, will help you improve your accuracy because you will be able to catch typos as they happen. You’ll also begin to memorize the placement of the keys, allowing you to type faster as you practice.

Maintain Proper Posture

It will be easier to type faster if you sit up straight. If you’re accustomed to slouching in your chair or working from the couch, try switching to a straight-backed chair or working at your desk.

Set Your Hands in a Comfortable Position

Typing for long periods of time can be painful if your hands are not properly aligned. Your keyboard’s space bar should be centered with your body so that you are not reading your screen or typing at an angle. Rest your elbows on the table and keep your wrists slightly elevated as you type. Wrists should never be bent or angled dramatically.

Take Typing Tests Online

If you want to see how efficient your typing is, you can take a variety of online typing tests. Most of the time, you’ll be asked to type a passage of text, and the website will time you to determine how many words per minute (wpm) you type and how accurate your typing is. These programs can help you keep track of your progress as you work to improve your typing speed.

Play Touch Typing Games And Use Touch Typing Software

You’ll be able to type faster if you type by feel rather than sight. That’s why using touch typing software can help you improve your typing skills and work faster. They usually include beneficial exercises as well as entertaining games that can make increasing your typing speed more enjoyable.

While touch typing software can be purchased, there are a number of free programs available, including TypingClub, TypeRacer, Klavaro Touch Typing Tutor, and Rapid Typing.

Look for a Typing Class

If you’ve tried to improve your typing speed on your own and haven’t seen the desired results, you might consider taking a typing or keyboarding class. Instructors can ensure that you are using the correct finger positioning and posture to type quickly and accurately. Check to see if your school offers a class if you are in high school or college. If you’ve dropped out of school, your local community college or continuing education program may offer a typing course.

If you don’t have access to a typing class in your area, there are online programs that can help. Although you will not be able to receive in-person assistance, the instruction can still help you improve your typing speed.

Maintain Your Focus on the Screen

As you type, your natural instinct may be to look down at the keyboard. Looking at the keys, on the other hand, slows down your typing and increases the likelihood of errors. Keep your eyes on the screen as you type to use the touch typing technique. When you first start using this method, you may notice a slight increase in errors, but you’ll quickly learn the layout of the keyboard and the position of the keys, which will improve your typing speed.

• Consider covering your hands with a cloth, piece of paper, or cardboard when learning to type without looking at the keyboard, so you can’t see the keys even if you peek.
• While you should try to keep your gaze on the computer screen as much as possible, it’s okay to cheat and look down at the keyboard every now and then to ensure that you know where the keys are.

Continue to Strive for Betterment

The most dangerous thing you can do becomes complacent. Your typing ability can always improve as long as you balance how quickly you type with how correctly you type. Test your speed on a regular basis and set goals for the WPM you want to achieve.

Once you’ve gotten there, aim higher! Some of the resources listed above are excellent for keeping track of this, and nothing motivates like competition. Consider enlisting the help of coworkers or friends to see who can travel the furthest.

Whatever you decide, keep in mind that typing is just like any other skill. It takes time, patience, and practice. If you work hard to improve it, you will see fantastic results.

Set Specific Objectives

Most people who say they want to improve their typing speed don’t go any further than that. This is analogous to saying that you want to get in better shape. It’s a great goal to work toward, but it’s much easier to achieve if you make it very specific.

Practice, Practice, And More Practice

People frequently cite Malcolm Gladwell’s ideas on how to develop a habit. “It takes 10,000 hours to master anything,” he writes in his book Outliers. If you practice 24 hours a day, 10,000 hours equates to 416 days or more than a year of your life!

While that amount of time spent on typing practice may appear daunting, neuroscience research suggests that our brains do not develop in accordance with an inherent set of preprogrammed patterns. In other words, our brains are always prepared to learn new things. Practice leads to learning in the developing and mature brains, and the structural changes in the brain that result encode that learning.

Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals of finger placement and movement on the keyboard, practicing with intention will provide you with lifetime mastery that will make every instance of typing easier.

Make sure to create a welcoming environment for practice sessions. Don’t, for example, lie in bed with a laptop on your legs or sag on the couch while watching television. Find a chair with adequate lumbar support for your back and maintain proper posture while typing. When you’re serious about any type of practice, a comfortable setup will encourage consistency.

What Is the Standard Typing Speed?

The average typing speed is between 40 and 50 words per minute (wpm). Aim for a typing speed of 65 to 70 words per minute if you want to be extremely productive.

How Many Hours Should I Practice Typing Per Day?

Practicing ‘little and often (15-30 minutes per day) is far superior to an hour or more once a week. You should be able to learn to touch type fluently in 2-3 months if you practice regularly and don’t give up. A total of 10 – 15 hours of practice should gradually get you to touch typing.

What Exactly Is Touch Typing?

Touch typing is a method of typing that involves simply feeling the keyboard rather than using the sense of sight.

When Typing, Which Fingers Press Which Keys?

Begin with the first row. Each hand’s fingers should rest on four keys. The pinky finger on the left hand begins on the “A” key, the ring finger on the “S,” the middle finger on the “D,” and the index finger on the “F.”

Conclusion

Improving your typing skills will not only make your life as a student or employee easier, but it will also help you in your future career. It may take some time to see progress, but don’t give up. In no time, you’ll be typing like a pro!