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!How to Improve Typing Speed
Three Methods:Mastering the Typing BasicsImproving Your SpeedImproving Your Posture and PositioningCommunity Q&A
Typing is a skill that is used in many career paths, so improving your speed might be a necessity if you want to be more proficient in your job. Increasing your typing speed is something that you can do on your own or with proper training, but whatever you decide, you must be committed to practicing every day if you want to improve your typing skills.
1
Find a keyboard that you're comfortable with. Keyboards come in different shapes, including ergonomic models that may be feel more comfortable while you’re typing. If you aren’t typing effectively with your current keyboard, you may want to test some ergonomic keyboards to find one that offers more comfort while you’re working.[1]
- Keep the size of the keys in mind. The larger they are, the easier it will be to type. That means you may want to look for a keyboard where the keys that you use most often, such as the letters and numbers, are larger than other keys.[2]
- A keyboard with concave keys that fit the shape of your fingers is a good option if you're looking to eliminate errors in your typing as you try to increase your speed.
- It's best to choose a keyboard with keys that have strong tactile feedback, which means they offer enough resistance to alert you that the stroke has registered. The resistance also keeps you from accidentally hitting keys as you're typing, so you can type more quickly.
2
Familiarize yourself with the keyboard. While most keyboards have a fairly standard set-up, some may have different features or different layouts. Make sure to read the instructions or manual that comes with your keyboard so you know what all of the keys do and what shortcuts may be useful to you. Once you understand what all of the keys do, try to create a visual layout of the keyboard in your mind that you can call upon when you’re typing.[3]
- Many keyboards are equipped with time-saving keys that provide shortcuts for common commands or keystrokes. Be sure to read up on your keyboard's shortcuts to help increase your speed.
3
Arrange your fingers properly. The most important step to improving your typing speed is ensuring that you place your fingers correctly on the keyboard. Rest the index finger of your left hand on the “F” key and the index finger of your right hand on the “J” key. These two keys usually have slight bumps on their surface, so you can feel for them without actually looking at the keyboard. The other three fingers on your left hand should rest on the “A,” “S,” and “D” keys, while the the other three fingers on your right hand should rest on the “K,” “L,” and “;” keys. Place your thumbs on the space bar.[4]
- The row with the “A,” “S,” “D,” “F,” “J,” “K,” “L,” and “;” keys is known as the home run because it’s the row that your fingers always start at and return to while you’re typing.
- When you arrange your fingers on the keyboard, curve them slightly, but keep your hands relaxed.
- Make sure that your keyboard is centered directly in front of your body.
4
Use the proper fingers to strike the other keys. When you’re typing, you will hit all of the keys on your keyboard from the home position. That means certain fingers are designated to strike certain keys for the most efficient typing. In most cases, you’ll use the same fingers from the home row to hit the keys that line up in the rows above and below.[5]
- Strike the “1,” “2,” “Q,” and “Z” keys, in addition to the “A” key, with your left pinky.
- Strike the “3,” “W”, and “X” keys, in addition to the “S” key, with your left ring finger.
- Strike the “4,” “E”, and “C” keys, in addition to the “D” key, with your left middle finger.
- Strike the “5,” “6,” “R,” “T,” “G,” “V,” and “B” keys, in addition to the “F” key, with your left index finger.
- Strike the “7,” “Y,” “U,” “H,” “N,” and “M” keys, in addition to the “J” key, with your right index finger.
- Strike the “8,” “I,” and “,” keys, in addition to the “J,” with your right middle finger.
- Strike the “9,” “O,” and “.” keys, in addition to the “L” key, with your right ring finger.
- Strike the “0,” “-,” “=,” “P,” “[,” “],” “‘,” and “/” keys, in addition to the “;” key, with your right pinky.
- Hit the “Shift” key with the pinky on the opposite hand from the finger that you’re using to strike the other key.
- Hit the spacebar with whichever thumb feels most comfortable to you.
5
Practice regularly. As with most skills, the only way to truly improve your typing speed is to practice on a regular basis. The more that you type, the more comfortable you’ll become with the layout of the keyboard and the proper positioning of your fingers. You'll also develop muscle memory when you're typing common letter combinations, so your typing will become faster and more accurate.[6]
- One of the best ways to practice is to repeatedly type sample passages over and over again. You can find plenty of passages online that are geared toward improving your typing accuracy and speed.
- When you're practicing, focus on accuracy first. Make sure that you're typing each word correctly and achieving proper spacing and punctuation. Once you feel like your typing has become accurate, you can work on improving your speed.
- Practice doesn’t just mean taking online typing tests. Writing emails to friends and family and posting on online forums can help sharpen your typing skills and increase your speed.
6
Take regular breaks. While practicing is key to improving your typing speed, make sure to take breaks as needed. If you push yourself too hard, you run the risk of wearing yourself out, or even worse, suffering an injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. When you start to feel any discomfort in your hands or wrists, stop typing for a little while to give yourself time to rest.[7]
- To keep yourself from working too hard, set up a practice schedule by designating a certain amount of time each day to practice your typing. However, build breaks into your schedule to keep yourself fresh. For example, you might decide to type for 30 minutes each day, taking breaks every ten minutes or so.
