How To Improve Your Typing Skills

The ability to type quickly and accurately remains a crucial skill in the modern workplace. Typing is a daily activity for most of us, whether we are drafting reports at work or school, or simply messaging friends and family.

Over the course of your career, you will likely type millions, if not billions, of words. Consider the significant amount of time you could save by investing effort into enhancing your typing skills.

In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies to improve your typing speed and accuracy. We will also provide a range of exercises, from basic to advanced, ensuring you find an appropriate match for your skill level.

Key Takeaways:

• To enhance your typing accuracy, slow down and develop muscle memory for key locations.

• Your sitting posture can significantly affect your typing performance, so adopt the correct ergonomic position.

• To boost your typing speed, practice typing medium to long passages of text and vary the material to improve adaptability.

Improving Your Typing Speed and Accuracy

Here are effective methods and tips for enhancing your:

1. Typing accuracy. To improve typing speed and accuracy, focus on one skill at a time.

   When working on accuracy, remember to:

   • Slow down. Take your time to build muscle memory and develop positive habits.

     Be mindful during practice to quickly identify and correct mistakes. Rushing can lead to compounding errors that become ingrained habits.

   • Keep your eyes off the keys. Many find it challenging to type without looking at their hands.

     Aim to develop the muscle memory needed for touch-typing, where your fingers can move accurately without conscious thought. Relying on visual cues can hinder real progress.

2. Typing speed. Increasing your typing speed is generally more straightforward than enhancing accuracy.

   Focus on the volume of practice rather than being overly deliberate.

   To increase speed, try to:

   • Practice by copying diverse text passages. A solid way to improve speed is to quickly replicate medium to large blocks of text.

     Ensure you alternate between different texts to avoid relying on memory instead of developing the ability to transcribe visually.

   • Scan ahead. Look a word or two ahead while typing to prepare your fingers for the next key.

Tips for Enhancing Your Typing Skills

Here are some general strategies to improve both the speed and accuracy of your typing:

1. Limit finger movements. Restrict your finger movements to only what’s necessary to hit the correct keys. This boosts speed and protects hand health over time.

   Minimize movement by starting and resuming from the home row, with your fingers resting on “ASDF” and “JKL;”.

2. Assign keyboard halves to each hand. Avoid crisscrossing your hands unnecessarily while typing.

   Assign your left hand to the left side of the keyboard and your right hand to the right.

3. Take regular breaks. If you find yourself making numerous mistakes or becoming distracted, it’s okay to step away for a moment.

4. Mind your posture. Proper sitting posture is essential not only for your health but also for your typing efficiency.

   Many people adopt positions that strain their arms or tendons, leading to awkward, unconscious movements that develop into bad habits.

   When seated, ensure that you:

   • Keep your back straight.

   • Maintain a 90-degree angle at your elbows.

   • Adjust your chair and desk height so your wrists are level with the surface.

   • Ensure your screen is at eye level.

   • Stay 30-70 centimeters away from the computer screen.

   If you work remotely or in an office, consider investing in ergonomic chairs and equipment to optimize your workstation.

5. Visualize key positions. Once you instinctively know where each key is, you can type efficiently without looking down.

6. Utilize your thumb for the space bar.

7. Employ your ring or pinky finger for the shift key.

8. Establish a rhythm. Strive for a consistent rhythm while typing, with equal intervals between key presses. This will help reduce typos and improve consistency.

9. Practice these tips daily. Regardless of how many typing exercises you complete at home, it won’t compare to the volume of typing you do at work or school.

   To maintain your new habits, consistently apply them in all typing scenarios.

10. Assess your keyboard’s condition. Inefficient typing habits may stem from a malfunctioning keyboard, which can slow you down or require extra pressure on keys.

    You don’t need a high-end keyboard; just ensure your keyboard is functional.

    The time and money saved by typing efficiently over time will outweigh the cost of a replacement.

Beginner Exercises for Typing Accuracy

Here are some simple exercises to kickstart your journey toward improved typing accuracy:

• The Practice Test Misspelled Words Drill. This exercise focuses on a list of commonly mistyped words that you must replicate accurately.

  It’s effective because it emphasizes typing precision over speed, allowing you to concentrate on the words themselves rather than relying on contextual clues.

  Remember to take your time, fostering correct habits rather than rushing through the test.

• Typing.com Accuracy Drills. This tool provides full sentences for transcription, rather than just isolated words.

  The platform highlights each letter as you type, helping you maintain a steady rhythm.

  It also features a digital keyboard that shows the next key to press, which can assist in breaking the habit of looking at your hands during typing.

  Focus on accuracy, as the grading is based on precision rather than speed; remaining mindful is crucial.

Beginner Tests for Typing Speed

Try these beginner tests to enhance your typing speed:

• Typing Test Customizable Speed Test. This test allows you to adjust the length and difficulty of the text, making it suitable for any skill level.

  It calculates your words per minute (WPM), providing a quick way to track your improvement.

• KeyHero Free Typing Speed Test. This test measures both speed and accuracy simultaneously.

  It keeps a history of your attempts, letting you benchmark your progress.

Advanced Exercises for Typing Skills

For those who are already proficient and want to further enhance their skills, consider these advanced exercises:

• TypingAcademy Typing Tutor. This free resource offers customizable tools to elevate your typing skills.

  It features a digital keyboard that highlights typos, allowing for quick corrections.

  Additionally, it provides detailed statistics that track your speed and accuracy over time, identifying common errors.

  With over 50 lessons, you can focus on specific skills that need improvement.

• TopTyper Text Generator Test. This tool lets you input any URL to generate text for typing practice.

  After completing the exercise, you’ll receive feedback on your accuracy and speed.

Conclusion

Improving your typing skills is a valuable investment that can enhance your productivity and efficiency in today’s tech-driven work environment. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your existing skills, the techniques outlined in this article will guide you on your journey to becoming a more proficient typist. Regular practice, attention to posture, and utilizing the right resources will not only save you time but also prevent future strain or injury. Start your typing journey today and experience the benefits of enhanced skills in your professional and personal life.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.