Memorizing a QWERTY keyboard, learning proper finger positioning to type faster and more accurately, and learning to type without looking at the keys are just a few of the best tips for improving typing speed. Not only does learning to type with both hands on the keyboard help develop speed and typing skills, but it also improves keyboarding accuracy. Other ways to improve your typing speed include making learning fun and thus increasing motivation to practice typing drills, as well as taking typing tests on a regular basis to track your progress.
When typing on a computer with a keyboard or a typewriter, there are two main typing techniques. One method is to use one or two fingers to locate letters on the keyboard, which is commonly referred to as “hunt and peck.” A second common method is to place both hands on the keyboard and use eight fingers and one thumb to access the entire keyboard. While either of these methods can be used to improve typing speed, the latter is often thought to be the better option.
A QWERTY keyboard has English letters arranged so that the letters near the top left side spell out QWERTY. The entire row of letters beneath the QWERTY row is known as the home row. The proper hand positioning for learning to improve typing speed and accuracy is to place the index fingers on the F and J of this row, with the remaining fingers resting on the letters next to these. The letters F and J usually have a small bump on them so that they can be found without having to look at the keyboard directly while typing.
Another helpful tip for speeding up typing is to memorize the locations of the remaining letters on the keyboard and practice tapping them with nearfingers. Typing tutors, instructional websites, and books can assist those looking to improve their typing speed teaching them common finger reaches that promote speed and accuracy. Students will need to practice typing letter and numeric keys while looking at the keyboard several times before being able to do so comfortably without looking. It’s also important to take typing tests on a regular basis to track your progress.
For some new learners, repeated practice and the time it takes to improve typing speed can be tedious or frustrating. To avoid this from affecting one’s motivation, games based on various typing drills may be beneficial. Many of these are available for free online, and students may be able to play alone or compete with other players to improve their typing speed.