Typing is an essential skill since most jobs these days require the use of a computer. You should know how to type so that you can do your job faster.
However, increasing typing speed requires a lot of practice as well as technique. Even if you know touch typing, you will have to practice a lot to boost your typing speed.
Ergonomics and good posture are other factors that can influence your typing speed. At the start, these things may not seem very important. However, later on, as you increase typing speed, you will find that everything counts.
You should know about these techniques so that you can save time and effort.
Summary of Typing Tips
- Set your target. Which skills would you like to improve or develop? How fast would you like to type?
- Typing Methods – Do you know touch typing?
- Ergonomics and Posture – Are you maintaining a healthy posture?
- Progress – How you can improve your skills with persistence and patience.
- Courses – You can think of using typing software to chart your progress.
- Training – Practice each day
- Testing – Know your typing speed as well as your strengths and weaknesses.
Basic Tips and Techniques for Typing Faster
If you learn touch typing, then increasing your typing speed will become much easier. Improved coordination between mind and body is essential for increasing typing speed.
You will have to master the bottom, top, and home key rows to master the art of touch typing. Once you learn touch typing, you can start practicing typing faster.
You can use different software to learn touch typing.
Practice
One of the most important tips for increasing typing speed is to practice regularly. You can practice using typing software or a free website. A simple Google search can help you find numerous free resources where you can learn touch typing without paying anything.
You should learn how to type using all 10 fingers and also understand certain good typing habits.
You can learn how to touch type by first mastering the home row. This is where your fingers are resting on the keyboard. You can master the F, D, S, A keys towards the left side of the home row and then master J, K, L towards the right of the home row.
After each keystroke, your fingers should return to the home row. This is the middle row on the keyboard.
You should remember which keys each finger can type.
Do Not Look At The Keyboard
You might feel tempted to look at the keyboard while you are typing. However, this is counterproductive. You can improve the mind and hand coordination by not watching the keyboard as you type.
You will also be able to correct errors more quickly by not looking down.
Setting Goals
What is your goal in the long term? That is, how fast do you want to type?
Daily practice will help you to get there faster. You can reach your desired typing speed more quickly if you devote yourself to daily practice.
To track your progress, you can use typing software or use a free online tool.
Focus on Accuracy
Many people initially focus too much on speed instead of accuracy. They can practice for months without seeing any noticeable improvement. The trick is to relax and to focus on accuracy. Your speed will automatically increase then as you become more accurate. You will also feel more in control.
Paying attention to accuracy is important because if you are making mistakes all the time, it will take you time to correct your errors, which will slow you down considerably.
You will also gradually realize that your typing speed may actually go up a little as you relax to improve accuracy.
Those who are new to typing should first master the home key. Then they should master the top row and, after that, the bottom row. You should not be looking at your hands as you are typing.
Advanced typists should look out for certain kinds of letter combinations that occur commonly and master them. You should also look out for letter combinations that you get wrong and try to get them right. You should practice them till you get them right without having to think about it.
Not only should you practice often, you should also practice correctly. Try to develop good typing habits and get rid of the bad ones. For example, instead of using 4 fingers on both hands, you should use all five fingers to reach your full potential. It may be hard to type initially with the smallest finger, but you can get it right with practice.
Stretching
If you type for long periods, you will notice that your hands and wrists feel stiff. You should get up from your seat and stretch your hands and fingers so that you can relax. Rotate your wrist to loosen them up.
Know Your Keyboard
When typing, you should first keep your fingers on the F and J keys. Initially, you may have to look down to find them, but later on, as you practice on your keyboard, you will be able to find these keys without looking.
It may feel hard at first to type without looking at your hands. But with enough practice, you will eventually be able to do it. A major benefit of not looking down is that you will be able to see typos as soon as they are made.
Also, pay attention to your posture. Make sure that your back is straight while typing.
Bottom Line
It takes a lot of discipline and practice to increase your typing speed. But with the right approach, you can achieve it all.
