How to Type
Edited by BrettCapewell, Ben Rubenstein, Dave Crosby, Isabella and 106 others
Do you look at the keyboard and type each letter at unbearably slow speeds? Impress your friends and family by learning how to type faster! The following steps will increase your ability to touch type but also teach you tricks that will get your typing speed up. If you follow all the steps in this article over time, you will be able to successfully type and correct errors while looking at the screen rather than the keyboard.
EditSteps
Typing Exercises
Preparing to Type
- 1Decide on what kind of keyboard you want to use. Most of the time, you'll come across a traditional QWERTY keyboard, but there's also the option of switching to a Dvorak keyboard. The standard QWERTY keyboard layout was designed to prevent typewriter jams (which is no longer necessary with computers), whereas the Dvorak layout was designed specifically to be easy on the hands. However, if you share your computer with others or if you frequently switch computers, the changed layout will be confusing. The remainder of the steps will focus on the QWERTY layout; more information on typing on Dvorak keyboard can be found here.
- 2Get in position. How you sit can affect your typing efficiency. A bad position can result in more errors and slower typing.
- Make sure that your keyboard is at a comfortable height for your fingers. Your hands should be about level with your sides while you type; maybe a little above.
- Sit up straight.
- Put your feet flat on the ground.
- Set up an ergonomically correct workstation.
- Make sure that your keyboard is at a comfortable height for your fingers. Your hands should be about level with your sides while you type; maybe a little above.
Learning to Type
- 1Put your fingers in the home position. Place your right index finger on the "J" key and let the other three fingers fall naturally onto the "K", "L" and ";" keys. Place your left index finger on the "F" key and let the other 3 finger fall naturally onto the "D", "S", and "A" keys.
- 2Type each key from left to right: a s d f j k l ;. You shouldn't have to move your fingers from their positions, just press the keys that they are resting on.
- 3Repeat, but this time capitalize: A S D F J K L :. Use the shift key. Push it by moving only your pinkie and pressing and holding it while pushing the desired letter with your otherhand. Namely: When the letter you would like capitalized is typed with your left hand, you press the right shift key with your right pinkie. When the letter you would like capitalized is typed with your right hand, you press the left shift key with your left pinkie.
- 4Become familiar with the rest of the alphabet. Learn where each letter is positioned on the keyboard and match the correct finger to the key as positioned.
- "q" "a" and "z" are typed with the pinkie of your left hand, and your pinkie also presses the tab, caps lock, and shift button.
- "w" "s" and "x" are typed with the ring finger of your left hand.
- "e" "d" and "c" are typed with the middle finger of your left hand.
- "r" "f" "v" "b" "g" and "t" are typed with the index finger of your left hand.
- Your thumb should never leave the space bar.
- "u" "j" "n" "m" "h" and "y" are typed with your index finger of your right hand.
- "i" "k" and the button that has a "," and a "<" on it are typed with the middle finger of your right hand.
- "o" "l" and the button that reads ">" and "." will be typed with your ring finger of the right hand.
- Your pinkie of your right hand is used for typing: "p", ";", ":", "'", """ (a quotation mark), "/", "?", "[", "{", "]", "}", "\", "|", and is used for pressing the shift, enter, and backspace keys.
- "q" "a" and "z" are typed with the pinkie of your left hand, and your pinkie also presses the tab, caps lock, and shift button.
Practicing Your Typing Skills
- 1Get into home position. Type, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog". This sentence contains every letter in the alphabet.
- At first, watch your fingers to make sure they go to the right keys and return to home position.
- Start off slowly, then speed up gradually.
- Start looking away from the keyboard and look only at your monitor to make sure you're typing the sentence correctly. Correct any mistakes you make, eventually without looking.
- If you have a hard time not glancing at the keyboard, buy a typing cover or simply cover the keyboard with a white, clean, and bendable sheet.
- At first, watch your fingers to make sure they go to the right keys and return to home position.
- 2Take care with a few things while typing. Typing is supposed to be easy and pleasant, not a thumping race! Here are some things to bear in mind as you teach yourself to type properly:
- Type with quick and defined motions. Don't smash the keyboard, that is, don't just hit keys without aiming first, which usually results in pressing multiple keys.
- Avoid thumping your fingers down each time. Your fingers and hands will soon grow weary and it'll feel like a chore instead of a tool.
- To increase your speed and accuracy, keep your wrists elevated. This can be helped by using a wrist support if you can't remember to do it self-supported. There are a range of supports available, such as a cushion or foam bar, or you can improvise by placing a book that raises your wrist to a height this is almost equal with the height of the keyboard. You'll move faster and have fewer errors.
- Type with quick and defined motions. Don't smash the keyboard, that is, don't just hit keys without aiming first, which usually results in pressing multiple keys.
- 3Continue practicing. There are many programs available to teach you typing in quick spurts here and there. Some are free, some cost money; do an online search for one that suits you. The best way to learn is by practicing, so even if you're still hunting and pecking for keys at the moment, take at least 10 minutes out of each day at the keyboard to devote purely to typing practice. It won't take long to improve your typing and once you've got the hang of it, you'll never return to the old way!
- Eventually begin to practice numbers and symbols, such as phone numbers and addresses and the use of the various symbols. The more complicated the keystrokes, the more advanced your typing becomes.
- Eventually begin to practice numbers and symbols, such as phone numbers and addresses and the use of the various symbols. The more complicated the keystrokes, the more advanced your typing becomes.
More Easy Practice
Here are some traditional typing lines that help you to master the art of typing. Repeat each line numerous times, then go to the next one to "memorize" the keys:
- Pack my box with five dozen liquid diet cans or jugs.
- Crazy Fredericka bought many very exquisite opal jewels.
- Sixty zippers were quickly picked from the woven jute bag.
- Amazingly few discotheques provide jukeboxes.
- Heavy boxes perform quick waltzes and jigs.
- Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz.
- The five boxing wizards jump quickly.
- How quickly daft jumping zebras vex.
- Quick zephyrs blow, vexing daft Jim.
- Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
- Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex Bud.
- Blowzy night-frumps vex'd Jack Q.
- Glum Schwartzkopf vex'd by NJ IQ.
