How to type faster

typing touch-typing performance wpm

11,579

Solution 1

Setting yourself up in an ergonomic typing position is a good start. Take a look at the diagram here - notice the arms in a straight line, feet on the floor, etc.

In my experience most people tend to slow down when they get to unusual keys - numbers, symbols, punctuation, etc, so maybe some focused practice on those key combinations? practice typing out long strings of numbers and symbols, maybe try to use some Perl code as your copy-page :)

Solution 2

I'm assuming Steve Yegge's recent post prompted this? The comments contain a number of tools and games for measurement and improvement, both online and off. I'll list them here:

Gnu Typist
TyperA
TypeRacer (Several people named this site)
Typespeed
typeonline.co.uk

Update: I just tried GNU Typist as per Mark Biek's suggestion, and I have to say that it seems like the best of the lot mentioned so far. It looks like there is a Windows version available, although I'm sure there are prettier (and more expensive) apps out there.

Solution 3

One of the things that helped me was something I learned from pianist... when doing a touch typing program, deliberately slow down and speed up your rate of typing from disgustingly slow to really fast in slow waves. This helps train yourself to figure out how to get your fingers to work together faster and reinforces the key locations.

Another one is perhaps a speed reading course might help? Generally your fingers are the last line of slow down in typing.

Solution 4

If you want to practice while having a little fun check out http://typeracer.com

It let's you compete against other people and trust me, there's nothing better to get you typing faster than normal than a little healthy competition.

Solution 5

Practice!

GNU Typist is a great, free, multi-platform program for practicing. They have different sets of exercises for practicing touch-typing as well as general Speed Drills.

View more solutions

11,579

raema

Updated on April 15, 2022

Comments

raema about 2 years

I've typed around 75wpm for the last few years but I've always wondered how people type +100wpm.

I've searched but I primarily find typing tutors that teach you to type.. not teach you to type faster. So far the only tip I've come across is to learn dvorak.

Are there exercises or tips to help break through the 75wpm wall?
- Marc about 15 years
  
  Simply put, keep practicing and benchmark yourself. I type 95 wpm without dvorak and learned typing in High School 17 years ago.
- dzezzz over 8 years
  
  I'd recommend the new touchtyping.guru where the algorithm helps you to learn instead of outdated typing tutors
- jcslzr over 7 years
  
  This site has a free excercise for that: learn-2-type.com
palantus almost 16 years

Heh, Perl code reminds me of symbol practice from Mavis Beacon.
raema almost 16 years

Lots of really great information in the comments. I like the idea of practicing more unusual words, using a blank keyboard, or GNU typist. type racer is fun as well. Thanks!
Scottie T almost 16 years

Chatting back in college is how I really improved my typing speed!
Adrian Clark almost 16 years

Make sure when you chat tho that you don't degrade into "hi im typin a msg" typing. Make yourself type proper words with proper punctuation and capitalisation.
user1288101 almost 16 years

I have never ever encountered proper words or punctuation or even case when programming. [J/K]
Vincent McNabb almost 16 years

I like to use proper words and punctuation while writing my comments. It's also useful when writing an email to the rest of the team/boss/CV etc. It's very important to do that.
Vincent McNabb almost 16 years

Hmm. I've never had that problem, but then I'm an avid smoker and coffee drinker so I'm probably getting enough breaks.
Artelius over 15 years

For me, this method is good for speed but the accuracy is terrible.
user1288101 over 15 years

Takes practice i suppose. Also, sometimes my one hand goes slightly to the left or to the right.. and all of a sudden im typing wonky words. I would not trust my touch typing if i were on a typewriter.
Justin Lawrence about 15 years

Dvorak apparently reduces that pressure since fingers spend less time travelling. Now, if only I could find the 20 mins a day for 40 days needed to switch!
causa prima about 15 years

The problem with Dvorak is that you don't always get to choose your keyboard. I support the code I write--all too often that means using a user's system.
code-ninja almost 15 years

the diagram link is broken. I think it is this: yale.edu/ergo/workstations.html
Michael D almost 14 years

Yep, muscle memory! Start slow and make sure you get fingers going in the right motion. There is nothing worse than making muscles "remember" the wrong movement.
kirk.burleson almost 14 years

He can type 75wpm. He already knows where the keys are.
Justin Lawrence almost 10 years

Sadly, I think this link is now broken.
jcslzr over 8 years

This excercise help me to type faster: learn-2-type.com