Typing, like any other skill, is one that is best improved through practice.
Ways That Practice Will Improve Typing Skills
- You'll learn where the letters are, in relation to each other and to your fingers. Eventually, you should be able to touch-type, meaning that you don't have to look at your hands, and can instead focus on the screen.
- You'll gradually find what works for you. Some people prefer the left shift key for capitalising a letter, and others prefer the right. You might rest one thumb on the spacebar, or the other. Maybe you prefer the number pad to the row of numbers below the F-keys; whatever it is, preference will become habit, and your speed and accuracy will increase.
Top Tips For Improving Typing Speed and Accuracy
- Begin with your index fingers resting on the F and J keys. Most guides will tell you to position your other fingers on the three keys to the outside of these letters, but that doesn't work for everyone, and not everybody needs to use this method.
- Don't worry about doing it 'wrong;' if you're managing to type quickly and accurately without causing RSI (repetitive strain injury) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, then it doesn't matter if your hands look like hunched up spiders.
- However, if you're using the hunt-and-peck method (searching out each letter at a time and prodding it with your fingertip) then you're never going to be fast. It's best to kick this habit and convert to touch-typing, even if it seems difficult at first.
- Use hotkeys. Pressing Ctrl + Z instead of reaching for the mouse and clicking 'Undo' is much faster.
- Aim for accuracy first, then speed - if you're spending half your time correcting the mistakes you've made in your haste, then you're not doing yourself any favours!
