Typing used to be just for office jobs. Now, it’s needed for almost every job. Computers are a big part of our lives, and using them well matters for your career.
Many people can type, but how about typing faster? A good typing speed can help you stand out and might be needed for moving up in your job.
Academy of Learning Career College typing courses can help increase your typing speed so you can do well in any career. Want full training in other skills to start a new career? You might want to become an accountant or check out our many quality career training options. Here’s how you can learn to type faster:
Learn How to Type Faster
If you type slowly and want to get better, there are many ways to learn how to type faster. With some time and practice, anyone can improve their typing speed.
The goal is to make typing easier. This includes making it simpler for your fingers to move on the keyboard and reducing body stress after typing for a long time. Here are some ways to improve your typing speed:
1. Know your keyboard
Getting to know your keyboard is key if you want to type faster. Looking back and forth between the screen and keyboard slows you down. If you can look at the keyboard less or not at all, you’ll type faster.
This is where touch typing helps. This method helps you remember the keys so your fingers find the right letter without looking at the keyboard. Good typists know their keyboard so well they can look away from the screen while typing and still get it right.
2. Use proper posture
Using proper posture is another key tip for faster typing. This reduces body stress and prevents getting tired, both of which slow down typing. Good typing posture means sitting with your back straight and supported by your chair. Bend your elbows and rest them on the desk. Keep both feet flat on the floor.
When putting your hands on the keyboard, your wrists should arch over it. This is the best position for your fingers to move quickly over the keys.
Put your left index finger on the F key and your right index finger on the J key. Most keyboards have a raised line on these keys so your fingers can find them without looking. Your other fingers should rest on the other keys in the middle row, often called the home row.
3. Stay alert
Your posture matters for both comfort and typing well. Make sure you’re not slouching and that your posture stays good all day. Bad posture can slow down your typing. Take breaks and move around. If you can, do stretches or exercises during your breaks. This keeps your body and mind relaxed and ready to work.
4. Practice
Like most skills, typing gets better with practice and time. Don’t worry if you start slow. Remember that you’re working on both speed and accuracy. Over time, your typing will get faster. One of the best ways to practice is to take a course like Introduction to Keyboarding. This class is for people without formal keyboard training, but it can also help anyone improve their typing skills.
How to Type Properly
Many things affect how to type properly, from having the right keyboard to your posture and typing method. One study found that the fastest typists often press the next key before letting go of the previous one. This is called rollover typing. The study included people from over 200 countries who took an online typing test.
Before learning to type correctly, you need to know what method you use now and which one is best for getting faster.
Typing styles
People use different typing styles, which affect how fast they can type:
Touch-typing
Touch-typing is the most common style. It’s the professional method that allows faster typing. It trains your brain to remember keyboard keys so you can type without looking at the screen or your hands. Touch typists use all fingers to type, which makes typing faster.
Online touch typing courses for beginners are a great way to start learning this skill properly.
Hunt and peck
The hunt and peck method doesn’t require remembering the keyboard or using all fingers. Instead, the typist looks for one letter at a time. Then they press each button using one or two fingers. The hunt and peck style won’t help you type faster.
Buffering
Another approach is remembering text and then typing while watching the keyboard. This is called buffering. While it reduces how often you need to look at the screen, it’s not as quick or efficient as touch-typing.
What is a Good Typing Speed?
Typing speed is measured by how many words per minute (WPM) a typist can produce. This lets typists compare their speed no matter what language they write in.
The average typist has a speed of 40 WPM. However, they also make about eight mistakes for every 100 words.
If you can boost your speed to 65 WPM or higher, you’ll work more efficiently. Many jobs have specific typing speed requirements by profession – for example, data entry jobs often need at least 60 WPM.
Our AOLCC Keyboard Skill Building course is perfect for those familiar with keyboarding who want to improve speed. The class focuses on improving your key recognition to boost your speed and accuracy. Many students go on to earn a WPM typing certification, which can help with job applications.
Professional typing skills for remote work have become more important than ever. With many jobs now done from home, being able to type quickly and correctly is a valuable skill that employers look for.
Speedy Keys – The Fastest Typist in Canada
We’re on the lookout for the fastest typist in Canada. Could it be you?
Test your speed today – and then again and again as you improve. You can even invite your friends, family, and coworkers to participate and see who has the speediest keys!