Most careers these days require computer-based work, and typing skills are essential. So, it’s no surprise folks search for ways to improve their typing speed. For example, professionals must have good typing skills because they often need to type emails, texts, papers, and research documents daily.
Typing accuracy is essential for a typist or transcriptionist, as even a few typos can cause significant problems in a work environment.
As computers are a must-have in modern society, students and young adults learn to use them at an increasingly young age. Interestingly, some school districts have discontinued typing lessons, assuming that students already possess the typing skills necessary to succeed in the modern workplace.
However, without proper training, you may end up using the hunt-and-peck typing style or looking down at the keyboard to select the right keys one by one.
Mobile technology, such as tablets and smartphones, may also cause people to rely on these slow typing strategies.
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- To increase your typing speed and accuracy through proven techniques like posture, finger placement, and consistent practice.
- Free typing tools, such as Keybr and Ratatype, can help you build muscle memory and track your progress. Better typing skills can lead to more productivity, job opportunities, and reduced physical strain.
- How Ditto Transcripts supports fast, accurate typists and why mastering typing is key to transcription success.
What is a Good Typing Speed?
The most efficient method of typing is touch typing. People can type without looking at the screen, using their fingers. A transcriptionist, for example, relies on this method and can type approximately 75 words per minute, which enables them to complete their work much more quickly and reduce mistakes.
A good typing speed is 50 words or more per minute, based on our research.
6 Tips on How to Improve Your Typing Speed
1) Use the correct starting position
It’s essential to position your fingers correctly when typing. To begin, place your fingers on the home row keys: with your left hand on A, S, D, and F, and your right hand on J, K, L, and :, and hover your thumbs over the space bar. If you do this every time as you get started, it will become muscle memory within a few weeks.
Moving your fingers close can allow you to access nearby keys. Always return your hands to the starting position to maintain a consistent typing speed.
2) Don’t look down at your hands
Try to look at your screen instead of your hands when you type. It may be hard at first because you won’t know exactly where all the other keys are. Looking at the screen will help you catch your typos as they happen. It will help you learn the placement of the keys. You will type more quickly than your current typing speed as you practice.
3) Maintain proper posture
Sitting up straight will make it easier for you to type faster and improve your typing skills. Straightening your back or moving to a regular chair from the couch can improve your posture.
4) Find a comfortable position for your hands
You can minimize discomfort caused by repetitive motion injuries by maintaining proper hand posture. The space bar on your keyboard needs to be aligned with your body. It can keep your wrists straight when typing. Rest your elbows on the table as you type, and keep your wrists slightly elevated. Maintain a comfortable angle with your elbows.
If you can maintain a comfortable position, your good speed typing will stay high and slowly increase with more experience.
5) Practice Typing
Don’t expect to get good at typing overnight. To improve your speed and accuracy, you’ll need to practice regularly. Many websites, such as Keybr, Ratatype, and The Typing Cat, offer free practice lessons. These sites are fun and interactive so that you won’t get bored with repetitive exercises.
Do these typing tests and activities at your own pace. If you rush, it will result in making mistakes. Your typing speed and accuracy will improve as you become familiar with the keyboard.
6) Have The Correct Transcription Equipment
Have you ever heard the term “the right tool for the job?” The same goes for typing. Being a fast (and accurate) typist means being able to provide a written record of what was said. And sometimes, that means being at your seat for an extended period of time. To type quickly, you’ll want the right tools for the job. When it comes to transcription, the right tools refer to having the correct transcription equipment.
Transcription equipment includes a newer computer, software, and ergonomic work environment (i.e., chair, desk, keyboard, and mouse). If you want to type faster, “cheaping out”on the tools will work against you.
7 Benefits of mastering your typing skills
Typing remains a fundamental skill and is still one of the essential computer skills you can learn. You’ll help yourself in many ways by learning to type fast and accurately. Anyone who wants to work with computers may consider learning to type.
As a recap, here’s how everything looks:
| Tip # | Tip | Summary |
| 1 | Use the correct starting position | Fingers on home row keys (ASDF & JKL:), thumbs on spacebar, and develop muscle memory. |
| 2 | Don’t look down at your hands | Train your muscle memory and eyes to stay on the screen for better accuracy and speed. |
| 3 | Maintain proper posture | Sit straight with elbows relaxed to prevent fatigue and support consistent typing performance. |
| 4 | Find a comfortable hand position | Keep wrists elevated, elbows on the table, and align the keyboard for ergonomic support. |
| 5 | Practice regularly | Use typing websites like Keybr or Ratatype consistently. Even a small, daily practice is effective. |
| 6 | Use the right transcription equipment | Invest in a quality keyboard, mouse, and desk setup for better efficiency and less strain. |
Mastering typing skills opens new opportunities. This skill is one critical component for a verbatim transcription, ensuring that all words are captured accurately.
Here are some of the benefits you gain from learning to type fast:
1) Improving your typing speed will save you time
Most of us will have to type in our jobs. Whether you work in an office or not, you will probably spend a lot of time using a computer keyboard.
It’s easy to understand why the faster you can type, the more time you’ll save.
By being quick and accurate when typing up a report or sending an email, you can save yourself time and produce quality work.
2) You will be more productive if you can type faster
Typing faster is a simple way to get more work done and help you be more productive in the workplace and at home.
If you can double your typing speed, you’ll get twice as much done in the same amount of time.
Employers should ensure that their employees are trained in touch-typing, as this boosts productivity.
If you’re an employee, you can learn to type faster to impress your boss or give yourself more time for other things.
3) It improves your posture = typing faster means less sitting at your desk
Posture may seem unimportant when it comes to improving your typing speed, but it can help you type faster.
Typing skills are essential for almost any office-based job. Everyone knows that sitting down without taking a break is bad for your posture, so reducing the amount of time you spend in front of the computer makes sense.
If you spend a lot of time typing at your desk, increasing your speed can help improve both the quality and duration of your posture. It will lead to less time spent typing at your desk, which means more time standing up and stretching to avoid hurting your back or neck.
Maintaining proper typing posture will make it easier to touch-type and reduce the risk of neck and wrist pain. You will become more aware of correct posture, and your neck will no longer be strained by looking down at the keyboard while you type.
4) Improving your typing speed will also improve your focus
One of the benefits of learning to type faster is that once you are a fast typist, your fingers will be able to find their way around the keyboard without looking at it.
Looking down to find a key every few seconds can be distracting, so touch typing can help you focus on what you are trying to say.
Learn how to type correctly and focus on your writing, leading you to think more clearly.
5) Better accuracy and typing faster
Learning to touch type is more than learning how to type faster. It is also about becoming a more accurate typist.
Some online tools can help you learn to type faster and also allow you to review your mistakes in real-time.
That means you will spend less time checking for mistakes in your writing and correcting them, saving you more time. It also means there is a lower chance that errors will slip into the document’s final version.
6) Find more job opportunities with better typing skills
One of the significant benefits of touch-typing is that it can help you secure more and better job opportunities. You may find yourself requiring a trial transcription company, an expert at typing, and knowledgeable in typing for the legal field when properly trained.
Writing quickly and accurately can give you a significant advantage when applying for a job. Employers are often impressed by this skill because it shows that you’ll be productive at their company. They might even prefer candidates with these skills over those with higher education levels or more experience.
Include your word-per-minute rate on your resume to impress prospective employers, and more opportunities might come your way.
7) Learn to type faster
Learning to type faster will provide you with all these benefits, a skill every modern worker has.
Although most of us are talking on our phones and computers these days, typing is still likely to remain an important skill many years from now.
Typing is a skill that anyone can learn. With dedication, it doesn’t take long to become proficient at using your keyboard.
What is the average typing speed?
Typing speed varies widely between people and job types. We find most people type at an average rate of 40 words per minute. However, our transcriptionists type upwards of 100 words per minute – accurately! Ditto’s legal typing service offers a high typing speed with a guaranteed accuracy of over 99%. The best part? It is legally admissible, which means it can be used as evidence that can be submitted and recognized in a legal proceeding.
Proper practice and good typing habits can increase your typing speed by 10-15 words per minute (wpm). If you want to become an efficient typist, there are several things you can try. For example, you can try online programs or apps that provide feedback on your typing speed and accuracy to learn proper techniques. You can also join online typing tests where you type in certain words as quickly as possible. Experimenting with different keyboard layouts may also help you find an option that feels more comfortable to use.
5 Free apps to make you a more efficient typist
Improving our typing speed will make us more effective workers in any field, as we spend a significant amount of time typing. We can make our days easier by learning to type more quickly.
Furthermore, you don’t have to enroll in a course to get your typing speed up a notch or two. Plenty of online apps are available for immediate use at your desk. Spending 10 minutes every day practicing your typing will help you get better at it. Here are seven excellent typing trainers that will help you get started.
Keybr: Ideal for anyone looking to improve their typing speed
Keybr provides a brief tutorial and immediately launches into a touch typing test. Onscreen diagrams show you where to place your fingers on the keyboard. The app starts with a small subset of letters before expanding based on the words you’ve already learned.
One of the things we like about Keybr, in particular, is that it offers a variety of exercises and adapts to meet your skill level. The developers say its underlying algorithms match your typing speed. The program works well, and its simple interface makes it easy to use.
Ratatype: Perfect for beginner typists
Ratatype offers a gradual introduction to the keyboard for those who struggle with touch-typing. It shows precisely where your fingers should go on each key and provides tips on how to sit comfortably while typing. You can begin learning by taking the first 15 lessons, each consisting of multiple typing exercises.
Ratatype is designed for students, and this is evident in its colorful interface. Its typing exercises are designed to help you learn the mechanics of typing and accurately hit the right keys. Your profile page allows you to track your progress and complete exercises at your convenience.
The Typing Cat: A charming way to improve your typing speed
The Typing Cat is a web app that boasts visual charm and variety, featuring games and standard exercises to keep you engaged. The keyboard always remains onscreen, so you don’t have to worry about what buttons are where. The tests are fun and intuitive—try the Typing Test first, then proceed to more advanced levels when you’re ready.
Each level contains a series of courses and lessons that will guide you through the learning process without overwhelming you. You can launch in and practice typing. Still, creating an account and completing the fundamental lessons is best before proceeding to the advanced ones.
TypingClub
TypingClub is a straightforward app that teaches you how to type, yet it remains polished enough for professional use. The exercises can get repetitive after a while; nonetheless, they are effective. The site is engaging and flexible; you don’t have to finish a lesson before starting another.
You can try out several exercises for free, yet subscribing to the premium version gives you access to many more. Ads are also removed when you subscribe, and you can store your progress on specific workouts, as well as receive thorough session summaries. The free lessons are a good introduction for beginners, yet more advanced users can opt for the paid option.
Typing.com
Typing.com is an app designed with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use. If you choose to register, you will save your progress and be able to continue working later. An optional one-off payment of at least $8 removes all ads from the site.
We appreciate that the app’s pictures clearly indicate where to place your fingers, and its progress reports are helpful. The finger workouts are also varied: sometimes, letters scroll down from the top of the screen. It is an excellent option if you want to learn how to touch type quickly and start with the basics.
In summary, here is the comparison of the featured applications:
| App | Best For | Key Features |
| Keybr | Improving speed with adaptive exercises | Custom lessons, adaptive difficulty, finger positioning guide |
| Ratatype | Beginners and students | Guided lessons, finger placement, posture tips, colorful and kid-friendly UI |
| The Typing Cat | Fun and engaging typing experience | Typing games, lessons, on-screen keyboard, visually engaging interface |
| TypingClub | Structured and trackable progress | Gamified experience, professional polish, flexible lessons, paid premium option |
| Typing.com | All-around learning + reports | Detailed feedback, varied drills, clean interface, ad-free with one-time fee |
Common mistakes that decrease typing speed
IImproving your typing speed isn’t the be-all-end-all. Accuracy counts! Even the most experienced typists can make errors. Factors such as fatigue, distractions, or working with unfamiliar equipment can impact typing speed.
- Using the incorrect finger placement on a keyboard can lead to mistakes.
- Looking down at the keyboard instead of keeping your eyes on the screen is another common mistake made by some people.
- Additionally, poor posture and improper seating can lead to fatigue, potentially slowing your typing speed.
Begin by placing your fingers on the correct keys to avoid these mistakes and increase your typing speed. Ensure that your focus remains on the computer screen.
To improve your typing speed and accuracy, sit up straight with both feet flat on the floor.
Put your typing skills to good use!
Typing fast and accurately is essential for many jobs. Nevertheless, it can be hard to get started.
If you’re looking to become a transcriptionist, it’s a perfect opportunity if you’re a fast typer.
We consistently seek skilled, committed, and experienced transcriptionists at Ditto Transcripts.
Additionally, we hire the best talent in the business, so if you’re interested in joining our team, please apply today! We love ambitious individuals, take pride in their work, and deliver high-quality services every day.
Why Ditto Transcripts? Because we are the best at what we do.
With Ditto, you are choosing to be a part of something bigger, providing our customers with exemplary, top-notch, and the highest quality of service. The best part? Our legal transcription pricing is very competitive. Ditto genuinely wants to help people with their transcription needs without breaking their bank.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based transcription company that provides fast, accurate and affordable transcription services for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote.