Typing is an indispensable skill for students and professionals. In today’s digital age, almost everything we do revolves around it. For example, we type on our phones to communicate with friends. Likewise, individuals use laptops to create documents or presentations. Whichever category you belong to, mastering typing techniques enhances productivity. Some people type as if they were born with the ability. In contrast, others struggle with the simplest words. But you’d soon discover that expert typists all started from somewhere. Learning how to type saves time and improves communication by eliminating errors. If you still look at the keyboard and type at an unbearably slow speed, use these typing tips to increase your ability.
Becoming a proficient typist requires dedication and practice. But these typing beginner techniques reduce the learning curve. Check them out below:
Many people don’t know that the type of device they use affects their typing experience. The reason is that keyboard designs vary between devices. Laptops, tablets, and smartphones have compact keyboards. In contrast, traditional desktops have spaced-out keys. Mechanical keyboards give audio feedback with each keypress and a tactile bump that enhances typing skills. Touchscreens have shallow key travel or tactile feedback. As a result, writing on a touchscreen is more challenging. External keyboards are more ergonomic, as they allow you to adjust your wrists. Some devices further provide auto-correct or predictive text functions, although they may not always be accurate. We recommend you practice on different devices or keyboards until you adapt to each one and increase your proficiency.
A device’s memory does not directly affect speed. However, indirect factors influence experiences. A device with low memory responds slowly to keystrokes. It feels sluggish and hinders speed. Apart from this, you cannot open many applications at once or risk delays in performance. Furthermore, features like word suggestions need additional memory to function smoothly. A laptop or phone with limited storage space makes the system slow and unresponsive. This is why many people choose MacBook devices since they have more space. Nonetheless, we recommend you use a CleanMyMac Mac cleaner to extend the memory, maximize speed, and delete system junk, unwanted apps, or malware. The tool allows full-scale macOS optimization and allows you to manage extensions with ease.
Good posture is crucial for typing comfortably. Ergonomic workstations reduce errors. Most importantly, they ensure the keyboard is at a comfortable height for the fingers. Use these tips to set up for work:
-Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor.
-Keep your wrist at a natural angle to the keyboard but off it.
-Don’t slouch over the keyboard to avoid repetitive strain injuries and other health problems.
-Ensure your hand is about level with your sides when you type, a little above your middle.
-Focus your eyes on the screen, not on the keyboard or hands.
Touch typing means typing without looking at the keyboard. The technique leverages muscle memory by using the fingers to learn key locations. To be fair, the technique is challenging. However, regular practice will help you remember keyboard letters and type without consciously looking at them.
Start by looking at the keyboard until you learn all the home row keys. Knowing exactly where each letter lets you place your fingers in the right positions without peeping at the keyboard. After this, master the rows above and below the home row. Then, proceed to the number rows, special characters, and uppercase letters.
The best way to learn touch typing is with an instructor. If you cannot afford one, take advantage of popular writing software and learn at your pace. Pay attention to the following:
The home row is the home position for the fingers. Hence, it is the position the fingers will return to after typing. Rest your index fingers on the “F” and “J” keys. Then, place other fingers on the keys to the left of the “F” key for the left hand and the “J” key for the right hand.
*Home row: A S D F J K L ;
Use this chat to learn the hands to type each letter:
*Left pinkie: “q”, “a” and “z” tab, caps lock, shift keys.
*Left ring finger: “w”, “s” and “x”
*Left middle finger: “e” “d” and “c”
*Left index finger: “r”, “f”, “v”, “b”, “g” and “t”
*Keep the thumbs on the space bar all the time.
*Right index finger: “u”, “j”, “n”, “m”, “h” and “y”
*Right middle finger: “i”, “k” and the keys with “,” and “<“
*Right ring finger: “o”, “l” and the keys with “>” and “.”
*Right pinkie: “p”, “;”, “:”, “‘”, “”” (a quotation mark), “/”, “?”, “[“, “{“, “]”, “}”, “\”, “|”, shift, enter, and backspace keys.
Trying to achieve the ultimate speed is pointless if you have to correct mistakes after every sentence. Instead, build accuracy. Slow down and type with ease. When you make mistakes, correct them without looking at the keyboard. Type with rhythm and use well-defined motions.
Finally, the most important instruction is to write daily. Take typing skills tests and practice for at least 10 minutes, repeating the process. Before long, you will get the hang of it. Meanwhile, learn some keyboard shortcuts to save time. They include:
*Save: Command + s
*Copy: Command + c
*Cut: Command + x
*Paste: Command + v
*Undo: Command + z
*Redo: Shift + Command + z
*Highlight the next letter: Shift + left arrow or right arrow
*Highlight the next word: Command + shift + right arrow or left arrow
*Search within the text: Ctrl+f
Typing skills enhance communication. As a result, it is indispensable across various disciplines. Start your journey by choosing an appropriate device with a comfortable screen and keyboard. Likewise, it should have enough memory space. If not, use a cleaner to free up junk space. Practice proper posture to avoid repetitive stress injury, and position your hands well to enable faster typing. Embrace touch typing and use all fingers to reduce the risk of strains. We recommend you start with simple exercises to learn to type faster with rhythm. Most importantly, avoid looking at your hands. Practice regularly and monitor your progress until you are satisfied.
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