Learning to type properly

Effluo

Hi folks,

I was never sure how fast I was at typing and thought I could probably increase it's speed. So I just got a typing teaching program, did a test on it and apparently I type at a net speed of 40wpm (96% accuracy).

The issue I have is that my technique is not the standard touch type method, it's a bit all over the place(well the accuracy is good but my hands are all over the place).
I'm hoping someone could tell me if it would be worth my while relearning how to type, if anyone has ever done it before and if it increased your speed and accuracy beyond 40 wpm net.

Thanks

Cork Skate

Get Mavis Beacon or something, or try the ones online and put a tea towel over your hands to force yourself to look at the screen ... you will find it hard at the start, but if you do it then you'll hard wire it into your brain, and thats what you are after.

dub45

Don't forget there are still plenty of learn to 'type' books still available. These can often have good advice on document layout too.

Luckily enough I went to a class 30 years ago. One of the best things I ever did!
For some reason I always wanted to know how to type - that was unusual for a man all those years ago.

Effluo

Guys I can already touch type, but it's just my technique is not the standard "index fingers on f & j".
I also already have a typing teaching program "Typing Master" (a lot of people think it's the best now). I'm just wondering if anyone was ever in a similar position where they had a fast wpm without the proper technique and if their wpm increased after relearning how to type with the proper technique.

Thanks

freelancerTax

do you look at the keyboard when typing? if not then i dont see what you need to fix

the advantage of conventional touch typing is that you dont need to look at the keyboard when doing it so can look at the screen and spot mistakes...

coylemj

dub45 wrote: »

Luckily enough I went to a class 30 years ago. One of the best things I ever did!
For some reason I always wanted to know how to type - that was unusual for a man all those years ago.

I bet if you had any male classmates they were all Gardai. Not sure what's like since Pulse but back then most sergeants in stations did a lot of typing of files going to/coming from the Supers. office and as the Dept. of Justice would only give electric typewriters to touch typing trained civilian clerical workers, the poor sergeants had to bash out their documents on old Underwoods and Remingtons, hence a lot of them did touch typing courses so that they wouldn't wear out the joints in their index fingers!

Zab

40 wpm is not particularly fast. If you think this is as fast as you're going to get with your current style then it seems likely that you'd eventually be faster with a more standard style. Worth it? Hard to say.

Effluo

Zab wrote: »

40 wpm is not particularly fast. If you think this is as fast as you're going to get with your current style then it seems likely that you'd eventually be faster with a more standard style. Worth it? Hard to say.

I don't think I could get much faster with my current style. Considering the amount of typing I do, I'd say I'm at my peak.

I've been doing a bit of research since starting this thread and although I haven't been able to find anything referenced it seems as though the general consensus is that 60wpm for touch typists with the standard technique is very much achievable.

If I could get an increase even as much as 25% it would be bound to pay off in the long term. Either way I'm rather enjoying the program I'm using "Typingmaster Pro" so I think I'll go along with it.
If I do stick it out and relearn how to type I'll post here again and let everyone know if my speed increased.

Gonzor

Its weird I found this thread. Im in the same boat. Self taught and I have hit my peak around 47wpm. Ideally Id like 55-60 wpm.

My plan is to start from scratch, but also, Im going to purchase a Dvorak keyboard and start from scratch on that.

Its just too easy to fall back into old habbits if I try to relearn on qwerty.