Touch typing means typing without looking at the keys, using all ten fingers. It feels slow at first, but it is the habit that makes both speed and accuracy possible later.
Set up your posture
- Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor.
- Keep your elbows near your sides, bent at about a right angle.
- Let your wrists float lightly. Do not rest them hard on the desk.
- Place the screen at eye level.
The home row
Rest your fingers on these keys:
- Left hand: A S D F, with your left index finger on F.
- Right hand: J K L ;, with your right index finger on J.
- Both thumbs on the space bar.
Most keyboards have a small bump on F and J so you can find them without looking.
Which finger takes which key
Each finger covers its own column. The index fingers also reach one extra column inward (G, H, T, Y, B, N and so on). After pressing a key, return the finger to the home row.
A learning order
- Home row only: asdf jkl;
- Add E, I, R, U
- Add T, Y, G, H
- Add the bottom row: C, V, B, N, M
- Add the top row: Q, W, O, P
- Add capitals using the opposite hand’s Shift key
- Add numbers, commas, full stops and symbols
Spend a few days on each stage before moving on.
A ten-minute daily routine
- 3 minutes: drills for the current keys, slow and accurate.
- 4 minutes: real sentences using all learned keys.
- 3 minutes: a short typing test to see your progress.
Rules that help
- Never look down. If you get lost, find the F and J bumps by touch.
- Fix mistakes, but do not stare at them. Keep your eyes on the text.
- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Increase speed only when accuracy stays high.
- Practise a little every day. Ten minutes daily beats one long weekly session.
How long it takes
It varies from person to person. Many people feel comfortable after a few weeks of daily practice. Expect your speed to drop at first because you are replacing old habits.
For how scores are measured, read our guide on WPM and accuracy, and use the word counter to check the length of practice paragraphs.
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