Typing

Touch-Typing

The basic principles of touch-typing, where you use all ten fingers to operate the keyboard and use your computer more efficiently

Getting Started
To learn Touch Typing, you start with a "home position", to which your fingers will always return after typing any key. The color-coded chart shows which keys are associated with each finger – notice how the Index and Little fingers have more keys to operate.

The "QWERTY" Keyboard Layout
The standard keyboard layout was designed to keep the keys from jamming on early manual typewriters. By assigning the most commonly used letters of the alphabet to different fingers, the chance of jamming was reduced.

Trivia Question: What are the most common letters used in the English language? Answer at bottom of page.

Left Hand Home Position
Put your left index finger on the F key. The other fingers fall naturally onto the D, S, and A keys.

Right Hand Home Position
Put your right index finger on the J key. The other fingers fall naturally onto the K, L, and semicolon keys.

Reminder Bumps
On many keyboards, the F and J keys have a small raised bump to remind you when your index fingers are on the right keys. Look to see if these are available on your keyboard.

Don't Look!
A basic principle of touch-typing is that you never look at your fingers when you are typing. This takes practice; so don't get discouraged if you have trouble at first.

Typing Drill
Open your word-processor program and type the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog". It contains every letter in the alphabet and is a great way to become familiar with the keyboard. Once you can type it comfortably, try these additional exercises:

• Type it without looking at your hands
• Type it with a capital letter at the start of each word
• Type it in all capital letters, but without using the "Caps Lock" key
• How many times can you type it correctly in one minute?

Trivia Answer: E-T-A-O-I-N-S-H-R-D-L-U – in decreasing order of frequency.

Typing Resources

Websites
These tutorials are not complete learning programs, but will help you get started

Typing Pal
Beginners should start here! The program slowly walks you through the basics; It teaches the keys just two at a time, with lots of opportunity for practice; A downloadable version is available

Mr. Kent
This site permits typists of all levels practice their typing speed

Software
If you really want to learn to touch-type, purchase one of these typing tutorial programs

Buyer Beware! Computer stores sometimes have a display of inexpensive software, which may include typing tutorials. Sometimes, after you install the program, it turns out to be only a demo copy, forcing you to pay an additional fee to download the "real thing".

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
This program is a best-selling typing tutorial; It is designed to help both beginners and advanced typists who wish to improve their skills; To find it, type "Mavis" into the website's search window

All The Right Type
Some keyboard skills teachers prefer this Canadian program, and describe it as being "more to the point" and "less intrusive" than Mavis Beacon; It is available from the manufacturer; The website provides a guided tour of the program's features, and a copy of the User Manual (in PDF format) for you to review before you buy.

Hands-on Classes
A class with a live instructor is another good way to learn to type; Check with local adult education providers or computer shops to discover where keyboarding or typing courses are available in your community