I took some basic typing classes in high school and college, but always was quite slow, and never really went anywhere with it. However, I always kind of liked typing, and enjoyed brushing up my meagre skills when I first got a PC a few years ago. (Lots of email and message boards gave me practice!)
Lately, I’ve had this feeling that I type relatively fast. But when I tell people “I think I type relatively fast”, they don’t seem to believe me. I guess I am not the “typing” type, never having held a job that requires any significant amount of typing, etc. I am completely clueless about it.
A few days ago I downloaded a typing tutorial, and it’s rating me at 40-49 WPM. When the program rates me including the number keys, I’m 40 WPM. (I never use the number keys much.) Without number keys, I’m about 49. My error rate is between 4-6%. I’ve had spurts (of a few lines or sentences) of up to 83 WPM. (This typing program counts 'em all…)
I want to get up to 50+ WPM, with the number keys counted. Maybe I’ll get a job some day where it will come in handy. I just like the idea of being able to type “relatively” fast.
So - what I want to know is - what is the “norm” in touch typing speed? What does this error rate mean? What is an “acceptable” error percentage? And, what is the range of “acceptability” in typing speeds with most businesses? Who knows, I may apply for a new job in the next year or so, and this information might be good to know.
Any especially good typing tutorials I could try? I bought a program called “Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor” (for Macintosh). It’s nice, but perhaps there is something better? Any software or book suggestions would be appreciated!
No idea about the tutorial, but here’s a word of advice from an 80+ wpm typist (me) for you concerning number keys:
[list]Don’t waste your time reaching for the keys from the home row–move the home row, so to speak, by putting your fingers on the number row. Place your left little finger on the “1” key and your right little finger on the “0” key.
I can do 125-135 99% on a good day, so I’m a fairly good typist. I probably have an advantage in never taking those silly typing classes, I just developed my own technique I guess.
As far as error rate, that’s simply the number of characters, or words, you mistype, depending on the program. So if you misspell/mistype 3/100 words, you’d have a 97% accuracy rate.
If it’s of any help, my left hand sits:
Pinky: shift. Ring: A. Enter: E. Index: R. Thumb: behind space bar (not used)
right:
pinky: enter, ring: backspace. middle: O,P,- area. index: J,K,I area. Thumb: right side of space bar.
Dang, I thought I was pretty good at the 65-70 wpm. When I got my MBA about 11 years ago, the only job I could get was as a temp typist. IIRC, in San Fran, the cutoff was 50 wpm with 5 errors over 5 minutes.
as far as an “average” typing speed gpes, most application’s i’ve filled out want to make sure you can type 30 WPM. that was also the rate i had to master (with a 1-2% error) to get an A in a college typing course.
I took a typing test in May of '97, and scored a 35 wpm with 90% accuracy. That month, my friend gave me an AOL free trial disk, and I started my account. Thanks to a raging chatroom addiction and a bunch of message boards, over the next six months I went from 35 to 85 wpm with 99% accuracy. (I learned my numbers from my hugs (( )) and kisses ** )
The best typing practice isn’t a program, it’s doing something you love to do so you’ll practice more. I sure wouldn’t sit down and type with tutor software for 2-3 hours a day, but I’ll spend it chatting with friends and replying on message boards.
80 wpm is great for a job that’s almost all typing, but 50-60 wpm is about right for a job that’s not. 30 wpm as a minimum requirement is just that, a minimum. You’ll do better with a bit more speed, and notice a lot less frustration in your work.
Thanks everyone SO much! You have all been so helpful! I see now that my error rate needs work. A goal of 50 MM is “OK”, but I think I can get faster!
The typing tutor has been useful - all it basically does is lay out text for me to copy, and then rates how many errors and WPM. Usually the program generates “nonsense” sentences, but last night I “imported” my own text (from Psalms!) and typed that. My WPM went up to 60. I guess it really helps to be typing something that makes some modicum of sense!
I hope to get faster and more accurate (that’s the whole point of this thread!). I do notice that my error rate goes down when I SLOW DOWN a bit. I just need to remember to do that. I also have to mention that I am getting used to my new keyboard (no, really!). I’ve been using the old iMac “small” keyboard for a while, which is a bit cramped and wonky. I got a new iMac a week ago, and it has the “full” keyboard, and it’s so WEIRD! It’ll take a while to adjust.
I used to supervise a word processing unit (a dinosaur now), our standard for an entry-level employee was 40wpm with no more than 4 errors.
Advanced levels had a minimum requirement of 60wpm with no more than 6 errors. Our employees were generally more accurate than that though. And I was easy on people who were a little slower if they made up for it with more minutes on the keyboard. Not overtime or anything, just working more and socializing less, which wasn’t always easy, we had a very social office.
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