Common Typing Mistakes & How to Fix Them for a Higher WPM

Published on •by The TypeFast Team

So you're regularly practicing with a typing test wpm tool, but your Words Per Minute (WPM) score isn't improving as much as you'd like. Often, the culprit isn't a lack of practice, but persistent, unconscious typing mistakes that sabotage both your speed and accuracy.

Identifying these common keyboarding errors and actively working to correct them can lead to significant breakthroughs in your typing proficiency. Let's dive into some frequent offenders and how to fix them.

1. Looking at the Keyboard (The "Hunt and Peck" Habit)

This is perhaps the most significant barrier to fast typing.

  • The Mistake: Constantly looking down at your fingers and then back up at the screen.
  • Why it's Bad: It breaks your rhythm, slows you down dramatically, and increases the likelihood of errors when you look away from the source text.
  • The Fix: Commit to touch typing. Force yourself to keep your eyes on the screen. It will feel slow and awkward at first, and your error rate might temporarily increase, but this is the fundamental skill for speed. Use home row markers (the little bumps on F and J keys) to orient your fingers without looking.

2. Incorrect Finger Placement & Reach

Using the wrong fingers for certain keys is inefficient.

  • The Mistake: Stretching one finger to hit multiple keys that should be covered by different fingers, or not returning fingers to the home row.
  • Why it's Bad: Leads to awkward movements, slower keystrokes, and fatigue.
  • The Fix: Learn and practice standard finger placement for each key. There are many online charts and tutorials. Consciously make sure each finger is doing its designated job and returns to its home row position (ASDF JKL;).

3. Prioritizing Speed Over Accuracy Too Soon

Many learners try to type fast before they've mastered accuracy.

  • The Mistake: Rushing through text, leading to numerous typos.
  • Why it's Bad: Correcting errors takes more time than typing correctly at a slightly slower pace. It also reinforces bad muscle memory.
  • The Fix: Slow down! Focus on hitting each key accurately. As your accuracy improves and your muscle memory solidifies, speed will naturally follow. Aim for 95%+ accuracy in your typing practice sessions.

4. Poor Posture and Ergonomics

Your physical setup can surprisingly impact your typing.

  • The Mistake: Slouching, wrists bent at awkward angles, chair too high or too low.
  • Why it's Bad: Leads to discomfort, fatigue, reduced efficiency, and can even contribute to repetitive strain injuries.
  • The Fix: Sit up straight, feet flat on the floor, elbows at a 90-degree angle, and wrists straight and neutral (not resting on the desk edge or keyboard). Ensure your monitor is at eye level.

5. Inconsistent Rhythm and Pacing

Typing in short, jerky bursts instead of a smooth, consistent flow.

  • The Mistake: Speeding up on familiar words and then slowing down significantly for difficult ones or punctuation.
  • Why it's Bad: An uneven pace is less efficient than a steady, rhythmic one.
  • The Fix: Try to maintain a more even cadence. Practice typing to a metronome or music with a steady beat. Focus on consistent keystroke intervals.

6. Not Using Shift Keys Correctly

Using one hand for both the Shift key and the letter key.

  • The Mistake: For example, using your left pinky for Shift and then also your left hand for the letter 'A'.
  • Why it's Bad: It's an awkward and slow movement.
  • The Fix: Use the opposite hand for the Shift key. If you're capitalizing a letter typed with your left hand, use the right Shift key, and vice-versa.

Breaking Bad Habits Takes Time

Correcting long-standing typing mistakes requires conscious effort and patience.

  1. Be Aware: The first step is identifying which of these mistakes you're making.
  2. Practice Deliberately: Focus on one or two mistakes at a time during your practice sessions.
  3. Be Patient: It takes time to overwrite old habits with new, more efficient ones.

Regularly testing yourself on TypeFast.in can help you see the impact of these corrections on your typing test wpm and accuracy scores. Keep at it, and you'll see improvement!

➡️ Ready to identify your habits? Take a Typing Test at TypeFast.in and analyze your performance!

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