How Touch Typing Skyrockets Your WPM and Makes You A Better Transcriptionist

Industry Talk
Written By Brianna Sarovski

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The goal of every transcriptionist, whether you type full transcripts manually or edit AI-generated ones, should be to achieve high levels of efficiency and accuracy. In a digital era where computer proficiency skills are indispensable, you must master your ability to swiftly convert spoken words into written text. We believe that this hinges on your ability to touch type. If you’re looking to enhance your typing prowess, we’ll talk about touch typing: a technique that will amplify your speed and refine your precision.

What is Touch Typing?

Touch typing is a method of typing where you use all ten, or a specific group, of fingers to type without looking at the keyboard. Instead of relying on sight, touch typists control the keyboard by feeling the keys through muscle memory. Each finger is assigned to a specific set of keys, which optimises efficiency and minimises errors.

Can Anyone Learn to Touch Type?

100 percent! Like any skill, touch typing is learned and honed through practice and dedication. Some individuals, like those who utilise hybrid or home row techniques (more on this later), may pick it up faster than others. However, there will be an adjustment period of needing to unlearn old keystrokes and build new muscle memory. With consistent effort, however, anyone can become a proficient touch typist. 

Continue reading to learn this typing technique!

The 5 Rules of Touch Typing

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  1. Maintain posture

    You can either sit up straight with your feet flat on the ground or sit in a slightly reclined position that’s properly supported by the chair. Keep your wrists hovered above the keyboard and rest your fingers on the keys. Avoid slouching to prevent strain on your back and shoulders.

  2. Finger placement and pressure

    Assign each finger to specific keys on the keyboard. The index fingers rest on the "F" and "J" keys, serving as anchors for the rest of the fingers. Use a light touch when pressing the keys to increase speed and reduce strain.

  3. Eyes on the screen

    Resist the temptation to look down at the keyboard. Keep your gaze fixed on the screen to anticipate upcoming words and sentences. It’s okay if you need to look at the keys for challenging words, just don’t make a habit of it.

  4. Practice consistently for accuracy, not speed

    Muscle memory only builds through regular practice sessions, whether they’re short or long. As you practice, you’ll notice a rhythm in the way you type and how it changes as you stumble over challenging words. If you’re transcriptions involve difficult medical, legal, or technical jargon, it’s okay to slow down so you can focus on typing accurately. As you become familiar with typing those terms, your rhythm will stabilise and your level of concentration will reduce. As a result, your speed will increase significantly.

  5. Take breaks

    In our newsletter, we discussed how transcriptionists are one of the most likely professionals to develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and other repetitive strain injuries. It’s important to take breaks, ideally after every 15 minutes of continuous typing, to let your wrists, fingers, and eyes rest. Walk around the room or office, do some stretches, and look at some far-away objects to engage your long-distance vision. 

And with anything, stay patient and persistent. Learning touch typing takes time; embrace your mistakes as learning opportunities and push through challenges.

Pros and Cons of Touch Typing

This chart compares the average speeds reached by touch typists versus hunt and peck typists.

The most obvious way touch typing can benefit you is by significantly increasing your words-per-minute (WPM) typing speed. While hunt and peck typists typically reach an average of 60 WPM, touch typists can reach at least 100 WPM. In fact, some of our clients’ in-house transcriptionists can reach an amazing 120+ WPM! No, we’re not exaggerating. Yes, we tested it.

That said, while there are a couple of drawbacks to learning this typing technique, there are so many other great benefits to be had.

Pros:

Brain Benefits

Touch typing stimulates your cognitive functions by utilising your memory circuits, physical coordination, problem solving skills, mental flexibility, concentration, organisation abilities, and more.

Time and Accuracy Efficiency

Touch typing minimises errors and improves the overall quality of transcribed content. In fact, most experienced typists can feel or sense when they’ve mistyped and can hit the Backspace key to correct it without increasing their keystroke time. This reduces turnaround time and increases your productivity and the amount of work you can accomplish – meaning better job performance. Did someone say “raise”?

Healthier Typing

Proper finger positioning and posture reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries like CTS and fatigue.

Language Comprehension

Accurate typing without looking at the keys requires an intimate understanding of language spelling and grammar, particularly in industries that use specific terminology. As a result, you’ll improve your language and mental spelling skills.

Cons:

Learning Curve

Mastering touch typing requires dedication and consistent practice, which can feel challenging at first.

Initial Slowdown

While learning, you may experience a temporary decrease in typing speed as you adjust to the new technique. This is expected if you’re already used to a different typing technique.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Touch Typing?

The time it takes to master this typing method varies depending on your existing skills and how frequently you practice. On average, it’s much better to commit to diligent practice for 10 to 15 minutes a day instead of an hour a week. Short but frequent practice sessions can lead to noticeable improvements in a few weeks. Practicing this way can lead to proficiency in 2-3 months or less, especially once you switch to touch typing for your everyday computer use. 

A Quick Guide to Get Started

How to position your hands

Place your index fingers on the F and J keys. From there, your left hand fingers should rest on the A, S, D, and F keys. The right hand fingers should rest on the J, K, L, and ; keys. Keep your thumbs hovered above or lightly touching the spacebar. You may reference the image below as needed.

Now, practice typing! Write a paragraph, a story, a joke – whatever you wish. The more you practice, the better and faster you’ll become as your brain memorises the key positions.

Here are some tips to help you practice:

Learn from typing tutors

Choose a typing program or watch typing tutorial videos online that offer lessons and interactive exercises tailored to touch typing. YouTuber Anson Alexander offers some great touch typing lessons in this YouTube playlist.

Start slowly

Begin by familiarising yourself with the home row keys (ASDF for the left hand and JKL; for the right hand) before gradually incorporating additional keys.

Practice regularly

Set aside dedicated practice sessions to reinforce finger positioning and improve typing speed. Consistency is key.

Utilise typing games and challenges

Engage in typing games and challenges to make practice sessions more enjoyable and interactive. Here are a few great typing sites with games, lessons, tests, and more.

Monitor your progress

Keep a log or journal to track your typing speed and accuracy over time. This will help you gauge your improvement and identify areas that need more refinement, such as which keys and words you tend to struggle with.

Different Typing Techniques

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As with any other skill, there are different ways that you can type. Some techniques involve more practice than others, and each comes with its own set of positives and drawbacks. 

  • Hunt and Peck: this common typing style doesn’t rely on keyboard memorisation, so you have to find each key by looking at them and then pressing them individually as you type. Usually, typists who use this technique only need a few fingers to type. While this can achieve decent accuracy, it’s not a fast method. You might also miss errors while you type because you’re looking at the keyboard instead of the screen.

  • Touch Typing: this technique involves typing without needing to look at the keyboard. It also uses the home row method, which means you can type while resting your wrists down – this reduces the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. We prefer this method because it significantly increases your WPM and accuracy, especially in combination with keyboard shortcuts.

  • Thumbing: a new technique that arose from the development of smartphones, this typing method involves using only your thumbs to type on devices with small screen keyboards. Proficient thumb typists can reach surprisingly high speeds, but this technique can still cause repetitive strain injuries like thumb tendonitis. 

In conclusion, touch typing is a transformative skill for transcriptionists seeking to elevate their efficiency and accuracy. By following the rules of finger placement, posture, and consistent practice, you can unlock the full potential of this technique and reap the benefits of enhanced brain function, time savings, and improved workplace productivity.

Are you a touch typist or interested in learning?
Join us on social media to let us know!

Our goal this year is to provide more tailored content through our blog, newsletter, and LinkedIn posts. We’d love for you to join our community.

Brianna Sarovski
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