I can type 100+ wpm but I need to learn how to type properly

[JackieOReally]

I learned to type 18 years ago and have always been a fast typist. But just today I realized that when I type I cover the right side of the keyboard almost exclusively with my right index finger.

I discovered this because I bought a Vortex Core and I'm really struggling with it, and that mostly comes from my index finger trying to do all the work. To use a 40% it seems you're better off staying on home row and not wandering (probably because of all the layers, it takes a few fingers to do things so the wandering index doesn't work).

So I'm asking for help. Where can I learn how to type properly? Is there any good resources? Which fingers are meant to hit which buttons? Has anyone else managed to retrain themselves? I did some googling but the tutorials looked a bit naff so I thought I'd report back to the mothership for advice.

I've been trying to use other fingers today but it's just a mess and I'm at the end of my tether.

[hoggy]

It's not going to be a pleasant experience.  You'll lost a good fraction of your typing speed for a while too. If you're not in pain, I'd suggest carrying on as you are, but since you seem pretty committed and it would be easier with multiple layers.

Try blanking the keycaps on the right side.

 Those exercises are pretty naff because of the qwerty layout.  You need to develop muscle memory, so exercises are pretty much the only way to touch type.  Sadly, I'd be surprised if any of the tutorials covered improving your typing on just one hand.

This is the perfect time to consider a new layout.  Both Dvorak and Colemak make much better use of the home row and are much more comfortable to use than qwerty once you've adapted.  If you are going to relearn, you could be learning a better layout.

Good luck!

[xtrafrood]

If you're not in pain I'd say you're totally fine. I type 'properly' and I can barely reach 80wpm on a good day lol

[tp4tissue]

[JackieOReally]

Try blanking the keycaps on the right side.

Can I ask how that would help? I wouldn't think that would encourage typing with more fingers would it ?

[JackieOReally]

This is the perfect time to consider a new layout.  Both Dvorak and Colemak make much better use of the home row and are much more comfortable to use than qwerty once you've adapted.  If you are going to relearn, you could be learning a better layout.

Good luck!

I did look Into that but I couldn't find any proof that layouts are any more ergonomic or efficient.

[cutterline]

It's simple but hard to do, you have to forget what you've learn so far and re-learn the whole thing because you are fixing bad habit.
I'll also recommend Hoggy's method as it might be easier to just learn a new layout because you're gonna reset your muscle memory anyway.

The downside is shortcuts are mainly designed for qwerty layout.

[Polymer]

I agree with using a different layout...

If you're going to have to relearn how to type, might as well do it with a much more efficient layout...

[Targa-TV]

This reminds me of the time I got my index and middle fingers smashed in a door and I discovered that I could type with my ring finger and pinky. lol
So I would suggest blocking your index or limiting its movements in some way but my experience is limited to full size or tenkeyless keyboards so I don't know how effective that might be.

[hoggy]

Sadly, proof is hard to come by.  There seems to a weird desire amongst some to prove that qwerty isn't all that bad as if it would violate some sort of economic axiom...  throwing mud at existing studies is quite popular.

I find that Dvorak is significantly more comfortable, but that's my personal experience. Comfort is the real reason why should swop, changing for speed isn't great and hell, copy/paste and macros will beat any layout change.

[Macsmasher]

Sadly, proof is hard to come by.  There seems to a weird desire amongst some to prove that qwerty isn't all that bad as if it would violate some sort of economic axiom...  throwing mud at existing studies is quite popular.

I find that Dvorak is significantly more comfortable, but that's my personal experience. Comfort is the real reason why should swop, changing for speed isn't great and hell, copy/paste and macros will beat any layout change.

Anything is going to be more comfortable than qwerty. I chose Colemak primarily because it maintains the same undo/cut/copy/paste shortcuts as qwerty.

[Puddsy]

I like qwerty because i'm used to it and that's what's most comfortable for me

[hoggy]

Absolutely.  Switching for me was difficult and took a long time. I don't recommend it unless there's a benefit.

[Joey Quinn]

I was the same way but I typed around 60 wpm so I switched to Dvorak to learn to type properly because my bad habits were too well seated in my typing to un learn them. After learning Dvorak and correcting my typing I'm now up to 75ish wpm. Switching layouts can cause issues if you always share a computer but if you want to learn how to type properly switching layouts may be the easiest solution.

Edit: I just noticed this has already been said, also the shortcuts on Dvorak are almost as easy as Qwerty but they change from left handed to right handed.

[xtrafrood]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

[Joey Quinn]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

Yeah, for the first week I switched between Dvorak and Qwerty I was still typing maybe 10 wpm with Dvorak. When you fully commit to a new layout the first week is a struggle but after that you start to pick up speed pretty quickly, after maybe 3 weeks I was at 50+ touch typing Dvorak with pretty low errors. Once you have the layout down a few typing tests a day can make a huge difference.

The balance of Dvorak is great, because it minimizes finger movement it's really comfy once you get the hang of it.

[chyros]

Please tell me you hit the spacebar with your right index finger too.

[JackieOReally]

Please tell me you hit the spacebar with your right index finger too.

Nope. I'm not a complete sicko.

[JackieOReally]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

this is what puts me off. I'm a programmer and I can barely get my work done on time as it is, let alone typing 20wpm on Dvorak.

[Targa-TV]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

Yeah, for the first week I switched between Dvorak and Qwerty I was still typing maybe 10 wpm with Dvorak. When you fully commit to a new layout the first week is a struggle but after that you start to pick up speed pretty quickly, after maybe 3 weeks I was at 50+ touch typing Dvorak with pretty low errors. Once you have the layout down a few typing tests a day can make a huge difference.

The balance of Dvorak is great, because it minimizes finger movement it's really comfy once you get the hang of it.

I tried Dvorak for a couple hours every evening for a few days when work was slow but I got too frustrated looking at the legends.
I agree that it is very comfortable to have all the vowels on home row and I too was picking up speed after I memorized some of the combinations but I kept touch typing every 10 letters.
Plus going back to Italian layout to have the accents was a nightmare..

[tp4tissue]

Please tell me you hit the spacebar with your right index finger too.

Nope. I'm not a complete sicko.

Only a Maximum-Sicko would say that..

/Reported !!

[chyros]

Please tell me you hit the spacebar with your right index finger too.

Nope. I'm not a complete sicko.

Stille alone >.< .

[Joey Quinn]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

this is what puts me off. I'm a programmer and I can barely get my work done on time as it is, let alone typing 20wpm on Dvorak.

If you fully commit to Dvorak you should be at 50 wpm within 2-3 weeks and from there 70-80 is pretty easy to work towards.

How fast do you type with Qwerty?

[davkol]

I tried Dvorak for about 10-30min per day for two weeks and could not get past 20wpm. Seems like it's all or nothing for layout switching. The balance was better imo

this is what puts me off. I'm a programmer and I can barely get my work done on time as it is, let alone typing 20wpm on Dvorak.

You can use one layout through the day and practice the other one at night. There's absolutely no problem here. It will take several weeks of focused daily practice (something like 2×30 minutes), though.

There are two main pitfalls: Most people's practice methods are completely abysmal (been there, done that), hence the high failure rate. The other problem is that you'll have to relearn keyboard shortcuts, but there are workarounds (Dvorak-QWERTY layout in MacOS and similar open-source reimplementations; DreymaR's Extend layer or function layers in general).

[hoggy]

Another pitfall you might face is that entering passwords suddenly becomes very difficult.


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