Keyboard Talk of the Day (KTOD) - Typing Bad Habits?

[CPTBadAss]

Do you have bad habits when you type on your keyboards?

My bad habits?

- I always bottom out when I type.
- I use my left index finger to hit "Y". I think you're supposed to use your right index finger?
- During long typing sessions, I forget to take breaks.
- I tend to keep my drinks/fountain pens to close to my keyboard even though I've spilled ink and water on keyboards before.

[esoomenona]

I don't see a problem with hitting Y with your left index finger. I think sometimes, if your right index finger is busy with something else, then you end up pressing it with the next best finger. Pay attention to when you're typing and see if that's what's happening. I think sometimes, people say that they do one thing without actually paying attention to what they do consistently, and why it is happening.

[dante]

Hitting the space bar with my right Index.  Some idiots started doing it on Youtube and now they've got me doing it...

[CPTBadAss]

I don't see a problem with hitting Y with your left index finger. I think sometimes, if your right index finger is busy with something else, then you end up pressing it with the next best finger. Pay attention to when you're typing and see if that's what's happening. I think sometimes, people say that they do one thing without actually paying attention to what they do consistently, and why it is happening.

I notice this habit when I switch to split keyboards like my ergo 4000. The Y is almost always on the right hand side and I find myself looking for the Y with my left hand, tapping the nothing in between. After the third time I get frustrated and look down to realize what I'm doing.

[acantha]

bottoming out is bad? You mean you aren't supposed to hammer on the keys until the shock makes your knuckles ache?

yeah, i feel ya on that one. i also have a really terrible habit of reading my email while im eating lunch, then seeing something that arouses my ire in said email, and diving into a response. consequently i've gotten a perfectly EMBARRASSING amount of food on my keys.

[CPTBadAss]

The bottoming out thing is really bad and I've just done it for so long (I've been touch-typing since 4th grade) that I can't seem to break myself of the habit. So now I just embrace it.

It's probably why I don't like Topre because the bottom out can be harsh and really hurt my hands.

[Lastpilot]

Bottoming out is not a crime! It's an art! lolol.

- Need to learn symbols on number row
- Need to keep wrists elevated while typing [I don't like rests]

[narlzac85]

Guilty of both hitting space with my right index finger and Y with my left. Probably related. Although I'm not really sure why I don't use my thumbs at all when typing since I use my left thumb for space while gaming.

My personal opinion is that whatever is most comfortable for you is the correct method.

[Zombly]

I always mess up the symbols on the number keys all the time..
Annoying, I know where it is, but takes some practice, also I've been typing sloppier lately, and I always eat/drink next to keyboard.. doesn't help my current PC setup to big for my desk so it's sitting on my coffee table..

[Mr. D]

Someone pointed out to me the other day that I never use my pinkies when typing.

[SpAmRaY]

I always wrest my wrist improperly and generally speaking don't type in any formal form or fashion.

[osi]

- I only use left modifers (except hhkb fn); spacebar always left thumb
- When using the function key on the hhkb, I always physically lift my hand and move it to the cluster.

CPT,

I use the middle finger of my right hand for pressing Y.

[HPE1000]

I use my right index finger for hitting the spacebar as well, it was just about the only way I could accurately hit the spacebar on some laptop keyboards over the years so it just stuck.

[Defect]

I don't think I even use left shift outside of Excel.  And a few FPS games.

Always cap letters with right shift.

[CPTBadAss]

Defect I find I don't use a my right shift very often. I think I use left to right shift in a ratio of like 70/30.

[atlas3686]

Defect I find I don't use a my right shift very often. I think I use left to right shift in a ratio of like 70/30.

I have the exact same problem with the y, been trying to correct it. I also only use my right shift about 30% of the time. I have one more though, I tend to press the c with my index finger instead of my middle finger, also been working on that.

[Pacifist]

Defect I find I don't use a my right shift very often. I think I use left to right shift in a ratio of like 70/30.

70/30? I do 100/0

[CPTBadAss]

Oh I just thought of one. Does anyone hit the spacebar with two thumbs? I just use one but I thought that was the point of having the heavier switch on the Cherry boards on the spacebar.

I tend to press the c with my index finger instead of my middle finger, also been working on that.

o.O

Do we have the same typing style?? I just realized I do that with the C as well.

Defect I find I don't use a my right shift very often. I think I use left to right shift in a ratio of like 70/30.

70/30? I do 100/0

You hold left shift to make your question marks? I use the right shift for mostly that.

[Pacifist]

Eat at desk
Right thumb always for space when typing, left thumb always when gaming
Left shift 24/7
Bottom out (but it feel so gud)

[Pacifist]

Oh I just thought of one. Does anyone hit the spacebar with two thumbs? I just use one but I thought that was the point of having the heavier switch on the Cherry boards on the spacebar.

I tend to press the c with my index finger instead of my middle finger, also been working on that.

o.O

Do we have the same typing style?? I just realized I do that with the C as well.

Defect I find I don't use a my right shift very often. I think I use left to right shift in a ratio of like 70/30.

70/30? I do 100/0

You hold left shift to make your question marks? I use the right shift for mostly that.

all left shift

never liked right shift

[atlas3686]

Oh I just thought of one. Does anyone hit the spacebar with two thumbs? I just use one but I thought that was the point of having the heavier switch on the Cherry boards on the spacebar.

I tend to press the c with my index finger instead of my middle finger, also been working on that.

o.O

Do we have the same typing style?? I just realized I do that with the C as well.

Haha, guess we must  )  I don't have much problem with bottoming out though, I do bottom out but reasonably softly on the 55g

[Pacifist]

Oh I just thought of one. Does anyone hit the spacebar with two thumbs? I just use one but I thought that was the point of having the heavier switch on the Cherry boards on the spacebar.

I tend to press the c with my index finger instead of my middle finger, also been working on that.

o.O

Do we have the same typing style?? I just realized I do that with the C as well.

Haha, guess we must  )  I don't have much problem with bottoming out though, I do bottom out but reasonably softly on the 55g

WTF I DO THAT TOO

* Pacifist goes to learn colemak from scratch

[hashbaz]

I also only use left shift, and always use my right thumb for spacebar instead of alternating.

I move my hands a lot rather than hit keys with my pinkies, but I don't really consider that a bad habit in any real sense.  I think it's better ergo-wise to keep your wrists straight and move the hand rather than strain to reach Backspace or Delete.

[exitfire401]

Mine is rarely using my pinkies and only using either my right index finger or thumb on the spacebar, so my spacebar shines ridiculously quick on the right side.

[rowdy]

Although I can touch type (home keys, etc.) I tend to use my own homebrew mashup of different fingers on different keys.  Works most of the time.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I hit several keys with my ring finger that you're supposed to hit with your pinky (P, Q, Z, etc.). Also I hit X and C with the wrong fingers.

I used to do B with the right index finger, but using split a keyboard fixed that. Also, I used to do 100% left shift, but now I hit the appropriate one when typing.

[Frenir]

I sometimes overuse my right hand pinky too much, to the point that it makes my hand hurt and it's slowing my typing speed.
I also use my left hand thumb for the spacebar.

[CPTBadAss]

I just thought of something else. If I took a class on typing for two years and I still have bad habits, that made me a bad student right?

Or am I just living up to my user name?

[D01]

I don't properly use the shift keys, I use the left one almost exclusively.

[Jalberstone]

I hit b with my right index finger. I think you are supposed to hit it with your left one.

[rowdy]

I just thought of something else. If I took a class on typing for two years and I still have bad habits, that made me a bad student right?

Or am I just living up to my user name?

Yes )

[jterp7]

eating/drink at desk (i have a white leather chair) and bottoming out for sure

[ComradeSniper]

I never use right shift, and also my left pinky is used exclusively for ctrl and shift.

[jwaz]

I was able to touch type Qwerty reasonably well for a decade or more and Colemak for the last couple years just about perfect. Except the damn shift and spacebar hand alteration... the shifts I can do maybe 60% of the time but the spacebar is proving pretty hopeless.


Maybe if I switched to a totally different non-staggered layout I could reset my muscle memory a little bit.

[nubbinator]

I almost never use my pinkies when I type.  I find no matter what switches I use that it almost always ends up hurting in the long run if I use them.  In fact, I type mostly with my index finger and middle finger with my ring finger only playing a supporting role.  Somehow I still tend to be around 60-70 WPM even though I don't type properly.

[Kagusaki Wolf]

I always use left shift.  I tend to use my right ring finger to press P and backspace.  I eat at my desk but i use a foot stool as a tv tray lol  oh and for some odd reason, I usually rub the smoothed/worn down keys mainly the E or ASDF keys.  I like the feel of smooth glossy look on keycaps for some strange reason >.>

[FoxWolf1]

My typing style consists almost entirely of a collection of bad habits. Far too many of them to list here.

Just as an example, though...I usually press a, s, d, z, x, c, v, and all of the left side mods (which are the only ones I use) using my thumb. Modifiers take precedence over letters for use of the thumb, so a capital A is usually done with the thumb on shift and the ring finger on the letter.

[False_Dmitry_II]

I almost never use my pinkies when I type.  I find no matter what switches I use that it almost always ends up hurting in the long run if I use them.  In fact, I type mostly with my index finger and middle finger with my ring finger only playing a supporting role.  Somehow I still tend to be around 60-70 WPM even though I don't type properly.

That sounds about right for me too, except for the pain. In fact, when I was in orchestra in high school - and I played violin, they'd sometimes give tests on doing octaves or whatever; and what I'd do is if I found halfway through one, just by sound, that I've got my hand in the wrong position I would simply continue to extend my pinky finger for every note rather than shift and make it have a gap/sound wrong. Even though I'd sometimes mess up on exactly the technique I was supposed to use, they'd give me a bit of a pass because I made it sound right anyway.

I'm not actually sure how much i use the ring fingers, but sometimes when one hand is off on an edge an index finger will come in from the other hand to hit something else because the first hand was busy.

I also use left modifiers exclusively, mostly with left pinky only.

[atlas3686]

I just thought of something else. If I took a class on typing for two years and I still have bad habits, that made me a bad student right?

Or am I just living up to my user name?

Yes )

Haha don't worry I've also done a few and those bad habits persist

[davkol]

I have no bad habits since the switch to Colemak and eventually symmetric keyboards. >_<

Ah, I actually use my laptop keyboard from time to time and rest my palms then... it hurts.

[IronJoeJac]

Having never learn't how to type properly I do almost everything wrong. I use the incorrect fingers, use my right index finger for space, never use my pinkie except for shift (left of course) and the only reason I am able to type at a reasonable speed is due to muscle memory.

[hydrospell]

If you're on a mac there's this brutal way of making sure you use the right shift key...
http://stevelosh.com/blog/2012/10/a-modern-space-cadet/#better-shifting

[minho]

Why is bottoming out bad? I can understand it being bad if it causes discomfort, but I have been bottoming out since I have first been on computers and I can type just fine.

A bad habit of mine though is that I don't alternate thumbs depending on which hand finished the word I just typed - I almost exclusively use my left thumb so my right thumb just kind of hangs there uselessly.

[aref]

Keyboard position: I occasionally place/leave my keyboard too far away from my body and not properly centered. Rather than give this a moment's thought, I begin typing, which results in typos and upper body discomfort from leaning into the desk/keyboard and improper hand positioning. And if I'm at the computer and I push the keyboard away so I can use the available desk space for some other task, I don't always properly position the keyboard when I return to it. The remedy is simple: take the time to properly position the keyboard before typing.

Breaks: I take too few breaks from the computer. As one ages, the lack of getting up and moving about takes its toll.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

If you're on a mac there's this brutal way of making sure you use the right shift key...
http://stevelosh.com/blog/2012/10/a-modern-space-cadet/#better-shifting

Interesting. I wonder if AutoHotKey can do the same.

In the link the guy mentions it took about four hours for him to learn the correct shift keys. That sounds about how long it took me. It was honestly easier than getting the B key with my left index finger instead of my right index finger. Using the right shift (and other right modifiers) was a pretty easy switch for me.

[Justintoxicated]

I usually use my right index finger for typing y but I often catch myself using my right index finger for "b" which is incorrect as well.

[aref]

I usually use my right index finger for typing y but I often catch myself using my right index finger for "b" which is incorrect as well.

^ Count me in on doing the same re the 'B' key.

[CPTBadAss]

Why is bottoming out bad? I can understand it being bad if it causes discomfort, but I have been bottoming out since I have first been on computers and I can type just fine.

I think it's more of a wasted energy/effort thing. If your key actuates half way down, and you're pressing the full length, you're missing out on efficient typing.

That being said, I don't think I'll be able to break my own habit of bottoming out.

[rowdy]

I just tried not bottoming out on greens, and most of the keypresses did not register.

It is just too easy to bottom out - I don't think I'll be changing

[aref]

I have to admit that I keep changing the rear elevation of my keyboards. I vary it from 1/2" to 3/4"; I tried a flat keyboard, it worked well
for one day; then it didn't feel right to me. Perhaps this is part of the fun of experimenting with one's keyboards in search of the ideal pitch.