Why typing accuracy matters more than you think
A typo looks like one wrong character. In time, it costs much more: noticing it, backspacing, retyping and getting back into rhythm. That is why accuracy and speed are so closely linked.
Fewer errors goes with more speed
In a study of 168,960 typists, faster typists made fewer errors, and those who corrected less were faster (Dhakal et al., 2018). The authors point out that correcting a mistake also means locating it, so a small cut in errors can give a large gain in speed.
The keystrokes right after a mistake are slower too: typists slow down after their own errors (Kalfaoğlu & Stafford, 2014).
Not all mistakes are the same
Studies of typing errors going back decades sort them into kinds with different causes (Grudin, 1983):
- Hitting the key next to the right one. The most common error. Usually a matter of aim and finger position.
- Swapping two letters, as in “teh”. In skilled typists most swaps happen across the two hands: the second hand fires a little too early.
- Hitting the mirror-image key on the other hand (d for k). A hand-selection error.
- An extra letter. On video, most of these turned out to be one finger brushing two keys.
- A missing letter. Linked to speed in modern data (Dhakal et al., 2018).
Substitutions matter most
In modern data, substitutions (a wrong key in place of the right one) are the most common error, and they are also where fast and slow typists differ most (Dhakal et al., 2018). If you want one kind of error to work on, start there.
How to make fewer mistakes
- Find your own pattern. Most people's mistakes cluster on a few keys and pairs. Fix those, not everything.
- Practice those spots inside real words, at a pace where you stay accurate. For swapped letters and finger brushes the lever is pace, not more repetitions at full speed.
- Watch for wobble. Typing tends to get less even just before a mistake (Kalfaoğlu & Stafford, 2014); when your rhythm gets ragged, ease off slightly.
- Keep your eyes on the text. Typists who look at the keyboard less are more skilled (Pinet et al., 2022).
Can you trade speed for accuracy?
Skilled typists can slow down to be more accurate, and speed up at the cost of errors, but in one study they could not go faster than about 100 ms per keystroke, roughly 120 wpm (Yamaguchi, Crump & Logan, 2013). Pushing much harder than your normal pace mostly adds errors.
Find your own weak spots
Boost Type records which keys, letter pairs and habits cost you the most time, then builds short practice around them. Three tests is enough to start.
Questions
What is a good typing accuracy?
In a study of 168,960 typists, people left about 1.2% of characters wrong on average and corrected about 6% of keystrokes. Fast typists made fewer errors than that.
Should I slow down to be more accurate?
Slowing down to a pace you can hold accurately is a good way to practice mistake-prone keys. Pushing far past your normal speed mostly adds errors.
What is the most common typing mistake?
Hitting a neighboring key instead of the right one. Substitutions like this are also where fast and slow typists differ most.
Sources
- Dhakal, V., Feit, A. M., Kristensson, P. O., & Oulasvirta, A. (2018). Observations on typing from 136 million keystrokes. CHI '18. doi.org/10.1145/3173574.3174220
- Kalfaoğlu, Ç., & Stafford, T. (2014). Performance breakdown effects dissociate from error detection effects in typing. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(3), 508-524. doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2013.820762
- Grudin, J. T. (1983). Error patterns in novice and skilled transcription typing. In Cognitive Aspects of Skilled Typewriting (pp. 121-139). Springer. doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5470-6_6
- Pinet, S., Zielinski, C., Alario, F.-X., & Longcamp, M. (2022). Typing expertise in a large student population. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 7, 77. doi.org/10.1186/s41235-022-00424-3
- Yamaguchi, M., Crump, M. J. C., & Logan, G. D. (2013). Speed-accuracy trade-off in skilled typewriting. JEP: Human Perception and Performance, 39(3), 678-699. doi.org/10.1037/a0030512