Have you ever thought about learning to type? Maybe you’ve dabbled in typing on a touch-screen keyboard or paid for online lessons, but never really committed to learning how to type. If you’re looking for a way to improve your typing skills without having to pay for expensive typing classes, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll discuss the many benefits of learning to type, the various ways you can learn, and much more!
Why Should You Learn to Type?
If you’re reading this, you may be wondering why you should learn to type. After all, you could always just use your smartphone or tablet to text, right? While there are certainly benefits to texting, there are a lot more advantages to learning how to type! Here are just a few of them.
Speed
Sped is arguably the biggest perk of becoming a typist. When you learn how to type, you’ll discover how quickly you can enter text on your keyboard. Even if you’re a relatively fast typer, you’ll still be able to appreciate the time savings of typing vs. hand-writing each letter. A trained eye can type at 180 words per minute, which is nearly double what a novice typist is capable of. At that rate, you’ll be able to type the dictionary (over 100,000 words) in under a minute! That’s insane. And, to make it even more impressive, it takes a person with average English skills around 45 minutes to 60 minutes to type the same dictionary using only their thumbs.
Accuracy
Let’s be honest, nobody is perfect. Especially when it comes to typing. We all make typos and errors from time to time. While it might be frustrating when you make a mistake while typing, once you get used to it, you’ll barely notice the errors because your mind will be focused on doing the typing fast and accurately. The fewer mistakes you make while typing, the better your score will be at the end of the day. That’s the beauty of it! And if you ever wonder why some people are better at typing than others, it’s probably because they’ve been practicing for longer.
Organization
If you’re someone who likes to keep their writing organized and tidy, then learning how to type is an excellent skill to have. Believe it or not, the key to effective organization is consistent practice. The more you practice, the more you’ll be able to improve your skill. When you learn how to type, you’ll discover how beneficial it can be to have a system and routine for keeping your work organized. You’ll be able to pull up documents and information faster than you could with a touchscreen keyboard, and you won’t have to worry about any typos because you’ll be entering everything correctly the first time around.
Research
If you’re somebody who likes to do lots of research, then learning how to type is something you should definitely get involved in. Being able to quickly enter a search query and have the results appear almost instantly is extremely convenient, especially when you’re trying to gather information for school or work. If you want to become a better researcher, then learning to type is a great place to start. Google Docs allows you to save all of your searches and drafts as well as have all of your work stored in one place. It becomes easier to find that one document you need for research when everything is stored in one place. Plus, it prevents all of the needless copying and pasting that can often lead to errors.
Creativity
Artistically, there are endless ways you can benefit from learning how to type. If you have a creative mind, you might discover that writing and drawing while on your keyboard is more enjoyable than using a keyboardless device. You can also take a different approach to writing by using different typefaces or fonts, and you can experiment with different word combinations to see how they sound. Of course, you don’t need to take my word for it; check out this website which uses typography to enhance its articles.
In addition to the perks above, you must also remember that learning how to type is a skill you can develop while also helping yourself to become more independent. If you’re someone who feels more comfortable operating computers and mobile devices than writing by hand, then this is a great option for you. Your parents may not always be around to help you with homework, so you’ll need to figure out ways to independently complete tasks such as writing reports and term papers. One of the most popular techniques is by using laptops or desktops at home to complete assignments, and students have even begun using their phones as makeshift laptops – something to keep in mind if you decide to pursue mobile learning!
Cost Effective
One of the major perks of learning how to type is how much it can cut down on your expenses. Instead of purchasing expensive typing classes that cost thousands of dollars, you can learn how to type for free or at least substantially less with the help of a tutor. Even if you do decide to take a few online courses, you’ll still save money because they’re often cheaper than traditional classroom setups. Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a private room or desk at your university or college – especially if you’re going to be sharing with another student.
Fulfills a Need
If you’re somebody who feels that they have a need or gap in their knowledge, then you should consider learning how to type. Maybe you feel that you don’t have the knack for writing creatively, but you have a good sense of organization and could use the boost of learning how to type. Or, maybe you’re looking for a new way to creatively express yourself, but don’t have the confidence to go for it yet. One of the great things about typing is that it can fulfill a need for so many people – whether it’s a creative writing gap or a need to organize papers. When you’ve filled that need, wouldn’t it be nice to say you knew how to do something useful? That’s an excellent mindset to have.
Helps With Independent Living
Learning how to type is one of the best options for people who want to get out of the house and live their life without being beholden to others. You don’t have to be independent all the time, but knowing how to type can certainly make it easier to communicate with others when you need to and allow you to pursue your own interests without having to worry about being a burden. If you’re someone who needs assistance with daily tasks, then this is an excellent option because you can have someone else help you while you focus on learning.
Brings Family and Friends Together
You can also bring your family and friends together by teaching them how to type. After all, it’s often easier to type something on a keyboard than to send a text message or email, so you’ll be engaging with others while also strengthening your bond with those you care about most.
What a wonderful skill to have! Whether you use your laptop, desktop, or mobile device, there are so many ways to keep learning how to type. If you’re curious about learning how to type or would just like to find out more about the benefits of doing so, then continue reading below.
The Many Ways You Can Learn
Now that you know why you should learn to type, you might be wondering where and how to start. There are many ways to get involved in this venture, so don’t feel like you’re restricted to just one path. Here are some other options.Traditional Classroom Setting
If you’ve always considered yourself a student who needs a cozy little classroom with lots of whiteboards and lockers, then you might be surprised to learn how much you can achieve (and how much you’ll enjoy it!) outside of the classroom. To start, you can always find a local library and peruse their archives for vintage typewriters or hunt down a real one (they’re a bit more expensive, but well worth it!) and set up a makeshift classroom in your garage or dining room. Bring your laptop or desktop along and you’ll have no trouble getting work done – even if it’s just for yourself! This option allows you to develop your skills while also keeping track of your progress.
An even better option is to join a typography-themed online community. There are lots of them out there – like Typewriter Club or My Typing Center – where you can get help from people who are willing to share their experience and help you develop your skills. Plus, you can access these communities from anywhere with an Internet connection, so you can continue learning even when you’re away from your home or computer!