How do i learn to type without looking at keys?

[CZroe]

@CZroe
It agrees with what I just wrote.

Here's another topic to yell at clouds about:

Toilet roll holder - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

You sure about that? Spot the contradiction:

There's no correct answer [regarding double spaces after full stops]

[double space after a full stop] is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.

They go on to say:

Every modern typographer agrees on the one-space rule. It’s one of the canonical rules of the profession, in the same way that waiters know that the salad fork goes to the left of the dinner fork and fashion designers know to put men’s shirt buttons on the right and women’s on the left. Every major style guide—including the Modern Language Association Style Manual and the Chicago Manual of Style—prescribes a single space after a period. (The Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association, used widely in the social sciences, allows for two spaces in draft manuscripts but recommends one space in published work.)

Regarding TP:
That was solved by logic even before someone dug up an old patent that proved what was always intended.

 

[mikeymikec]

You sure about that? Spot the contradiction:

Read the article you posted.

This readability argument is debatable.

But I actually think aesthetics are the best argument in favor of one space over two.

Is this arbitrary? Sure it is.

Besides, the argument in favor of two spaces isn’t any less arbitrary.

 

[pmv]

No. It is still taught by many typing tutors who mistakenly thought it was some rule for proper writing but it is technically incorrect except for readability with a mono-spaced font. Computers don't have the same physical limitations as a typewriter, so mono-spaced fonts are no longer the norm. HTML even removes the extra spaces you've been typing when it renders what you wrote. Take a look if you don't believe me.


...yep: wasted effort. The two spaces for a space and a period shortcut should've been the death-knell for this but it seems Windows machines still don't do this with the physical keyboard.

Not sure why you say 'no', when you seem to be agreeing that it is a difference between typewritten text on paper and computer text on screen, which is what I said. The use of proportional spaced fonts being the difference. I can't be bothered changing the habit after so many decades though.

 

[pmv]

I don't know if I'm alone here - but I type damn fast of 100+ wpm, but I never liked the concept of the home row and never got used to it even in my old high school typing class.

I don't keep my fingers in any real one position - just place them on the keyboard and they naturally gravitate to where they need.

\ursj niy og upi fpm#y ,slr ditr upit gomhrtd str pm yjr vpttrvy jp,r lrud yjru ,ohjy nr djogyrf pmr yp yjr ;rgy pt tohjy smf upi ,ohjy rmf i[ yu[omh om vpfr/

I mean....
Yeah but if you don't make sure your fingers are on the correct home keys they might be shifted one to the left or right and you end up typing in code.

 

[KeithP]

I've used computers pretty much all my life but I never been able to type without looking at the keys.

Here you go…there is nothing on the keys to look at.

-KeithP

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

\ursj niy og upi fpm#y ,slr ditr upit gomhrtd str pm yjr vpttrvy jp,r lrud yjru ,ohjy nr djogyrf pmr yp yjr ;rgy pt tohjy smf upi ,ohjy rmf i[ yu[omh om vpfr/

I mean....
Yeah but if you don't make sure your fingers are on the correct home keys they might be shifted one to the left or right and you end up typing in code.

Not really?

I mean if you aren't looking at the keyboard then you're looking at the screen and will see the error.

Also when I type I tend to notice if I'm off just based on how the keys are sloped, how close they are to other keys, etc. Part of the muscle memory I suppose.

 

[Kaido]

Ahahahahaha

That explains why you still do the old-fashioned 2 spaces after each period. n00b!

Dangit I still do that too lol

 

[Kaido]

Two Spaces After a Period: Why You Should Never, Ever Do It

Can I let you in on a secret? Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.

slate.com

There are two things that I will without a doubt do until I die:

1. Pronounce gif like the peanut butter
2. Type two spaces after a period

 

[Gizmo j]

I just realized i said "lean" instead of "learn", my bad XD

 

[CZroe]

Read the article you posted.

Context matters. You even quoted the context in one of those which shows it doesn't support what you said.

Pro-tip:
"Readability" is not the arbiter of what is "correct." You said there was no correct answer and the article claims in no uncertain terms that there is.

Not sure why you say 'no', when you seem to be agreeing...

Is this any clearer for you?

I do remember specifically reading that that's what you were supposed to do.

No [that's not what you're supposed to do].

...that it is a difference between typewritten text on paper and computer text on screen, which is what I said. The use of proportional spaced fonts being the difference. I can't be bothered changing the habit after so many decades though.

I never said anything about printing on paper... only mono-spaced fonts versus variable-width fonts. Even before computers, mono-spaced fonts were largely phased out by electric typewriters.

...on paper.

Point is, it was never because that was how you were supposed to do it. It was only ever done for aesthetics, ergonomics, and readability with mono-spaced fonts. People who learned that from teachers mistook it for a rule and taught it to the next class, and the next, and the next. You still have some teaching it as "correct" today when it isn't. It never was "correct." It was simply an aesthetic choice.

Not really?

I mean if you aren't looking at the keyboard then you're looking at the screen and will see the error.

Also when I type I tend to notice if I'm off just based on how the keys are sloped, how close they are to other keys, etc. Part of the muscle memory I suppose.

You aren't always typing text when you type on a keyboard. Could be playing a game, putting in shortcuts, etc.

 

[ultimatebob]

My MacBook has little notches on the F and J keys. It makes it pretty easy to stay on the home row without looking.

But, seriously, if you pay enough PC games with a keyboard, your brain will learn the layout quickly enough that you'll no longer need to think about it.

 

[mikeymikec]

You even quoted the context in one of those which shows it doesn't support what you said.

Imagine that, an article that explicitly asserts an unarguably correct way of doing something ends up contradicting itself. It can't possibly be the mark of a poorly-written article, could it?

Honestly dude, I've wasted far too much time already trying to point out what ought to be obvious to you.

 

[kt]

My MacBook has little notches on the F and J keys. It makes it pretty easy to stay on the home row without looking.

But, seriously, if you pay enough PC games with a keyboard, your brain will learn the layout quickly enough that you'll no longer need to think about it.

It's not a Macbook thing, all new keyboards have raised line on the F & J keys. Even my cheap $5 one.

 

[CZroe]

Imagine that, an article that explicitly asserts an unarguably correct way of doing something ends up contradicting itself. It can't possibly be the mark of a poorly-written article, could it?

Honestly dude, I've wasted far too much time already trying to point out what ought to be obvious to you.

It didn't contradict itself. You are the one conflating a statement about aesthetics with a statement about what is correct. You are the one conflating another statement about a readability argument with one about how it is inarguably incorrect.

Reading comprehension, dude. Reading comprehension.

 

[MtnMan]

The most useful class I took in high school was typing. It was a long time ago... on a manual Royal typewriter with blank keytops. I got up to 60 WPM on that thing.

Then spending a career in the computer industry (pre-PC) it proved invaluable. Still freaks my grandsons out when they see me typing without looking at the keyboard.

 

[MtnMan]

My MacBook has little notches on the F and J keys. It makes it pretty easy to stay on the home row without looking.

But, seriously, if you pay enough PC games with a keyboard, your brain will learn the layout quickly enough that you'll no longer need to think about it.

Oh, a special "apple" feature... how special? Uhhh that has been the standard probably before your grandpa was born. It's called the "home keys"

 

[zinfamous]

I used a child's typing game many years ago. One of those...type this word within time limit, and it keeps tossing words at you. Then sentences, etc.

It doesn't really take that long, tbh. Go through those exercsies a couple of times per day, for a few weeks, and you can quickly train your fingers and the muscles memory. Not everyone is the same with "proper finger typing" ---like, do you use your right or left forefinger to type the "B" key? There is a "Right" way to do it, and then there is the way where an individual just does what is most comfortable to them. I type the "border keys" that are most comfortable to me.

Anyway, other than that, just type. write a lot. You just have to constantly type and it becomes natural. There really is not other way. You can't download some Matrix-like cartridge into your skull and BAM! "I know typing!"

If you feel that your fingers are too big, then get a keyboard with larger keys with more space between them. I definitely need to adjust a bit from my desktop keyboard to the keyboard on my Surface Pro, so I get that; and even though I do have pretty long fingers, I don't really have issues with the cramped Surface Pro keyboard. ...I will say though that I float my left pinky a bit when using it, for whatever reason...seems like it saves some space that way. dunno...barely noticed that I was doing that, haha.

....TLDR: Practice. basically the answer to everything

 

[MrSquished]

The most useful class I took in high school was typing. It was a long time ago... on a manual Royal typewriter with blank keytops. I got up to 60 WPM on that thing.

Then spending a career in the computer industry (pre-PC) it proved invaluable. Still freaks my grandsons out when they see me typing without looking at the keyboard.

Yep. I took typing in junior high in either 6th or 8th grade on a regular old typewriter. It stuck with me every since. My index fingers are on the home keys and muscle memory does the rest

 

[zinfamous]

I do remember specifically reading that that's what you were supposed to do. Also recall reading since that people have stopped doing it (because screen text is different from printed text, or is it a US/UK thing?), but I'm sticking with the old ways.

kind of a font thing, as well, because the spacing issue was retained with Times New Roman being the default font for MS software for so many years. Dot Matrix printers didn't really fix the issues with type-written pages, either.

Now, it's not really necessary for clarity, but I think the only real reason to not double space is because of cost in publishing? Need to save as many characters as absolutely possible when publishing articles.

 

[zinfamous]

My MacBook has little notches on the F and J keys. It makes it pretty easy to stay on the home row without looking.

But, seriously, if you pay enough PC games with a keyboard, your brain will learn the layout quickly enough that you'll no longer need to think about it.

Haven't the notches on F and J been standard since...at least the 80s on every keyboard?

 

[pmv]

Not really?

I mean if you aren't looking at the keyboard then you're looking at the screen and will see the error.

Also when I type I tend to notice if I'm off just based on how the keys are sloped, how close they are to other keys, etc. Part of the muscle memory I suppose.

Though you aren't supposed to be looking at what you are typing either. I remember that being a 'no no' when learning to type on an actual typewriter. Generally the idea is you are looking at whatever you are transcribing.

 

[pmv]

I used a child's typing game many years ago. One of those...type this word within time limit, and it keeps tossing words at you. Then sentences, etc.


It doesn't really take that long, tbh. Go through those exercsies a couple of times per day, for a few weeks, and you can quickly train your fingers and the muscles memory. Not everyone is the same with "proper finger typing" ---like, do you use your right or left forefinger to type the "B" key? There is a "Right" way to do it, and then there is the way where an individual just does what is most comfortable to them. I type the "border keys" that are most comfortable to me.


Anyway, other than that, just type. write a lot. You just have to constantly type and it becomes natural. There really is not other way. You can't download some Matrix-like cartridge into your skull and BAM! "I know typing!"


If you feel that your fingers are too big, then get a keyboard with larger keys with more space between them. I definitely need to adjust a bit from my desktop keyboard to the keyboard on my Surface Pro, so I get that; and even though I do have pretty long fingers, I don't really have issues with the cramped Surface Pro keyboard. ...I will say though that I float my left pinky a bit when using it, for whatever reason...seems like it saves some space that way. dunno...barely noticed that I was doing that, haha.


....TLDR: Practice. basically the answer to everything

That thing with the 'b' key, I vaguely remember reading somewhere is actually a US/UK difference in how typing is taught. I remember complaints about microsoft's "ergonomic" keyboard where they put a gap in the middle - leaving the 'b' on the wrong side for UK typists. Though now I can't find any confirmation of that idea on the web so it's possible I imagined it.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Find your home keys (f and j keys with the ridges) with index fingers. And then its just tons of repetition, eventually you will gain the muscle memory.

This, just keep doing it. Practice is the only way
Cover your hands with a towel if you have to
Be forgiving of mistakes they will happen

 

[ultimatebob]

Haven't the notches on F and J been standard since...at least the 80s on every keyboard?

I swear that I've seen some hardware keyboards without them in the past. Not recently, though, now that I think about it. Apple, being the special snowflakes that they are, haven't always put them on the F and J keys, either.

 

[Maxima1]

If you haven't learned it yet, it's easy for almost anyone if you want that ability. Use a keyboard cover and follow repetitive keyboard exercises. That's all you have to do.