I'm an accomplished hunt-n-peck artist capable of a consistent, error-free 50 wpm.  As such, I've never bothered to learn proper touch-typing.

My wife is learning to touch-type and is frustrated with her current pace of progress.  After four days of lessons and exercises using the Mavis Beacon software she's doing 20 wpm using proper technique and without looking at the keyboard.  This is while copying paragraphs from a magazine.

Any idea how long it takes most folks to hit 50 wpm?

What do you mean by "touch typing?" Regular typing?

Don't know, I've been touch typing since I've had a computer. I effectively type 110wpm w/o errors

Quoted: Don't know, I've been touch typing since I've had a computer. I effectively type 110wpm w/o errors

I laughed out loud when I saw that your post was edited.

How long does it take someone to learn to swim?

It’s muscle memory. She will not “get fast” until she stops thinking about hand position and just types what she wants.


It took me years to learn to really touch type and involved a bunch of typing.

If we're talking about regular typing, I can type 50-60 wpm.

Quoted: Quoted: Don't know, I've been touch typing since I've had a computer. I effectively type 110wpm w/o errors I laughed out loud when I saw that your post was edited.

I put a space where I didn't want it.

Quoted: If we're talking about regular typing, I can type 50-60 wpm.

Same here, but since I hunt and peck I often miss keys and hit the next one over.  This is because I have no position from which to index.   I always have to glance down at my keyboard every few seconds.  I really do wish I could type the right way, but I'm afraid it would take too long to re-learn how to type 60WPM.

Quoted: Don't know, I've been touch typing since I've had a computer. I effectively type 110wpm w/o errors

Same here.  Probably 90-110wpm here.

I knew of one legal secretary in downtown Chicago that types 126 wpm error free.  I think she's an alien.  

Me?  78 wpm 2% error rate and I'm a lifer with carpal tunnel syndrome.  Before CTS, it was 95 wpm error free.  Now, my hands start to cramp up, I make mistakes, and have to slow down or stop until the numbness goes away.

From novice to 50-60 wpm...tough to say.

If you type every day for a living (8-10 hours like a secretary)...probably 1 year.

Error-free rates by administrative status (for job searches)
40 wpm entry level, receptionist
50-60 average (2+ yrs experience)
60-70 executive secretary
70-80 legal secretary
80+  court reporters; stenographers

Mavis Beacon is a great program but you really have to just type all the time to get faster.  It has to be as natural as combing your hair or brushing your teeth.

I learned touchtyping in 8th or 9th grade, think it was an 8 week course.  Been typing ever since and pretty damned good at it I must add  On the downside, my handwriting sucks ass.

ETA:  what I remeber was the first row keys, you start doing stupid words like: sad, fad, a sad fad, a sad lad, a sad lad; with the keys asdf and jk;  then you venture out to g and h, and do shit like "a glad lad had ...", then you pick up a new letter or so a day and just practice and practice.

Tell her not to be discouraged. 20WPM is good for only 4 days. I took a typing class in high school for a semester and still was only at 30WPM.

After typing pretty much everything in college (reports, software, etc.) I was up to 50WPM. After years in high tech I can probably burst up to 60-70 with errors (but those don't count very much in this day and age of the backspace key).

No matter what she shouldn't cheat. Use the correct finger for the correct key. Do not look at the keys. That's the only way to learn the skill.

Like shooting it's a perishable skill. If she is not typing stuff everyday it will atrophy.

ETA +1000 on what ErinGirl wrote.

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