What are common typing mistakes and how do I fix them?

Most typing errors fall into a small number of categories. Identifying which category your errors belong to tells you exactly what to practise.

Transpositions (teh instead of the)

One finger fires before another finishes. Usually caused by rhythm mismatch — you are typing faster than your slower fingers can keep up. Fix: slow down to the speed where transpositions stop, then rebuild pace gradually.

Wrong-finger reaches

Using the wrong finger for a key — for example, hitting B with the right hand or using the index finger for a middle-finger key. Fix: identify the specific problem key from your missed-words list and drill it in isolation with correct finger placement.

Pinky key errors (P, Q, A, Z, semicolons)

The pinky is the weakest finger and its keys require the longest reaches. Deliberate pinky-only drills for 5 minutes daily produce one of the fastest accuracy gains available to intermediate typists. The weak keys drill on TypingTest.now targets exactly this.

Capitalisation errors

Pressing shift with the same hand as the capital letter instead of the opposite hand. Always use the opposite hand: for a capital T, the right hand holds shift while the left hand hits T.

Repeated corrections in the same word

Some words trip you up consistently due to an unusual letter combination. Add these words to the custom practice list on TypingTest.now and type them 20–30 times at reduced speed before testing at full pace.

End-of-word rushing

Error rate spikes at word endings because anticipation causes you to start the next keystroke too early. Fix: read one word ahead in the text, not one character ahead. Let the current word fully complete before starting the next.