Typing Glossary — WPM, Accuracy & Key Terms Explained
Definitions for every term you'll encounter in typing tests, speed benchmarks, and technique guides.
Typing Test Terminology, Explained
Typing tests use a specific vocabulary to measure speed and accuracy. Terms like net WPM, CPM, home row, and gross vs. net accuracy appear in every result but rarely get explained. This glossary collects 11 of the most commonly used terms across typing tests, touch typing technique, and keyboard design — each defined in plain language with practical examples.
The Essentials: 5 Terms to Know
- WPM (words per minute) — the primary measure of typing speed. Net WPM = (correct words − errors) ÷ minutes.
- Accuracy — percentage of characters typed correctly. Below 95% usually means you're typing too fast for your current skill level.
- CPM (characters per minute) — raw keystrokes per minute, before error penalty. WPM ≈ CPM ÷ 5.
- Touch typing — typing without looking at the keyboard, using all ten fingers and muscle memory.
- Home row — the resting position for your fingers: ASDF (left hand) and JKL; (right hand).
What Counts as a Good Speed?
| WPM | Level | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 | Beginner | Hunt-and-peck; still learning |
| 31–50 | Intermediate | Average adult; functional |
| 51–70 | Proficient | Meets most employer standards |
| 71–90 | Fast | Top 15% of typists |
| 91–120 | Advanced | Professional typists, power users |
| 120+ | Expert | Top 1%; competitive typists |
Gross WPM vs. Net WPM
Gross WPM counts every word you type, right or wrong. Net WPM subtracts the errors. TypingTest.now reports net WPM by default, because it's the only figure that reflects real communication speed — typing fast with errors isn't really typing fast.
If a test shows 80 WPM at 90% accuracy on a 100-word passage, your net WPM is closer to 70 than 80. For the full breakdown see WPM and gross vs net WPM.