Touch typing lesson 8: f→t, j→y

Keys and finger movements

Keyboard layout: English US.

Use the finger shown for each upper-row key. Alternate the reach and the return to the home row slowly until you can find the key without looking down.

• Left index finger: Move from F to T, then return to F.
• Right index finger: Move from J to Y, then return to J.

Wrist support for comfortable keyboard typing

For comfortable touch typing, choose a keyboard position that lets you keep your wrists straight and in line with your forearms. A wrist or palm rest is one accessory to consider. Typing for long periods with bent wrists or pressure against a hard edge can cause discomfort, especially if a tall keyboard, such as some mechanical models, makes you bend your wrists upward.

A rest should match the height of the keyboard, but while typing, keep your hands free to move above it; during pauses, rest the heel of your hand or your palm on the pad rather than your wrist. A low-profile keyboard is another option, although its height and key travel do not by themselves determine whether it will be comfortable for you. When using a laptop, the touchpad can present a different problem.

Accidental touches, especially on a large touchpad, can move the pointer or interrupt your typing. If this happens, check the touchpad settings instead of holding your hands in an uncomfortable position to avoid it. Before buying a keyboard or laptop, try the keyboard if possible, check the position of the touchpad, and consider whether a suitably sized palm rest would be useful during pauses.

If your wrists bend upward, first check keyboard height and position. Buying a palm rest does not correct the keyboard's position.