Five Surprisingly Common Typing Problems (and How to Fix Them)
In my work teaching children, teenagers and adults to touch type, I’ve noticed that there are a few common habits that slow progress down. None of them are major disasters on their own, but left unchecked, they can make learning to touch type so much harder than it needs to be.
The good news? All of them are easy to spot and easy to fix. So whether you’re supporting your child, or learning to type yourself, here are five surprisingly common typing mistakes to look out for.
1. Angled Fingers (a.k.a. “Why Did I Type That?!”)
When fingers are angled too far inwards, the whole hand ends up out of alignment. You might think you’re typing with the middle finger, but you’re actually reaching over with the index finger.
For example: instead of using the middle finger to hit the E key, you might accidentally press the R key with the wrong finger – without even realising it.
👍 The fix:
- Tuck the elbows in slightly
- Push the keyboard a little further away to give the forearms space
- If that feels uncomfortable, try an ergonomic keyboard – the shape can really help straighten out wrist and finger angles
Straight arms = straight fingers = less confusion for your muscle memory.
2. The “Elbows Out” Problem
This one is so common in teens! If the elbows are pointing out like chicken wings, the fingers naturally start angling inwards. Even if it feels like your fingers are moving straight, they’re actually reaching diagonally across the keyboard.
That’s when the mysterious typos start creeping in.
✨ Quick tip:
- Bring the elbows in just a touch
- Relax the shoulders
- Keep the arms close to the body
It might feel strange at first, but this tiny change can have a huge impact on accuracy.
3. The Dangling Thumb Dilemma
Look down at your spacebar. Where are your thumbs?
If one of them is hanging off the edge of the keyboard, it’s time to fix it!
The thumbs help anchor the hands in the correct position. When they drop off the keyboard, the whole hand tends to follow, making it harder to reach the top row, especially the number keys.
🔄 Easy fix:
- Make sure both thumbs are resting lightly on the spacebar
- Don’t press hard – just enough to keep your hand anchored
Even the non-dominant thumb has a job to do.
4. The Long Nails Debate
Here’s a fun one. Can you touch type with long nails?
Some people can. I personally can’t. And for beginners, they can absolutely get in the way.
What tends to happen:
- Fingers flatten out instead of keeping a natural curve
- Nails hit the keys before the fingertips
- Nails can get caught in the gaps between keys
- Accuracy and comfort both start to suffer
💅 My advice?
If you’re just learning to type, keep the nails short to start with. Once your technique is solid, you can try typing with longer nails and see how it feels.
And if you can touch type with long nails? Please teach me how you do it!
5. The Wrist Breaker
Ah, the wrist-on-the-desk position. Super common, and not ideal.
When wrists rest directly on the edge of the desk, they end up flexing upwards (known as “breaking”). This causes:
- Sore wrists
- Achy shoulders
- Pins and needles
- And more typos, because the hands can’t move freely
What to do:
- Push the keyboard further away
- Let your forearms rest fully on the table
- Wrists should hover slightly, not be jammed against the edge
This one tweak improves comfort and control instantly.
Bonus Tip: It’s Not Just for Kids
If you’re learning to type as an adult, all of these still apply! Posture and ergonomics can make or break your progress and small changes often lead to big results.
If you’d like to learn to type properly (or your child is struggling with technique), take a look at our structured, tutor-supported courses. We teach everything step by step, with real feedback and expert support every week.