🖐️ Correct hand position and posture at the keyboard

Good posture is not just about comfort: it helps you type faster, with fewer mistakes and without pain. These are the key points, for your hands and for the rest of your body.

Hands on the home row

Place your index fingers on F and J; they have a bump you can feel without looking. The other fingers rest on the keys next to them: left pinky on A, ring finger on S, middle finger on D; on the right, middle finger on K, ring finger on L and pinky on the semicolon.

Your fingers should be slightly curved, as if you were holding a small ball. Your fingertips touch the keys gently, without pounding them. After each keystroke, the finger goes back to its place on the home row.

Which finger presses each key

The keyboard is divided into diagonal columns. Each finger moves up and down its own column: the left index finger covers R, T, F, G, V and B; the right index finger covers Y, U, H, J, N and M. The middle, ring and pinky fingers each handle one column. The pinkies also handle the side keys, such as Shift, Enter and Backspace. In LeonType, the on-screen keyboard colors each column with the color of its finger.

Capitals with the opposite hand

To type a capital letter, press Shift with the pinky of the hand opposite to the letter. For example, for A (left hand) use the right Shift, and for P (right hand) use the left Shift. That way you never have to stretch one hand awkwardly.

Wrists and arms

Your wrists should stay straight, in line with your forearms, not bent up or to the sides. Avoid resting them heavily on the desk while you type; if you use a wrist rest, use it only during pauses. Keep your elbows close to your body, at roughly a right angle.

Chair and screen

Sit with your back against the backrest and your feet flat on the floor; if they do not reach, use a footrest, which is very common for children. The screen should be about an arm's length away, with its top edge at eye level or slightly below.

On a laptop the screen is usually too low. If you are going to type a lot, raise it with a stand or a few books and use an external keyboard.

Short breaks

Every 20 or 30 minutes, look away from the screen at something far away for a few seconds, stretch your fingers and roll your shoulders. Short, frequent breaks prevent eye strain and wrist discomfort much better than one long break at the end.