What is word processing speed

The average person types between 38 and 40 words per minute (WPM), what translates into between 190 and 200 characters per minute (CPM). However, professional typists type a lot faster — on average between 65 and 75 WPM.

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People also ask, is Typing 40 wpm good?

Generally, a typing speed of 40 WPM (Words Per Minute) is considered an average typing speed. An average speed should not be confused with a “minimum speed” that some employers may use as a job requirement – an applicant must exceed the stated minimum speed.

Also Know, what are examples of word processing? A word processor, or word processing program, does exactly what the name implies. It processes words. It also processes paragraphs, pages, and entire papers. Some examples of word processing programs include Microsoft Word, WordPerfect (Windows only), AppleWorks (Mac only), and OpenOffice.org.

People also ask, what is word processing WPM?

Words per minute, commonly abbreviated wpm (sometimes uppercased WPM), is a measure of words processed in a minute, often used as a measurement of the speed of typing, reading or Morse code sending and receiving. Average wpm can be calculated by counting all typed characters in one minute and dividing by five.

What is meant by word processing?

A word processor is software or a device that allows users to create, edit, and print documents. It enables you to write text, store it electronically, display it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and print it. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

«wpm» redirects here. For other uses, see WPM.

Words per minute, commonly abbreviated wpm (sometimes uppercased WPM), is a measure of words processed in a minute, often used as a measurement of the speed of typing, reading or Morse code sending and receiving.

Alphanumeric entry[edit]

Since words vary in length, for the purpose of measurement of text entry the definition of each «word» is often standardized to be five characters or keystrokes long in English,^[1] including spaces and punctuation. For example, under such a method applied to plain English text the phrase «I run» counts as one word, but «rhinoceros» and «let’s talk» would both count as two.

Karat et al. found in one study of average computer users in 1999 that the average rate for transcription was 32.5 words per minute, and 19.0 words per minute for composition.^[2] In the same study, when the group was divided into «fast», «moderate», and «slow» groups, the average speeds were 40 wpm, 35 wpm, and 23 wpm, respectively.

With the onset of the era of desktop computers, fast typing skills became much more widespread.

Typically, professional typists type at speeds of 43 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm.^[3] Two-finger typists, sometimes also referred to as «hunt and peck» typists, commonly reach sustained speeds of about 37 wpm for memorized text and 27 wpm when copying text, but in bursts may be able to reach much higher speeds.^[4] From the 1920s through the 1970s, typing speed (along with shorthand speed) was an important secretarial qualification, and typing contests were popular and often publicized by typewriter companies as promotional tools.

Stenotype[edit]

Stenotype keyboards enable the trained user to input text as fast as 360 wpm at very high accuracy for an extended period, which is sufficient for real-time activities such as court reporting or closed captioning. While training dropout rates are very high — in some cases only 10% or even fewer graduate — stenotype students are usually able to reach speeds of 100–120 wpm within six months, which is faster than most alphanumeric typists. Guinness World Records gives 360 wpm with 97.23% accuracy as the highest achieved speed using a stenotype.^[5]

Numeric entry[edit]

The numeric entry or 10-key speed is a measure of one’s ability to manipulate the numeric keypad found on most modern separate computer keyboards. It is used to measure speed for jobs such as data entry of number information on items such as remittance advice, bills, or checks, as deposited to lock boxes. It is measured in keystrokes per hour (KPH). Many jobs require a certain KPH, often 8,000 or 10,000.^{[citation needed]}

Handwriting[edit]

For an adult population (age range 18–60) the average speed of copying is 40 letters per minute (approximately 8 wpm), with the range from a minimum of 26 to a maximum of 113 letters per minute (approximately 5 to 20 wpm).^{[citation needed]}

A study of police interview records showed that the highest speed fell in the range 120–155 characters per minute, the highest possible limit being 190 characters per minute.^[6]

According to various studies the speed of handwriting of 3–7 graders varies from 25 to 94 letters per minute.^[7]

Using stenography (shorthand) methods, this rate increases greatly. Handwriting speeds up to 350 words per minute have been achieved in shorthand competitions.^[8]

Reading and comprehension[edit]

Words per minute is a common metric for assessing reading speed and is often used in the context of remedial skills evaluation, as well as in the context of speed reading, where it is a controversial measure of reading performance.

A word in this context is the same as in the context of speech.

Research done in 2012^[9] measured the speed at which subjects read a text aloud, and found the typical range of speeds across 17 different languages to be 184±29 wpm or 863±234 characters per minute. However, the number of wpm varied between languages, even for languages that use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabets: as low as 161±18 for Finnish and as high as 228±30 for English. This was because different languages have different average word lengths (longer words in such languages as Finnish and shorter words in English). However, the number of characters per minute tends to be around 1000 for all the tested languages. For the tested Asian languages that use particular writing systems (Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese) these numbers are lower.

Scientific studies have demonstrated that reading—defined here as capturing and decoding all the words on every page—faster than 900 wpm is not feasible given the limits set by the anatomy of the eye.^[10]

While proofreading materials, people are able to read English at 200 wpm on paper, and 180 wpm on a monitor.^[11] [Those numbers from Ziefle, 1998, are for studies that used monitors prior to 1992. See Noyes & Garland 2008 for a modern tech view of equivalence.]

Speech and listening[edit]

Audiobooks are recommended to be 150–160 words per minute, which is the range that people comfortably hear and vocalize words.^[12]

Slide presentations tend to be closer to 100–125 wpm for a comfortable pace,^[13] auctioneers can speak at about 250 wpm,^{[citation needed]} and the fastest speaking policy debaters speak from 350^[14] to over 500 words per minute.^[15] Internet speech calculators show that various things influence words per minute including nervousness.^{[citation needed]}

John Moschitta, Jr., was listed in Guinness World Records, for a time, as the world’s fastest speaker, being able to talk at 586 wpm.^[16] He has since been surpassed by Steve Woodmore, who achieved a rate of 637 wpm.^[17]

Sign language[edit]

In the realm of American Sign Language, the American Sign Language University (ASLU) specifies a cutoff proficiency for students who clock a signing speed of 110-130 wpm.^[18]

Morse code[edit]

Morse code uses variable length sequences of short and long duration signals (dits and dahs, colloquially called dots and dashes) to represent source information^[19] e.g., sequences for the letter «K» and numeral «2» are respectively (  ▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ) and (  ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ). This variability complicates the measurement of Morse code speed rated in words per minute. Using telegram messages, the average English word length is about five characters, each averaging 5.124 dot durations or baud. Spacing between words should also be considered, being seven dot durations in the USA and five in British territories. So the average British telegraph word was 30.67 dot times.^[20] So the baud rate of a Morse code is 50⁄60 × word per minute rate.

It is standard practice to use two different such standard words to measure Morse code speeds in words per minute. The standard words are: «PARIS» and «CODEX». In Morse code «PARIS» has a dot duration of 50, while «CODEX» has 60.

Although many countries no longer require it for licensing, Morse is still widely used by amateur radio («ham») operators. Experienced hams routinely send Morse at 20 words per minute, using manually operated hand telegraph keys; enthusiasts such as members of The CW Operators’ Club routinely send and receive Morse code at speeds up to 60 wpm. The upper limit for Morse operators attempting to write down Morse code received by ear using paper and pencil is roughly 20 wpm. Many skilled Morse code operators can receive Morse code by ear mentally without writing down the information at speeds up to 70 wpm.^[21] To write down the Morse code information manually at speeds higher than 20 wpm it is usual for the operators to use a typewriter or computer keyboard to enable higher speed copying.

In the United States a commercial radiotelegraph operator’s license is still issued, although there is almost no demand for it, since for long distance communication ships now use the satellite-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. Besides a written examination, proficiency at receiving Morse at 20 wpm plain language and 16 wpm in code groups must be demonstrated.^[22]

High-speed telegraphy contests are still held. The fastest Morse code operator was Theodore Roosevelt McElroy copying at 75.6 wpm using a typewriter at the 1939 world championship.^[23]

See also[edit]

• Colemak keyboard
• Dvorak keyboard
• Instructograph
• Keystroke dynamics
• Morse code
• Speed typing contest
• Touch typing

References[edit]

Good typing speeds are relative to job descriptions. For example, data entry positions usually require 60-80 words per minute. Medical transcriptionists, paralegals and executive secretaries should be able to type 70-100 wpm.

Jobs in which you normally spend very little time at the computer may not even have typing speed requirements. For example, sales people don’t need to type particularly fast. Service people like waiters, cosmetologists and security officers may not need to type at all. However, being able to type well can help you get more done, even if it’s just for yourself.

Speed and accuracy can be improved over time, but if you’re applying for a job that specifies a certain typing speed, be prepared to meet that requirement on your first day. In today’s fast-paced business environment employers expect new hires to hit the ground running.

The Fastest Typing Speeds Ever

The fastest recorded typists in history have speeds of over 200 wpm. In 1946, Stella Pajunas, from Chicago, hit 216 wpm on an IBM electric typewriter. Her record is still unbroken.

Barbara Blackburn of Salem, Oregon, came close in 2005 at 212 wpm. But some would argue apples and oranges because she use a modified keyboard.

The Guinness Book of Records lists “fastest typists” in many different categories. There’s the fastest typist using his nose (103 characters in 46.30 seconds) and the fastest typing time on a smartphone (264 characters in 56.57 seconds)

Averages and Accuracy

There is a slight difference in average typing speeds between males and females. Males average approximately 44 words per minute, while females average 37 words per minute. Handwriting is estimated to reach slightly more than 30 words per minute, which shows that even average typing is faster than handwriting.

Mistakes are inevitable. The average typist makes about eight errors per 100 words. While autocorrect can fix some errors, it can also create more problems. Consider this text exchange: “You need to change your autopsy date.” “What!?” “AUTOPAY! … I meant AUTOPAY date!”

If super accurate typing is important in your job, you may want to consider shutting off autocorrect. You can also customize it. Type “customize autocorrect” in your computer’s “Help” search bar for instructions.

Improve Your Typing Skills

Improving typing skills requires working on both speed and accuracy. Programs are available online to help. Many are free and incorporate online competitions with leaderboards to inspire better results.

Tips for improving typing typically focus on touch typing. Touch typing uses muscle memory to find keys quickly instead of glances down at the keyboard. This is same method pianists use so they can read music and play at the same time.

Voice to Text Technology

Developing accurate, easy to use voice to text software is a real challenge for software engineers. For starters, people speak much faster than they read or type. The average English speaker in the U.S. utters about 150 words per minute. Improvements in this field languished for a while but advances are once again being made.

Well designed voice recognition software can improve efficiency considerably. You can dictate a letter about three times faster than typing one. However, even the best programs take time to adapt to you. The software has to calibrate to your voice and, learn the words and phrases you use most often.

These programs work better the more you use them. Once they learn your most frequently used words and phrases, they’ll start predicting and auto-filling text the way your smartphone does. Prices for voice to text software range from several hundred dollars to several thousand. In general, the more you spend, the better the technology.