# About Typewriters

**URL:** <https://community.typesy.com/t/about-typewriters/1976>\
**Category:** The Science of Keyboarding\
**Created:** [April 13, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/about-typewriters/1976 "2020-04-13T07:17:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ellenahale](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/community.typesy.com/ellenahale/32/302_2.png) [@ellenahale](https://community.typesy.com/u/ellenahale)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/about-typewriters/1976/1 "2020-04-13T07:17:39Z")

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When were typewriters invented?

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**Author:** ![Arella](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/community.typesy.com/arella/32/197_2.png) [@Arella](https://community.typesy.com/u/Arella)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 7:46am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/about-typewriters/1976/2 "2020-04-13T07:46:32Z")

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Hi!

The earliest typewriters in the 1870s arranged the keys in more-or-less alphabetical order, or in a pattern derived from how typographers worked to typeset books and newspapers. But as typists got faster, the mechanical keys would jam up. To slow down typists and avoid jams, many of the most popular letters in English were moved to opposite sides of the keyboard.

Best Regards,  
Arella Bernales  
Community Moderator at Typesy

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**Author:** ![Alex](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/community.typesy.com/alex/32/194_2.png) [@Alex](https://community.typesy.com/u/Alex)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/about-typewriters/1976/3 "2020-07-23T19:06:56Z")

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Hi there, @ellenahale!

Early typewriter typists had issues with keys getting jammed, so QWERTY was designed to avoid this. The thinking was to stretch commonly used letters apart, allowing your fingers to be less cramped when typing.

When typewriter typists were tested on their ability, their WPM score was reduced by 10 for every mistake made within a minute long test. So a speedy typer may clock in at 50 WPM but make 3 mistakes, dragging their overall score down to 20 WPM. Pretty harsh!

Regards,  
Alex (The Reimagined Classroom Teacher)