# Typing Speed Vs Typing Accuracy

**URL:** <https://community.typesy.com/t/typing-speed-vs-typing-accuracy/1698>\
**Category:** The Science of Keyboarding\
**Created:** [April 7, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/typing-speed-vs-typing-accuracy/1698 "2020-04-07T05:28:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nathanhouston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@nathanhouston](https://community.typesy.com/u/nathanhouston)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/typing-speed-vs-typing-accuracy/1698/1 "2020-04-07T05:28:48Z")

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Which is more important, typing speed or typing accuracy?

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**Author:** ![ABernales](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/13edae/32.png) [@ABernales](https://community.typesy.com/u/ABernales)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/typing-speed-vs-typing-accuracy/1698/2 "2020-04-08T01:45:53Z")

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Hi Nathan,

I hope you are having a great day.

One of the most common typing mistakes is thinking that speed is more important than accuracy. Yes, WPM can be used to measure typing skill, but accuracy is a key consideration for any typing job. Don’t forget accuracy as you learn.

Thanks, and I hope that helped.

Best Regards,  
Aidan 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:** [June 10, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.typesy.com/t/typing-speed-vs-typing-accuracy/1698/3 "2020-06-10T20:51:33Z")

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Hello, @nathanhouston!

A high WPM with low accuracy is not a desirable goal; the amount of time needed to correct typing errors should be taken into account when testing a true WPM. In times past, 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 typist may clock in at 50 WPM but make 3 mistakes, dragging their overall score down to 20 WPM.

It makes sense, I suppose - not much point in typing incredibly fast if there are so many mistakes your writing becomes illegible!

Regards,  
Alex (The Reimagined Classroom Teacher)