Typing lesson 8 of 17
Typing lesson 8: B and P
B is your left index finger’s reach down and to the right of F, and P is your right pinky’s reach up from ;. With them, 4,851 words in the word bank use only the letters so far, among them be, by, but and about.
Keys and fingers
- Pinky
- Ring finger
- Middle finger
- Index finger
- Thumbs (space bar)
- Pale: keys from earlier lessons
- Outlined: home keys
| Key | Finger | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| B | Left index finger | Down and right from F |
| P | Right pinky | Up from ; |
How to practice
- Stretch the left index finger for B while the other left fingers stay on the home row. It’s the longest reach so far.
- Lift the right pinky for P. It’s the first key that finger reaches for. Keep the ring finger on L.
- Come back after each reach. Both pull the hand off its place, so return to the bumps.
Practice words
4,851 words in the word bank use only the letters so far, and 1,351 of them have B or P. The 40 most common:
- be
- by
- but
- about
- up
- been
- people
- back
- because
- being
- before
- best
- both
- part
- between
- better
- help
- place
- big
- keep
- please
- put
- number
- play
- company
- group
- public
- top
- business
- person
- point
- bad
- support
- power
- stop
- based
- job
- party
- open
- black
A round of this lesson, as the trainer writes it for a new typist. Each round draws new words, most of them with the new keys:
temperature tobacco possibly ships proposals wrapped proposed pointing painting pump playing points bottle promotion making popularity potatoes pound updated branch
Common mistakes
- B with the right hand. Some typists reach B with the right index finger. The standard finger chart gives it to the left index finger, and so does the keyboard guide here. Whichever you use, use it every time.
- P with the ring finger. P belongs to the pinky. Letting the ring finger take it moves the hand up and away from L.
- V or N for B. The keys on either side: the reach landed a little short or long.
- O for P. The ring finger reaching for the pinky’s key.
Frequently asked questions
Which finger types B and P?
B is your left index finger, down and to the right from F. P is your right pinky, up from ;.
Can I type B with my right hand?
You can, if you always do. The standard finger chart gives B to the left index finger, and so does the keyboard guide here, but what matters most is using the same finger for a key every time. Our guide to touch typing finger placement explains why.
How do I pass lesson 8?
Type a round at 95% accuracy or better in which both B and P were typed right at least once. A lesson round is at most 30 words, and you can try again as often as you like: start lesson 8.
What comes after lesson 8?
Lesson 9 adds V and X. Once you pass lesson 8, the next round starts it, and you can go back to any lesson whenever you like.
