Typing lesson 13 of 17
Typing numbers 4 and 7
The number row sits two rows above the home row, and each digit belongs to the finger that types the letter under it. Lesson 13 starts with the index fingers: 4 for the left, above R, and 7 for the right, above U.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Left index finger | Two rows up from F |
| 7 | Right index finger | Two rows up from J |
How to practice
- Reach and come back. A digit is two rows up, a longer reach than any letter. Reach from your home key, press, and return to the home row, as the drills do: f4f and j7j.
- Keep the other fingers home. Let the reaching finger travel alone, so your hand keeps its place.
- Type a number as one move. Read 474 as a whole, the way you read a short word, instead of three separate keys.
- Keep your eyes on the screen. In the number lessons the keyboard guide shows the number row and lights the next key.
Practice text
The text mixes common words with numbers made only of the digits learned so far, most of them with this lesson’s new digits, and a short drill for each new digit from its finger’s home key: f4f, j7j. Two rounds as the trainer writes them; each round draws new numbers and words:
444 4 j7j f4f back 4 74 74 old around 447 4474 44 there 47 their him second time 74
44 part these j7j 4747 7 no since well his 4 f4f 47 477 47 each need 447 7444 7747
Common mistakes
- Looking down for the number. The number row feels far from home at first. Reach by feel from F and J, and let the guide show the way.
- Lifting the whole hand. Reaching with the hand instead of the finger makes the next key land in the wrong place.
Frequently asked questions
Why start the number row with 4 and 7?
They belong to the index fingers, the strongest and most practiced, and each is a straight reach up from a key you know: 4 above R, 7 above U. The other fingers follow one pair at a time, and the index fingers’ stretch to 5 and 6 comes last.
Should I learn the number row or the number pad?
The number row first: every keyboard has it, laptops included, and your hands stay on the home row for numbers inside text. The number pad on a full-size keyboard is quicker for long columns of figures, and our finger placement guide explains its own home keys.
How do I pass lesson 13?
Type a round at 95% accuracy or better in which both 4 and 7 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 13.
What comes after lesson 13?
Lesson 14 adds 3 and 8. Once you pass lesson 13, the next round starts it, and you can go back to any lesson whenever you like.
