Fact · Typing and writing speed
0.5keystrokes per character
For English, KSPC runs from about 10 for methods that use only cursor keys and a select key to about 0.5 for word prediction.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“Values for English range from about 10 for methods using only cursor keys and a SELECT key to about 0.5 for word prediction techniques.”
KSPC (Keystrokes per Character) as a Characteristic of Text Entry Techniques, I. Scott MacKenzie, Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Human Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices (Mobile HCI 2002), LNCS 2411, Springer, 2002, Abstract.
Open the original (DOI 10.1007/3-540-45756-9_16)- What it measures
- A lower number means fewer keystrokes for each character produced, so word prediction saves most keystrokes.
- What it does not show
- These are design values for techniques, not measurements of typists.