Typing vs Handwriting vs Dictation: Which Is Fastest?

There are four common ways to get words out of your head and onto a page: writing by hand, typing on a keyboard, typing on a phone and speaking to a device that writes for you. They differ a great deal in speed, and the fastest one on paper is not always the fastest in practice. Here is how they compare, and when each one is the right choice.

The speeds, side by side

These are typical ranges for adults. Individuals vary widely.

• Handwriting: about 15 to 25 words per minute for ordinary writing. Faster is possible for short stretches, at the cost of legibility.
• Typing on a phone: around 35 to 40 words per minute on average. A large study of tens of thousands of volunteers found an average of about 36, with people who use two thumbs clearly ahead of those who use one finger.
• Typing on a keyboard: around 40 to 50 words per minute for the average adult. A study of more than a hundred thousand volunteers found an average near 52. Trained touch typists commonly reach 60 to 80, and professionals pass 100.
• Speaking: conversational speech runs at roughly 120 to 150 words per minute.

On raw speed, speech wins easily. It is about three times the pace of an average typist and six or more times the pace of handwriting. But raw speed is only the first step.

Why dictation is not three times faster

Dictation software has become very accurate, and for some people it is the best tool available. For most, the real gain is smaller than the numbers suggest.

• Corrections. Names, technical terms, numbers and unusual words are often misheard. Each correction takes longer than typing the word would have.
• Punctuation and layout. You either say "comma" and "new paragraph" aloud, or you add them afterwards.
• Composing aloud. Speaking a finished sentence without a pause is a skill. Most people stop, restart and rephrase, and the result needs heavy editing.
• Where you are. Dictation needs a quiet place where speaking is acceptable. That rules out most offices, libraries, trains and shared homes.
• Editing still needs hands. Moving a paragraph or fixing one word is faster with a keyboard.

When the time for corrections and editing is included, dictating a careful document often ends up close to the pace of a good typist. For a rough first draft, or for someone who types slowly, it can still be much faster.

Why handwriting is still worth using

Handwriting is the slowest method by a wide margin, and that is sometimes an advantage. Because you cannot write down everything a speaker says, you are forced to pick out what matters and put it in your own words. Several studies of students have suggested that this helps understanding compared with typing a lecture word for word, though the findings are mixed and the benefit seems to come from summarising, not from the pen.

Handwriting also suits diagrams, equations, quick sketches and anything where position on the page carries meaning. And a notebook has no notifications.

When typing is the best choice

For most written work, the keyboard is the best balance of speed, accuracy and control.

• Speed that holds up. A good typist can keep 60 words per minute or more for long periods without strain.
• Editing is built in. You can correct, reorder and rewrite as you go.
• It is silent and private. It works in any setting.
• The result is searchable and easy to share.
• It handles everything. Numbers, symbols, code, tables and formatting are all typed the same way.

The catch is that these advantages belong to people who type well. At 25 words per minute with two fingers and eyes on the keys, typing is barely ahead of handwriting, and the effort of finding keys gets in the way of thinking. This is why learning to touch type pays back so much: it moves you from the bottom of the keyboard range to the upper part, and it is the only one of the four methods where practice can double your speed.

Choosing by task

• Notes in a meeting or class: handwriting if you want to understand and remember, typing if you need a complete record.
• Long documents, reports and essays: typing. Dictate a first draft if speaking comes easily to you, then edit by keyboard.
• Short messages on the move: phone typing, or dictation when your hands are busy.
• Capturing ideas quickly: dictation is excellent. Speak freely and tidy up later.
• Code, spreadsheets and anything with symbols: typing.
• Sore hands or an injury: dictation, to rest the hands. It is also an essential tool for people who cannot type comfortably at all.

Using them together

The methods combine well. Many writers plan on paper, draft by voice or keyboard, and edit by keyboard. Using more than one also spreads the physical load, which matters if you write for many hours a day.

What this means for your typing

If you type at 40 words per minute, you are working at about a third of the speed at which you can form sentences in your head. Your thoughts wait for your fingers. At 70 or 80, that wait shrinks to almost nothing for most kinds of writing, and you get the editing, privacy and accuracy of the keyboard as well. That is the practical argument for improving your typing: not to win a race, but to make writing by keyboard keep up with thinking.