Typewriter Test

Type what trainee typists copied in 1894 and 1917, word for word.

Type each word and press space after it. The clock starts on your first key. They might have been tired. Either of them may have been regarded as quite busy. When were you here? We have much to do this week. What was the red flag for? When will she wed? The zebra was striped black and white. Jonah went down to Joppa. We never make more than this. Did you have the caret right? His was a sacred homily. Everett was very weary. What have you done upon this great theme? Were you there, and did you see me? What will you do about it? Much can be done by anyone. Say, when were mine made? Many might have easily been imposed upon.

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1 minute of typing. Words per minute is correct characters divided by five; accuracy is correct keystrokes out of all keystrokes.

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Next step A plain minute of common words

How it works

This typewriter test sets the pieces typists copied when the machine was a typewriter: sentences from a manual of 1894, then alphabetic sentences and business letters from one of 1917. Run 1, 3 or 5 minutes for WPM and accuracy.

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Two manuals, word for word

The opening sentences are from Practical Typewriting by Bates Torrey (New York: Fowler & Wells, 1894), whose title page promises a method that leads to operation by touch. The alphabetic sentences and the letters are from Rational Typewriting by Rupert P. SoRelle and Ida McLenan Cutler (Gregg, revised edition, 1917).

Spellings of the time

Type what is printed: inclosed for enclosed, to-day with its hyphen, the 16th inst. in a letter about a draft. The letters also carry dollar amounts and a number sign, and close with Yours very truly or Very respectfully.

Questions and answers

Is this typewriter test online or on a real typewriter?

Online, on your own keyboard: this online typewriter test times you as any typing test does. Only the text comes from the typewriter's day. No machine, bell or carriage is imitated.

What is an alphabetic sentence?

A sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet. The 1917 manual sets them for review, so that the fingers do not hesitate at rare letters such as x and z. The fox sentence is on the quick brown fox test.

Are the old typing manuals in the public domain?

Yes. Both were published in the United States before 1931, one in 1894 and one in 1916 and 1917, so their text is in the public domain there. Author, publisher, year and page are given under the list.

All 13 pieces

Sentences and straight copy 4

The ability to write a good business letter Rational Typewriting (1917), page 29, Eleventh Lesson, Third Exercise, which the manual credits to Thoughts on Business: straight copy in two paragraphs, to be typed twice.
Let us see if the broker will know Practical Typewriting (1894), page 21, paragraph 52, Sentences: the first nine, built from the page's list of commercial terms. Three words carry hyphens: premium-note, bill-lading, account-current.
The qualifications of the marshal Practical Typewriting (1894), pages 22 to 23, paragraph 54, Sentences, whole: fifteen sentences of long words from the lesson's word list, such as qualifications, extraordinary and acquaintance.
They might have been tired Practical Typewriting (1894), page 10, paragraph 30, Sentences: eighteen short sentences of common words, eight of them questions. The manual asks for an even touch and no jerky style.

Alphabetic sentences 3

The composer White just managed Rational Typewriting (1917), page 32, Thirteenth Lesson, Fourth Exercise: two alphabetic sentences, each with all 26 letters.
I endeavored to puzzle the ex-spy Rational Typewriting (1917), page 27, Tenth Lesson, Fourth Exercise: three alphabetic sentences, each to be written ten times. Every one holds all 26 letters.
The weak patient hazily recollected Rational Typewriting (1917), page 29, Eleventh Lesson, Fourth Exercise: two alphabetic sentences, each with all 26 letters. Jessamine is typed as printed.

Show all 13 pieces (6 more)

Business letters 6

Letter: a discount taken in error Rational Typewriting (1917), page 49, Nineteenth Lesson, Fifth Exercise, from the salutation to the close. Two dollar amounts with cents, and the apostrophe of 90 days' time.
Letter: a draft unanswered Rational Typewriting (1917), page 80, Thirtieth Lesson, Fourth Exercise, from the salutation to the close; the manual allows three minutes. To-day has its hyphen, as printed.
Letter: one piece repaired and returned Rational Typewriting (1917), page 80, Thirtieth Lesson, Second Exercise, from the salutation on; the manual allows three minutes. A number sign, two dates and $3.25 twice.
Letter: the freight embargo Rational Typewriting (1917), page 80, Thirtieth Lesson, Third Exercise, from the salutation on; the manual allows three minutes. Letters, commas and full stops only after the colon.
Letter: the net not yet delivered Rational Typewriting (1917), page 49, Nineteenth Lesson, Fourth Exercise, from the salutation to the close: a shop answers a customer about a parcel lost in the post.
Letter: thirty days more on the balance Rational Typewriting (1917), page 49, Nineteenth Lesson, Second Exercise, from the salutation to the close. The 27th inst. and inclosed are as printed.

How this list was compiled: Thirteen practice pieces taken word for word from two typewriting manuals printed in the United States, each read on a scan of the printed page. Three sets of sentences are from Bates Torrey, Practical Typewriting, third edition (New York: Fowler & Wells Co., 1894), pages 10, 21 and 22 to 23 (paragraphs 30, 52 and 54). The other ten are from Rupert P. SoRelle and Ida McLenan Cutler, Rational Typewriting, revised edition (New York: The Gregg Publishing Company, copyright 1916 and 1917): straight copy from page 29, alphabetic sentences from pages 27, 29 and 32, and business letters from pages 49 and 80. Each note opens with the manual, its year and the page of the piece. Changes to the text: words divided at a line end were joined, runs of spaces were set as single spaces, the space the 1894 printing leaves before a question mark was closed up, and each letter begins at its salutation, without the name and address printed above it. Spellings of the time (inclosed, inclosing, to-day, endeavored) are kept as printed. One alphabetic sentence that names a maker of goods was not taken, nor the manual's sentence about the fox, which has a page of its own. Every alphabetic sentence here holds all 26 letters. Works published in the United States before 1931 are in the public domain there (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain_in_the_United_States). Characters divided by five give standard words (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words_per_minute). Titles of the letters and the notes are own work. All checked 2026-10-07. Licence: Public domain in the United States: two manuals published there in 1894 and in 1916 to 1917, before 1931 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain_in_the_United_States). Titles of the letters and the notes are own work.