typist

Everyday

1. A typist is a person who types, especially someone whose job is typing letters and documents. tree →
2. Anyone who types can be called a typist, such as «a fast typist». tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons about offices, typists worked on typewriters, often in big typing pools, before computers. Today the word mostly describes how fast or accurately someone types; children practise touch typing in computing lessons. In maths problems, typing speed is given in words per minute. Phrases: «a fast typist», «touch typist», «a two-finger typist».

Examples

• The typist typed 60 words a minute. tree →
• Grandma worked as a typist in an office. tree →
• I'm a slow typist because I use two fingers. tree →
• Touch typists don't look at the keyboard. tree →
• A typist who types 40 words a minute types 400 words in 10 minutes. tree →
• In old films, rows of typists clatter away on typewriters. tree →

Note

Countable: a typist, typists. Verb: type; the machine is a typewriter. «Typo» is a typing mistake.