I need tips to text better after a jillion years of frustration

August 2, 2023 4:51 PM

I am an iphone user and not good at texting at all. I've tried all the major third-party keyboards and swipe texting and I never have success. Hand cramps and pain.

I get stressed and frustrated and then it gets worse. My thumbs hurt often and its the only method my kids will communicate with me, when they actually do. I can't seem to find articles about this that are useful. I've done voice-to-text but that's so awkward when I'm in public or trying to have a sneaky conversation about something snarky.

I am currently strapped for cash so I can't afford third-party devices though am interested in hearing about them if they have worked for you.

Any tips (bad pun?)? My thumbs are killing me and I'm so tired of not having accurate texts.

** This askmefi was typed on a computer, thankfully **

posted by Mr. Hazlenut to Technology (27 answers total)

If you've got a Mac, I think there's a Messages app that you can configure to send/receive messages like the Messages app on your iPhone.

If you've got a Windows computer, there's something similar that should be out now, or out soon: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-starts-official-roll-out-of-phone-link-for-ios-with-imessage-support/.

So those are two text-with-QWERTY possibilities.


If you wanted voice-to-text without being overheard, there are throat microphones but I don't think they're renowned for audio fidelity. But it might allow you to snark in public without straining your thumbs.

(It may be worth asking your kids how they hold their phones, or watching what they do----if they're texting a ton without a lot of hand pain, maybe you could adopt a grip or posture hack that they're using.)
posted by adekllny at 5:12 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Is your computer a Mac, and do you use the same Apple ID for both the computer and your phone? Are you texting people who use iPhones? If so, you can text from the Messages app on your computer, and you will see the conversations on both the phone and the computer. Unfortunately this only works if all the devices involved are Apple devices.
posted by expialidocious at 5:14 PM on August 2, 2023

Can you try one pointer finger typing? I end up using right pointer and left thumb as often as I use just thumbs when I’m typing on an iPhone screen. Maybe switching between different options will give your thumbs a break?

Another option might be working on strengthening your hands- try looking for OT or PT resources, either as articles/guides or getting a referral from your primary care doctor or directly booking a one time consult, depending on what your insurance and cash reserves will allow.
posted by MadamM at 5:44 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]

WhatsApp and Google Voice are messaging options that work in the browser. Any connected device you like.

Or there are small (ish) bluetooth keyboards that work for phones, too. Not vouching for it, but as an example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148NPH9I
posted by adekllny at 5:52 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Have you considered a folding Bluetooth keyboard?
posted by Peach at 6:14 PM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

If folks are in the googleverse there's the Chat app on the phone and the web app on the computer.

It's possible to connect a bluetooth keyboard to an iphone, although this this setup is not great for on the go.

I don't think the expensive apple pencil will work on the iphone, but I'm pretty sure a cheap "dumb" stylus will work (diy option).

You may wish to explore different ways of holding the phone. Maybe you would find it more comfortable to create your own ergonomic grip out of say Sugru or use a Pop Socket (or similar). At the very least, you might want to try propping up the phone and texting with your pointer fingers when you are stationary.
posted by oceano at 6:18 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Is your computer a Mac, and do you use the same Apple ID for both the computer and your phone? Are you texting people who use iPhones? If so, you can text from the Messages app on your computer, and you will see the conversations on both the phone and the computer. Unfortunately this only works if all the devices involved are Apple devices.

Just a slight correction -- this works perfectly for texting people on any device, not just Apple products. It doesn't solve the "how do you text efficiently from your phone," but does solve the problem for when you are at your computer.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:42 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]

I would get good with Siri. Look for a YouTube or webpage how to on how to edit the text with voice also.
posted by creiszhanson at 6:45 PM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Have you used a stylus? You can try the cheapest ones that you find as long as it has a rubbery tip.
posted by soelo at 7:26 PM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: From this response to another recent question about how to make texting easier, I learned about handwriting mode for Android phones. I tried it out and was amazed at how easily it could read my messy quickly scrawled index finger printing. It's often faster and easier than using the keyboard. I just checked and apparently you can do the same thing on an iPhone, though I don't know if it works as well. These instructions talk about switching between lowercase, uppercase, numbers and punctuation, which seems annoying. On an Android phone, you can just include uppercase letters or numbers or punctuation in whatever you're writing with no need to change modes. It might be worth trying it out to see if you like it any better than tapping with your thumbs.
posted by Redstart at 7:42 PM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]

I’m a one-finger typer on my iPhone (an old 6s, so a small screen) and would heartily recommend you adopt the same technique. I also use the suggested words across the top of the keyboard. Once you get the system trained, it’s pretty amazing how quickly you can text this way.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 PM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

If I'm at home I type them (if words are simple I voice type) in and copy paste from outlook to txt.
posted by unearthed at 8:41 PM on August 2, 2023

Best answer: Another vote for one or 2 finger typing, never a thumb. Also, does yr messaging app suggest words after you start typing? That helps a bit.
posted by j810c at 9:06 PM on August 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

+1 to:

- switching typing styles to just your index and middle fingers (need phone on a flat surface or inclined holder)

- handwriting input mode

- Bluetooth folding keyboard or stylus+pad
posted by cendawanita at 11:25 PM on August 2, 2023

Best answer: I can't do the thumbs thing, not even a little bit. All my texting is done by holding my phone in my left hand and and tapping on it with my right pointer finger.

People who can do the thumbs thing occasionally look totally horrified when they see me poking at my phone like a n00b, and I'm sure they're experiencing the same kind of pain that I used to as a callow thirty-year-old computer programmer watching an Old hunt and peck at a real keyboard. This amuses me enormously, especially given that my own quite rapid keyboard technique leaves my ring and little fingers completely unused.

I use my phone nowhere near as fast as little ms flabdablet, nor as frequently, but I'm 61 and she's 18 and she's the one whose neck and shoulders and forearms get all tight and painful, not me.
posted by flabdablet at 12:05 AM on August 3, 2023 [3 favorites]

I will just say that the keyboard in iOS 17 is considerably better. You could try signing up to the beta, which is reasonably stable now, or just wait til next month when it's released.
posted by osmond_nash at 2:26 AM on August 3, 2023

Best answer: My wife taps away one character at a time using her thumbs, and I'm always struck by how slow and awkward it looks.

I've taken to swiping and just use the index finger of my right hand, as I tend to hold the phone in my left hand. Even with the phone on a desk, I only use the one finger to swipe-type. Most of the movement is from the elbow and shoulder, so my hand is relaxed and I'm not bending my wrist or fingers.

I can only speak for what works for me, of course, but the swiping/one-finger combo often seems to cause a 'wow, I didn't know you could do that' response from thumb-typists.
posted by pipeski at 3:51 AM on August 3, 2023 [2 favorites]

This isn't related to typing itself, but how's the size of your phone relative to the size of your hands? Do you have a pop socket or other device to help you hold the phone more easily? It might be as much about the size or grip on the phone while typing as the typing itself.
posted by misskaz at 4:06 AM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

I have large hands and a fairly small iPhone. I text using either my thumb (when holding the phone in the same hand as the thumb) or forefinger (when holding my phone in the other hand); I use a mix of swiping and one-digit typing plus the predictive text. But my preference is for the voice to text, which I use whenever possible. It mostly works ok, though I am way, way slower than the people I see who have a fast two-hand technique, and I am learning to live with weird typos/autocorrect.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:00 AM on August 3, 2023

Best answer: I will just say that the keyboard in iOS 17 is considerably better. You could try signing up to the beta, which is reasonably stable now, or just wait til next month when it's released.

I got very excited reading this, assuming Apple had added punctuation to the main screen of the keyboard so I signed up for Beta. Alas, no such improvement.

In answer to the question:

- Switch to a smaller keyboard for one handed swiping. To do this, with the keyboard open, long-press whatever is in the bottom left corner of the keyboard. Sometimes it's a globe and sometimes it's a smiley. A window will pop up. The bottom row of that window has three keyboard icons. If you're right handed, hit the one on the right. it will shrink the keyboard and move it to the right side of the screen so you can access it better with one hand. Obviously, if you're left handed, hit hit the left icon instead. The middle icon returns the keyboard to full size.

- Use iMessage on laptop when you can / dictation when you can

- Switch to a Swiping keyboard

- Possibly use a stylus instead of your finger
posted by dobbs at 6:37 AM on August 3, 2023

Also thinking way outside the box here, a low/no cost solution, you could handwrite the note on paper and scan it to text with your phone camera.

posted by CleverClover at 6:54 AM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Oh, a few other tips regarding the keyboard:

- If you hold down on the spacebar, your entire keyboard will become a track pad. You can then scroll that same finger around to move the cursor.

- When trying to do punctuation or symbols, assuming you only need one and not multiple, you can press and hold the 123 button, slide your finger to the appropriate symbol / punctuation, and then release to get back to the main keyboard. Will save you a bit of clicking.
posted by dobbs at 9:27 AM on August 3, 2023

Mod note: One comment removed, please read the question before answering, thank you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 11:00 AM on August 3, 2023

if you can't change the phone, can you attend to those wrists and forearm with massage? The carpal tunnel bundles the tendons that move your fingers to their muscles in your forearm, and it can become sore and scar.

Check you're drinking enough water and massage those forearms to loosen your thumbs. You can also massage the muscly pads around your thumb to help with this.
posted by k3ninho at 11:48 AM on August 3, 2023

To enrich the stylus option a bit: try a stylus with a swiping keyboard. It feels like scribbling on a notepad, or like writing on an old PalmPilot. I find the ubiquitous rubber-tip styli to unreliable especially with tappy-taps; this $10 wire mesh-tipped stylus was worth it for me — I know you aren’t looking to add gadgets but it could be worth it if you find the stylus option to be generally useful.

I’m also curious if your texting-prone children would be likely to listen to voice memos that can be sent with most messaging apps. Some of my relationships are voice-memo relationships and others are very much not, so ymmv.
posted by xueexueg at 12:49 PM on August 3, 2023

Best answer: I hold the phone in my left hand and swipe with my right index finger. I like the SwiftKey keyboard. After installing it, 90% of the time, it is the default keyboard on my phone, no extra work needed. Occasionally, I need to remind my keyboard to use to use SwiftKey keyboard instead of apple's keyboard, and there are one or two apps that refuse to recognize it (it's not even an option in the "globe" menu on the keyboard). This is a free keyboard, and I've used it for many years without purchasing anything (app store says it has in-app purchases, but that's unnecessary).
posted by hydra77 at 10:49 AM on August 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: As mentioned in my above comment, I prefer to type with one index finger, mostly because my thumbs are way too short to type effectively otherwise. But I wanted to make sure you were aware of Apple's option to reduce the size of their keyboard. I believe they call it one-handed mode. If you're struggling because your thumbs are stretching too far, you can set the keyboard on just half of the screen. See here.
posted by hydra77 at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2023