WPM algorithms - by words or letters?
By enyaloth - updated: 6 years, 8 months ago - 3 messages
I'm curious if anyone has insight into how these algorithms work. Is there a set number of letters the "average" word is supposed to have, and your score is determined by the speed you type letters - OR - is it actually by the word?
If it's actually calculating based on the time it takes to complete each word, it would stand to reason that scores would be higher that had more smaller words condensed into a paragraph, and that quotes that have more large words (slaughterhouse was just in one of mine) would end up producing a lower overall score regardless of actual speed, simply because it'll take longer to type a long word than a short word.
No complaints, I'm honestly just curious if anyone has an idea how the algorithm works. Based on actual words, or based on letters?
By anthonyhtyper - posted: 6 years, 8 months ago
I think the it is based on letters, but I am not entirely sure. I think this because every time you mess up one letter, your WPM goes down.
By jpardon - posted: 6 years, 8 months ago
I think it's based on letters since WPM is generally calculated by seeing 5 letters as a word, otherwise it wouldn't really be consistent
By enyaloth - posted: 6 years, 8 months ago
Ok, glad to know I'm not the only one with that thought process. And good point about going backwards with mistakes. Thanks!
