What Is WPM (and How Is It Measured)?
WPM stands for words per minute — the standard measure of typing speed. But a "word" here is not what you might think.
The 5-character word
Because real words vary wildly in length, typing speed uses a standardized word of 5 characters (including spaces). So WPM = (characters typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes elapsed. This makes scores comparable no matter what text you type.
Gross vs net WPM
Gross WPM counts everything you typed. Net WPM subtracts your errors — it is the number that actually reflects usable speed. Most tests (keyspraut included) report a net-style figure that rewards accuracy.
Why accuracy is baked in
A blazing gross WPM with 80% accuracy is slower in practice than a steady run at 98%, once you account for fixing mistakes. That is why serious typists chase accuracy first and let speed follow.