Colemak-DH Wide: The DH Mod with Better Hand Separation
Colemak-DH Wide combines the DH mod's improved center-column ergonomics with the wide mod's right-hand offset, creating what many consider the most comfortable Colemak variant for standard row-stagger keyboards.
Best for
Best for Colemak-DH users who want the flatter DH index-finger pattern plus wider hand separation and easier center-column punctuation access on a row-stagger board.
Main challenge
Colemak-DH Wide asks you to retrain both the DH letter changes and the wide-mod geometry, so brackets, slash, z, and the shifted right-hand positions need deliberate repetition before they feel trustworthy.
What Makes DH Wide Different
Colemak-DH Wide applies two independent modifications to the base Colemak layout. The DH mod moves D and H off the center column to reduce lateral stretching, while the wide mod shifts the right-hand block one column outward to improve hand separation. Together, these mods address the two most common ergonomic complaints about typing on row-stagger boards: center-column strain and right-hand cramping.
The letter-to-finger assignments are identical to Colemak-DH — the wide mod only changes the physical column positions, not which finger types which letter. Bracket and slash keys move to the center gap created by the shift.
Who Benefits from DH Wide
This variant is most valuable for typists who use full-size or tenkeyless row-stagger keyboards and want the maximum ergonomic benefit without switching to split hardware. If you already use Colemak-DH and feel right-hand tension, adding the wide mod is a low-cost improvement.
Colemak-DH users on standard keyboards who want better right-hand posture
New learners choosing a Colemak variant who plan to stay on row-stagger hardware
Typists who want split-keyboard-like hand separation without buying new hardware
Switching and Practice
If you already type Colemak-DH, adding the wide mod is a geometry adjustment that typically takes a few days. If you are starting fresh from QWERTY, learning Colemak-DH Wide is no harder than learning any other Colemak variant — the total number of key changes is the same.
SureTyping's lesson paths support Colemak-DH Wide as a separate layout, so your progress is tracked independently. The AI trainer will generate drills for the specific key positions in this variant, including the repositioned punctuation keys in the center columns.
Tracks
Lesson curriculum
422 lessons — View allLesson Stage
Individual Home Row Letters
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Foundations
Home Row Combinations
Early lessons that build finger anchors, repeatable reaches, and the first real words.
Lesson Stage
Individual Top Row Letters
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Upper Reach
Top Row Combinations
Lessons that add upper-row travel, alternating-hand rhythm, and controlled reach.
Lesson Stage
Individual Bottom Row Letters
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lower Reach
Bottom Row Combinations
Lessons that strengthen precision on the lower row and improve edge-key control.
Word Building
Word Building
Lessons that turn letter control into common words, bigrams, and connected phrases.
Lesson Stage
Fluency Review
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Capital Letters
Capital Letters
Lessons that teach opposite-hand Shift technique for capitals before moving into full mixed-text fluency.
Lesson Stage
Shift Technique
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Speed Drills
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Accuracy Training
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Real-World Typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Endurance
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Weak Key Recovery
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Full Keyboard
Mastery
Lessons that combine punctuation, numbers, symbols, mixed strings, and speed-oriented review work.
Lesson Stage
Punctuation & Numbers
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Casper Test Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
JavaScript code typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
TypeScript code typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Python code typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Java code typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: C
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: C++
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: C#
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Go
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Rust
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Ruby
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: PHP
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Swift
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Kotlin
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: SQL
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
HTML & CSS code typing
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Code: Bash
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Kira Talent Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Duet Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Snapshot Written Follow-up Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
GRE Analytical Writing Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
LSAT Writing Sample Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.
Lesson Stage
Coding Assessment Typing Prep
Part of the SureTyping guided lesson path.