PAPERmaking!

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY

INTERNATIONAL®
Volume 9, Number 2 2023


Speed Reading: How to Absorb
Information Quickly and Effectively
In this article, we'll look at the skill of speed reading, and explore techniques that you can use to read better and
faster.

We'll also consider the pros and cons of speed reading – when it is appropriate to use, and the effects that it can
have on understanding.

By the Mind Tools Content Team (9 min read)

https://www.mindtools.com/aokg6bn/speed-reading

The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) is an independent organisation which operates for
the general benefit of its members – both individual and corporate – dedicated to promoting and
improving the technical and scientific knowledge of those working in the UK pulp and paper industry.
Formed in 1960, it serves the Industry, both manufacturers and suppliers, by providing a forum for
members to meet and network; it organises visits, conferences and training seminars that cover all
aspects of papermaking science. It also publishes the prestigious journal Paper Technology
International® and the PITA Annual Review, both sent free to members, and a range of other technical
publications which include conference proceedings and the acclaimed Essential Guide to Aqueous
Coating.

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FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PA
APER TECHNOLOGY®
Volume 9, Number 2, 2023


What Is Speed Reading?

Speed reading is the process of rapidly recognizing and absorbing phrases or sentences on a page all at once,
rather than identifying individual words.

The amount of information that we process seems to be growing by the day, whether it's emails, reports and websites
at work, or social media, books and magazines at home. We likely feel pressure to get through this information more
quickly, so that we can "stay in the loop"

Most people read at an average rate of 250 words per minute (wpm), though some are naturally quicker than others.
But, the ability to speed read could mean that you double this rate.

We'll now explore some of the skills that you can use to accelerate your reading.

How to Speed Read

All speed reading techniques have one thing in common: you avoid pronouncing and "hearing" each word in your
head as you read it, a process known as "sub-vocalization." Instead, you "skim" lines or groups of words, as you
can understand words more quickly than you can say them.

One way to stop yourself from sub-vocalizing is to focus on blocks of words rather than on individual ones. Do this
by relaxing your face and "softening" or expanding your gaze on the page, so that you stop seeing words as single,
distinct units. As you practice this, your eyes will skip faster across the page.

Then, when you approach the end of a line, allow your peripheral vision to take your eye to the final set of words.
This will help to stop pauses in your reading (often at full points), meaning that you scan across and down to the
next line more quickly.

Now let's look at three methods to boost your reading speed:

1. The Pointer Method

Utah school teacher Evelyn Nielsen Wood was one of the pioneers of speed reading. In the 1950s, she claimed that
she could read at up to 2,700 wpm if she swept a finger along the line as she read.

This became known as the Pointer method, and is also sometimes called "hand pacing" or "meta guiding." Holding
a card under each line and drawing it down the page as you read works just as well.

2. The Tracker-and-Pacer Method

This is a variant of the Pointer method where you hold a pen, with its cap still on, and underline or track each line as
you read it, keeping your eye above the tip of the pen. This will help to increase the pace at which you take in each
line, and improve your focus on the words. Whether you actually underline the words is your choice.

Try to spend no more than one second on each line and then increase your speed with each subsequent page. You
will probably find that you retain very little information at first, but, as you train your brain and you become more
comfortable with the technique, your comprehension should improve.

Note: An advantage of the Pointer and Tracker-and-Pacer methods is that they should reduce your need to skip
back and re-read sentences – a hindrance to speed reading that is known as "regression."

3. The Scanning (or Previewing) Method

"Scanning" involves moving your eyes quickly down the page – often down the center – and identifying specific
words and phrases as you go. These can be key sentences (often the first sentence of each paragraph), names,
numbers, or trigger words and ideas. Learning to expand your peripheral vision can help with this.

You won't read every word, but your eye will land on what is important to allow you to grasp the basic idea. It may
be helpful to use a mind map® to organize the information you take in.

When to Speed Read

These techniques can all help you to read more quickly, but are they appropriate for what you're trying to achieve?

Effective speed reading is a balance between pace and comprehension. Studies have found that the faster you
read, the less information you take in, particularly when it comes to remembering detail. [1]

So, speed reading is clearly not the answer if you're reading a complex legal or technical document, even if you are
pushed for time. Similarly, it would be sensible to slow down if the material you're reading is new or unfamiliar, or if
you have to teach it to someone else.


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FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PA
APER TECHNOLOGY®
Volume 9, Number 2, 2023


When you need to understand only the basic arguments or conclusions being presented, though, using a speed
reading technique can work.

This may especially be the case if you intend to go back and re-read something more slowly when you're less busy.
In fact, one study has suggested that skimming a text can improve your comprehension the second time around. [2]

Generally speaking, if you want to memorize something, you'll need to read slowly, at less than 100 wpm. A normal
rate for learning is 100-200 wpm, and for comprehension it is 200-400 wpm.

Speed reading is normally done at a rate of around 400-700 wpm. Anything above 500-600 wpm means sacrificing
comprehension, although this varies from person to person.

How to Improve Your Speed Reading

Knowing the "how" and "when" of speed reading is only the first step to success. Here are some more tips to help
you:

x Avoid distractions. Create an environment where there are as few interruptions and distractions as possible,
to allow you to focus fully on the words in front of you.
x Go easy. Read an uncomplicated novel or a simple online article to get a feel for which technique is going
to work best for you. Gauge how much you've remembered or understood, and set a timer to see how much
faster you are now reading.
x Cover words that you've already read. This helps you to stop your eyes from flitting back to earlier words
and slowing down your reading.
x Know what you want from the text. This can be useful if you are using the skimming method, as it primes
you to pay attention when you see relevant words, sentences or phrases. You can then slow down at these
points, or circle them for emphasis, but otherwise move across the page quickly.
x Benchmark your progress. This way you can tell whether your practice is paying off. There are many free
speed reading assessments online, such as at ReadingSoft.com
x Practice, practice, practice. You have to practice speed reading to get good at it. The more you train
yourself, the more natural it will feel.

Key Points
There are different techniques that you can use to improve your reading speed. All of them involve skimming a page
rather than "sub-vocalizing" each word as you were likely taught at school.

Excellent speed reading involves practice and retraining yourself, as well as learning to focus more on what is in
front of you and avoiding distractions.

But it is important to strike the right balance between speed and comprehension: sometimes speed reading is not
appropriate or helpful.

References
[1] Just, M.A. and Carpenter, P. (1987). The Psychology of Reading and Language Comprehension. Boston: Allyn
and Bacon, Inc.

[2] McClusky, H. (1934). 'An Experiment on the Influence of Preliminary Skimming on Reading,' Journal of
Educational Psychology, 25(7), 521–529 [online].


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