5 Steps to Read Faster
1. Eliminate vocalization or sub vocalization as you read (sounding out the words either out loud or in
your head). Vocalization will dramatically reduce your reading speed as your lips need time to sound out each
word. Remember that eliminating vocalization will increase your speed, but most likely decrease your
comprehension.2
2. Instead of reading word by word, read in chunks of words, or even full sentences. The longer you
spend on each word the slower you will read, so it is important to read phrases of multiple words so as to
increase your speed. Slow readers often take long pauses between words, thus slowing them down. Try
practicing on a newspaper with columns that are 4 or 5 words wide so as to get a better sense of reading in
chunks of text.
3. Don't reread text that you have already read. Doing so will only disrupt your brain's flow and will slow you
down.
4. Try to lightly skim the text either before or after reading it. Read only a few words per line and try to
glean a general meaning out of the text. Skimming before reading will help introduce you to the topic and the
author's purpose and will help you read faster. Skimming after reading will allow you to draw key points out of
particularly dense or hard to read material.
5. Use one of the methods below to help start you reading faster. As you get better at them, try moving
your placeholder faster and see if your eyes can keep up and remember to try to keep both your eyes and your
placeholder moving in one constant motion.
The Hand Method
Move your hand down the page as you read in a slow, constant motion.
Your hand should set the pace for your eyes as you read each line.
Use whichever hand you are comfortable with, as long as it helps you keep the pace.
The Index Card Method
Use an index card (or folded piece of paper) to cover the whole width of the page and put it under the
line you are reading.
As you read, move the card down the page always "underlining" the line that you are reading.
This is especially helpful for people who reread sections as it helps keep them focused on one line at a
time.
The Sweep Method
Sweep your hand across each line as you read it, moving it under each word as you read it.
