Quick Reading: When To Use It

We often have to process a large amount of written information, whether it is in emails, websites, work reports, social networks or exercise books. Since we must read all the time, we can all benefit from reading faster. Today we will discuss techniques for quick reading and when to use them.

The good news is that it is possible to increase the speed at which you read. The average person reads between 150 and 250 words per minute. But if you put a variety of quick reading techniques into practice, you can read up to 700 words per minute!

Keep reading to learn what these techniques are and when they are practical.

What is speed reading?

Quick reading is when a person identifies and takes in whole sentences in an instant, instead of looking at each word individually. Some people are born with this ability, but others who were not can still develop it by practicing.

Even if you read faster, you do not sacrifice comprehension. Instead, the effectiveness lies in achieving a balance between rhythm and a general understanding of the content. Therefore, the goal is for you to understand the meaning of the text without wasting time.

There are studies that suggest that fast reading (as long as it is done effectively) is more productive than slow reading. This is especially true for those who have to process and work with a lot of written information throughout the day.

Here are some of the benefits:

• It allows you to read, understand and analyze the text in less time.
• Develops the ability to link previous information and new concepts.
• Sharpen your ability to recognize key ideas.
• Causes less strain on the eyes.
• Increases language ability.

When is quick reading useful?

Quick reading will be useful in the following situations:

• If you have difficulty reading: for example, if you constantly have to go back in the text to understand the main idea, or if you read more slowly than usual. Quick reading techniques can help increase your reading skills.
• You need to read about a topic that is easy to understand or that you are already familiar with.
• When you just need to understand the basic arguments or conclusions in written material.
• If you plan to take a closer look at the text another time. A study found that looking at the material in advance can improve the understanding of the text a second time.
• After reading the material carefully. Quick re-reading can help you keep the information better.

When do we not recommend it?

Although it sounds good to be able to read and understand written material in the shortest possible time, we do not always recommend it. This is because it is not an effective strategy for every situation.

These are the situations where we would not recommend using it:

• When you need to read a legal document or something that contains complex information. These documents require careful thinking. In addition, it has been shown that the faster you read, the less you understand. Although the goal of speed reading is to find a balance between speed and comprehension, it is best to understand as much as possible in these cases.
• If you want to remember something. In such situations, it is best to read slowly. We recommend reading at 100 words per minute in these cases.

Speed ​​reading techniques

To increase your reading speed, you need to develop your physical and mental skills. This will require specific methods and practices. In addition, if you want to increase your reading speed, it is important to constantly and systematically follow a variety of speed testing techniques.

It is also best to improve your understanding, concentration and retention strategies at the same time.

Avoid subvocalization

Subvocalization (also known as your inner voice) consists of the mental pronunciation of words as you read. This habit is one of the main reasons why your reading slows down.

Therefore, do not subvoice to read faster. At first, this may be a difficult habit to avoid, and you may feel that you do not understand anything. Just remember that it is a matter of endurance and exercise.

The pointer method

Another tool that can help increase the reading speed is to point at the line you are reading with your index finger, a pencil or another object that can act as a pointer. This will increase the focus and concentration on the words.

Scanning

This is one of the most common techniques for speed reading. It consists of recognizing the main ideas in the text by foaming with the eyes.

When you do this, you will not read every word. Instead, identify the most important elements of the text. This is useful when you need to find information about dates, names and places.

To do this, usually read the first sentence of each paragraph and then try to find the important sentences in each paragraph. In addition, it is useful to search for items such as lists, captions, charts and indexes. Finally, you should be able to understand the main idea.

Avoid reading again

Going back in the text is usually a very common practice when we do not understand what we are reading. We tend to re-read to find out what we are missing because we want to understand the main picture of the text.

However, this causes more delay and actually damages our understanding of the material.

Develop reading comprehension

There is no point in reading fast if you do not understand what you are reading. Therefore, it is also important that you develop your ability to understand the meaning of the text.

To improve this skill, we recommend:

• Expand your vocabulary: this will involve learning new words and their different meanings in different contexts.
• Take notes and summarize: When you write and summarize, you force yourself to interpret the information you read.
• Knowing the main topic in advance: knowing what the text is about will help you understand the true meaning of the words and sentences.
• Scroll through the text before reading: this will help you understand the main idea.
• Ask questions: After flipping through the text, write down any questions you want answered while reading. This will help you structure your thinking and verbalize your answers.

Practice these speed reading techniques

It is best to work with one reading technique at a time and to use simple texts. First find out which technique is best for you, and then start practicing it slowly until you can do well. Then pick up the pace.

It is normal not to understand the meaning of the text at first. But with practice, you will be able to train your brain to read faster. Eventually, the technique will become a habit.

In addition, there are a number of books and online resources that aim to provide the necessary tools for fast reading. You can find one of these courses and follow the instructions they give.

Fast reading saves time

Speed ​​reading is a skill you can learn with practice. It can be difficult at first, so you have to keep trying.

To help you with the learning process, it is also best to find the right environment. For example, find a place that is free from interruption and has a pleasant light. In addition, you should avoid reading when you feel tired or overwhelmed.

Finally, so that you can measure your progress, you should test your reading pace before implementing any of these techniques. Then you can keep track of your progress as you practice. That way you know if your effort pays off!