✓ The Conversation AustraliaScience & Systems
How fast humans really read, according to the science
A 2019 meta-analysis put silent reading of English non-fiction at 175 to 300 words a minute.
The science does not support 1,000 words a minute for normal reading. A 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies found adults reading English non-fiction usually sat between 175 and 300 words a minute, with fiction a little faster.
The article says speed-reading apps may help in small ways, but several studies found little or no gain. It also says faster skimming tends to hurt comprehension.
- 2019
- Meta-analysis year
- 190 studies
- Studies reviewed
- 175 to 300 words a minute
- Normal range
- A little faster than English non-fiction
- Fiction
Why it mattersIf an app promises extreme speed, the trade-off is usually worse understanding of the text.
Open this story in InSnip →
