The average person reads at between 200 and 250 words of printed text per minute this decreases by about 25% when reading from a computer screen. There are numerous free tests available on line to test your reading speed.


Over time we have all developed bad habits while reading the major ones are:


1.Sub-vocalisation – when we read, we all tend to speak out the words in our own mind. This obviously decreases the speed at which we can read.


1.Reading word by word – there are two disadvantages to reading text word by word; firstly, and obviously it slows you down. Secondly, focusing on each individual word can mean you lose out on the concept of the entire text.


1.Inefficient eye motion – slow readers focus on reading line by line, and lose out on the eyes ability to scan multiple words at once, and hence read ahead.


1.Regression – we all have a bad habit of rereading text, sometimes this is to confirm understanding. However, this can lead to a loss of comprehension of the whole text.


1.Poor concentration – external circumstances always affect our concentration, and trying to read with loud back ground noise, or other distractions, will slow reading down and also cause regression.


1.Linear reading – we are taught to read words, sentences and paragraphs in order, taking in everything in sequence. This forces you to concentrate on both core information and supplementary material equally. Hence wasting precious time taking
Hence wasting precious time taking in unnecessary information.


Learning to overcome these bad habits will increase the speed at which you can read.