Quick Reading Techniques: When To Use Them?

It is very convenient to know how to read fast. In this article, we share some quick reading techniques that you can try.

Speed reading techniques: When should you use them?

We often have to process a large amount of written information, whether it is in emails, websites, work reports, social networks or textbooks. Since we have to 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 use a variety of speed reading techniques, you can read up to 700 words per minute!

Read on to learn what these techniques are and when they are useful to use.

What is speed reading?

Fast reading is when a person quickly identifies and records entire sentences instead of looking at each word individually. Some people are born with this ability, but others who are not can still develop it with practice.

Even if you read faster, you are not sacrificing comprehension. Instead, its effectiveness lies in achieving a balance between rhythm and an overall 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 the people 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 to new concepts.
Sharpen your ability to recognize the primary ideas.
Causes less strain on your eyes.
Increases language ability.

When is speed reading useful?

Speed reading would 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 it, or if you read more slowly than usual. Speed reading techniques can help increase your reading skills.
You need to read about a topic that is easy to understand or that you already know.
When you only need to understand the basic arguments or conclusions in written material.
If you plan to look at the text in more detail another time. A study found that a look at the material beforehand can improve your understanding of the text a second time.
After reading the material carefully. Quick rereads can help you better preserve the information.

When do we not recommend it?

Although it sounds great to be able to read and understand some 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 consideration. Moreover, 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 by heart. In these situations, it is best to read slowly. We recommend reading at 100 words per minute in these cases.

Woman reading a book using speed reading techniques

Techniques for quick reading

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

It is also best to improve your understanding, concentration and strategies for perseverance 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 subvocalize 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 perseverance and practice.

Techniques for quick reading: The marking method

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

Scanning

This is one of the most common techniques for speed reading. It consists of recognizing the main ideas of the text by skimming the text.

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

To do this, you 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. Ultimately, you should be able to understand the main idea.

Avoid rereading

Going back in the text is usually a very common action when we do not understand what we are reading. We tend to reread to find out what we overlooked because we want to understand the main idea 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:

Expanding 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 helps you understand the true meaning of words and sentences.

Review the text before reading: This will help you understand the main idea.
Ask questions: After skimming the text, write down the questions you want answered while reading. This helps you structure your mindset and verbalize your answers.

Practice these techniques for speed reading

It is best to work with a technique for quick reading 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 perform it correctly. Then increase the speed.

It is usually not to understand the meaning of the text in the beginning. 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 offer the necessary tools for quick reading. You can find one of these courses and follow the directions they provide.

Techniques for quick reading save time

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

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

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