How to increase your speed reading

How to increase your speed reading

During your research or to improve your knowledge of a subject, you will have to read many complex texts and it will become increasingly important to read as fast as you can, without jeopardizing your comprehension of the subject.

• Avoid saying the words you are reading aloud to yourself.
• Run your finger down the left-hand margin of the text to improve the quicker movement of your eyes down the page.
• Focus on groups of words as you read each line and not on one word at a time.
• Try not to read again the text to understand it. However, for a better comprehension it is normal to read again a part of a text.
• Guess the meaning of a word you do not understand. You can search later in the dictionary if they are important for your comprehension of the text.
• According to the importance of what you are reading, adapt your speed. Slow down for important explanations and speed up for supporting details and examples.

Adapted from: Ridley, D. (2012). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students (2nd ed.). Sage.