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Here are some simple tips on increasing your reading speed, especially when reading non-fiction material such as text books.

1. Improve your vocabulary. Studies have shown that increasing your reading speed depends heavily on increasing your vocabulary. For example, research by Holmes and Singer, as reported by James I Brown, shows that vocabulary contributes 51% to reading speed — far more than any other first-order factor (Brown, p 3). The reason vocabulary is so important to reading speed is simple: the more words you know, the faster and better you receive the author's message: "Unknown words or known words in unsuaul contextual settings prevent rapid reading" (Bond, 102). Try learning at least one word a day. Use software such as the popular Ultimate Vocabulary.*

2. Know what you want from the book. Before you read a book, article, or other source, know what you are reading the source for. Clarify in your own mind what you already know about the topic, and what more you need to know from the source.

3. Browse the table of contents. Browse the book's table of contents before reading the rest of the book. If you know a book's structure before you start reading the book, then you will speed-up your reading and improve your comprehension. You will also have a better idea about the parts of the book that you can skim read and the parts of the book that you must read more carefully.

4. Read the topic sentences. If the writer of the book or other source has been considerate, then they will have used "topic sentences". Topic sentences are sentences that explain the main point of the paragraph. Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph to get a basic idea of the text. You will then sense whether you should read the text in detail.

5. Read not in words but in phrases. Increase the number of words that you read in one go:

The   /  word-  /   by-   /   word  /   reader   /  reads  /   like  /   this.

But the phrase reader     /    would read the line     /       like this.

(Leedy, 6). Regularly practise the skill of reading in phrases.

6. Read it, don't say it. Try not to "say" the words to yourself as you read. This tip will increase your reading speed markedly. Try these speed reading exercises.

7. Ask questions as you go. Although you want to read quickly, also make sure you comprehend the material. You will waste your time if you have to reread the material later on. To make sure you comprehend what you are reading, ask yourself questions about the material as you go.

8. Read actively, not passively. Do not read passively. Rather, visualize the people and events you are reading about. Creating mental pictures of the facts and events that you are reading about will improve your comprehension and improve your memory of the reading material.

9. Don't look back. Looking back at what you have already read is called "regressing". Do not allow regressions to impede your pace: "Discipline yourself to read unswervingly ahead. Even if you feel for the moment, at least, that you have lost the continuity of the thought, compel yourself to read on. Do not regress. Soon you will break the habit entirely" (Leedy, 7).

References

George W Bond "Speed Reading in the High School" (1955) 39(2) High School Journal 102

James I Brown, "Techniques for Increasing Reading Rate", paper presented at the International Reading Association World Congress on Reading, Vienna, 12-14 August 1974

Paul D Leedy, Read with Speed and Precision (1963)

Win More Cases, Time-Saving Tips for Lawyers (2009)