With an almost infinite amount of information constantly at your fingertips, it helps to be able to read quickly, or at least at a decent pace. Although we may not think of ourselves as “reading” in a traditional sense, many TikTok videos and Instagram Reels have closed captions and captions, so even if you don’t pick up a book, you’re still reading something.
If you’ve never been the fastest reader, you may still have a hard time keeping up, but, as we’ve noted in a previous one Lifehacker Article, there are ways to increase the speed a bit, such as reducing the subvocalization. And it turns out there are a few ways to do it. This is what you should know.
What is subvocalization?
So what exactly is subvocalization? Basically, it means that when you’re reading silently, you say each full word in your head as you go. And while subvocalization tends to slow down reading, it also has some benefitsalso, including YoImprove reading comprehension and leave a stronger impression of what you just read in your short-term memory.
How to stop subvocalizing
Aside from the benefits, if your main goal is to read faster, reducing subvocalization can help with that. Here are three methods you can try, courtesy of Melissa Baron of Book Riot:
- Please scan the page before reading it carefully: It’s natural to subvocalize when we come across unfamiliar words, so be on the lookout for them at a quick start. page scan so that he can probe them, or search for them, without him slowing you down
- distract yourself: Chew gum or eat something to keep your mouth busy, which should help avoid pronouncing words while reading. EITHERr, listen to instrumental music so you can focus on that, and not on pronouncing the words you read in your head.
- keep your eyes focused: Skipping the page, as we usually do when we come across a word we don’t know, not only slows us down in general, but it also often leads to subvocalization. Instead, place your finger, a ruler, or a piece of paper directly below the line you’re reading to help you keep your place.