Minimize Subvocalization
Short Answer
Reduce subvocalization by reading in phrases and focusing on meaning instead of “hearing” every word internally. A pointer, gentle speed increases, and short comprehension checks help you stay accurate while your brain learns to process bigger chunks.
What It Changes
Subvocalization is a common habit—your inner voice “speaks” the text as you read. That can limit speed because speech is slower than visual recognition and meaning extraction. The goal is not to eliminate inner speech completely; it’s to prevent it from forcing a word-by-word pace.
How to Practice
1) Use a guide: Move a finger or pen under the line at a steady pace. Your eyes tend to follow it, which reduces time spent on each word.
2) Read in chunks: Intentionally group 2–4 words at a time (especially common phrase pairs like “in order to”, “as a result”, “for example”).
3) Summarize quickly: After a paragraph, say the main point in one sentence. This trains meaning-first reading.
A 60-Second Drill
Pick an easy article. Set a timer for 60 seconds. Use your finger to keep a slightly faster pace than normal. When time is up, write a 2–3 bullet summary. If you can’t summarize, slow down a notch and repeat.