People in the U.S. read English prose at around 250-300 words per minute.
Proofreading on paper is about 200 words per minute, and on a computer monitor, it’s around 180 words per minute.
Listening:
Comfortable understanding of spoken words is at a rate of 150-160 words per minute.
Recommended rate for audio books and video narration is around 150-160 words per minute, but faster speeds (210 words per minute) are still comprehensible when speech is compressed.
Speaking:
Dictating to a computer happens at about 105 words per minute.
Speech recognition can drop to an average of 25 words per minute when factoring in corrections.
New users speak at around 14 words per minute during transcription and 8 words per minute during composition.
Keying (Typing):
Fast typists on a typewriter can reach 150 words per minute or higher.
Average typing speed is about 60-70 words per minute.
Computer keying is slower, with simple transcription at 33 words per minute and composition at 19 words per minute.
Two-finger typists can key memorized text at 37 words per minute and copied text at 27 words per minute.
Hand Printing:
Hand printing of memorized text occurs at about 31 words per minute.
Copying text by hand is around 22 words per minute.
