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Composing by speech: about 5 to 12 percent of speaking speed

Fact · Dictation

5 to 12percent

Composing by speech software at 8 to 15 words per minute runs at about 5 to 12 percent of normal speaking speed.

Checked against its source on October 16, 2026

How it is calculated: 8 / 150 = 5.3 percent and 15 / 125 = 12 percent, the lowest and highest ratios across the two ranges

Calculated from

Earlier reported composition speed using speech software was 8 to 15 words per minute, which the authors describe as much lower than normal speaking speed.
The same authors put people's normal speaking speed at 125 to 150 words per minute.

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Composing by speech: about 5 to 12 percent of speaking speed | Yap