Fact · Typing and writing speed
170 to 190words per minute
In a study of 200 students who heard one-minute radio news items, recognition of the content was best at 170 to 190 words per minute, with the faster speed paired with lower information density.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“The best result in order to achieve the greatest recognition is between 170 (high density) and 190 (low density) words per minute”
Influence of Speech Rate and Information Density on Recognition: The Moderate Dynamic Mechanism, Emma Rodero, Media Psychology, 2016, Abstract (conclusion of the study).
Open the original (DOI 10.1080/15213269.2014.1002942)- What it measures
- Students heard recorded Spanish radio news at five speech rates (150, 170, 190, 210 and 230 words per minute), in low and high information density versions. Recognition was measured by how much of the content they could recall and identify.
- What it does not show
- Recordings of radio news read in Spanish and heard by university students. The study does not test spontaneous talks or live audiences.