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What's your speech rate?

Why a flexible speaking rate is important.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Is your speech rate too fast, too slow, or just right?

And what is, a normal speaking pace?

The answers to both questions are not straight forward. They fall into the 'it depends' category. And what they're depending on is context. 

Context is everything when it comes to deciding whether the speed you speak at is good, extremely good, or poor.

What you'll find on this page

• why, and when, speech rate becomes important
• what speech rate is and how it is calculated
• 2 ways of finding out your own speech rate
• speech rate guidelines - what's fast or slow?
• reasons to change your speech rate
• exercises to develop a flexible speaking rate
• a link to a free printable: a diagnostic resource used by speech therapists to test speech fluency and rate, The Rainbow Passage
• a link to a quick reference guide: how many words per minute are in 1 through to 10 minute speeches .
• links to authoritative references for more information

Why, and when, is speech rate important? 

Speech rate – how fast, or how slowly a person talks, only becomes important when the speed of their speech becomes a barrier to effective communication.

If people listening are not able to fully take in or comprehend what is being said and a large part of the reason for that is speech rate, then it's time to take action. 

What is speech rate? How is it calculated?

Speech rate refers to a person's habitual speaking speed. It's calculated through counting the normal number of words they say per minute, and just like people, words per minute (wpm) can vary hugely.

Additionally, because all words are not equal, wpm can only ever be an approximate measure. For instance, a word can be as simple as a single syllable like "it" or a single letter like “I”, or a collection of many syllables such as “hippopotamus” or “tintinnabulation” - the ringing of bells.

One syllable is considerably quicker to say than many, just as a simple short sentence is faster to say than a complex longer one. 

How to work out your own speech rate

Here are two ways of working out your habitual speech rate.

The first is to read aloud The Rainbow Passage. This piece of text is frequently used by speech language therapists  as a diagnostic tool   to test a person's ability to produce connected speech . 

Record yourself as you read it aloud at your regular speaking rate for one minute.

How far you get through the passage will give you an indication * of your rate of speech.

Here are the first 175 words. The entire piece has 330 words.

(There's a printable pdf of the whole  Rainbow Passage for you to download at the bottom of the page.)

The Rainbow Passage

When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act as a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. (51 words)

There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When a man looks for something beyond his reach, his friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (99 words)

Throughout the centuries people have explained the rainbow in various ways. Some have accepted it as a miracle without physical explanation. To the Hebrews it was a token that there would be no more universal floods. The Greeks used to imagine that it was a sign from the gods to foretell war or heavy rain. The Norsemen considered the rainbow as a bridge over which the gods passed from earth to their home in the sky. (175 words)

* I've used the word 'indication' because you are reading aloud rather than giving a speech or talking to a friend. There is a difference.

You'll also need to take into account your familiarity with the text. A 'cold' reading, that is reading the passage without seeing it before hand will probably influence how much of it you get through in a minute.

Record yourself delivering a speech

The second way to test yourself is to record one of your own speeches or presentations. This will give you a much more accurate measure of your actual speech rate.

If you have the text of your speech in a word document you'll have access under the Tools tab (see image below) to the total word count.

Record the speech. Then take the time you took to deliver it and use it to divide the number of words.

To give you an example I recorded the 'Hall of Fame' speech I wrote for a client a couple of years ago. I took 4.9 minutes to say it through.  The total word count of the speech is 641. 

Therefore, 641 words divided by 4.9 minutes = a speaking rate of 130 words per minute.

Speech rate guidelines

Studies show speech rate alters depending on the speaker's culture, geographical location, subject matter, choice of vocabulary and its usage (simple short sentences v complex),  fluency, use of pauses,  gender, age, emotional state, health, profession, audience, and whether or not they're using their primary, or native, language.

However, despite these variables, there are widely accepted guidelines. These are:

• Slow speech is usually regarded as less than 110 wpm, or words per minute.
• Conversational speech generally falls between 120 wpm at the slow end, to 160 - 200 wpm in the fast range.
• People who read books for radio or podcasts are often asked to speak at 150-160 wpm.
• Auctioneers or commentators who practice speed speech are usually in the 250 to 400 wpm range.

Why change your speech rate?

Generally people are not conscious of their habitual speaking speed and if they are easily understood by those listening to them there is little reason to change. Their speech could be considered too slow or too fast by people outside of their normal environment but if they are not routinely communicating with them it doesn't really matter.

However changes of audience and speech purpose can force a need to become more aware of speaking speed.

For example - a shift from one part of a country to another, from a slower speaking area to a faster speaking one, will, through audience response, make a habitually slower speaker aware of their speech rate.

Similarly someone with naturally fast speech who takes a job requiring presentations to colleagues or customers, will find themselves having to slow down in order to communicate effectively.

Having an accent makes a difference too. If the language you're using is not your first one there may be pronunciation issues which make it harder for your audience to understand you. Slowing down your rate of speech will help. 

Public speaking and rate of speech

If you're giving a speech or presentation, the concept of a normal speaking speed doesn't apply.

What does is flexibility - the ability of the speaker to mix and match pace appropriately with speech content and the audience's ability to comprehend it.

Experience and audience reaction will teach you that a one-size-fits-all approach will be far less effective than careful variation in rate.

Exercises to change speaking rate

If you know you speak either too fast, too slowly or without speed variation then exercises to develop flexibility are what you need.

Here are   Quick and Easy Effective Tips for Speaking Rate Flexibility

These six exercises specifically address the undesirable audience responses brought on by a speaker either talking too quickly or too slowly. Have fun with them!

How many words per minute in a speech?

When you have a speech to give with a strict time limit it's useful to have an estimate of how many words will fit comfortably into the time allocated, before you begin to write.

For more see:  How many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide  for 1 through to 10 minute speeches.  

Do you know what your voice says about you?

Find out about Voice Image First impressions count and they're not only about looking good, but sounding good too!

References and additional information

Miller, N., Maruyama, G., Beaber, R. J., & Valone, K. (1976). Speed of speech and persuasion . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34(4), 615–624. 

Smith, S. M., & Shaffer, D. R. (1991). Celerity and cajolery: Rapid speech may promote or inhibit persuasion through its impact on message elaboration . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(6), 663–669. 

Rodero, E. (2012). A comparative analysis of speech rate and perception in radio bulletins . Text & Talk, 32 (3), pp. 391–411 

Apple, W., Streeter, L.A., & Krauss, R. M. (1979).  Effects of Pitch and Speech Rate on Personal Attributions . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37( 5), 715-727

Optimal Podcast Words per Minute Rate for Biggest Impact - an extremely thorough article by Chris Land of improvepodcast.com

What is the ideal rate of speech?   Public speaking coach Lynda Stucky 'shows and tells' about speech rate. She's made 7 variations of The Rainbow Passage so that you can hear the difference speed makes.

Speech Pace: do you talk too fast or too slow? Take this test . - a YouTube video by speech teacher  Laura Bergells.

Perfect Your Speed Talking at This Auction School  - a YouTube video showing how The Missouri Auction School teaches speed speech. ☺

Download The Rainbow Passage

Click the link to download a printable pdf of   The Rainbow Passage .

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Guide to Speaking Rates: How Many Words Per Minute Should Your Speech Be?

Ever find yourself grappling with the pace of your words during a presentation? You’re definitely not alone. It turns out, the average speaking rate for folks in the United States is about 150 words per minute – a little nugget of information that was a game-changer for me on my path to becoming more confident in public speaking .

In this article, we’re going to dive into everything from understanding different speech rates to fine-tuning your own rhythm , ensuring your next presentation strikes the perfect balance .

Stick around; you won’t want to miss these insights!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Speaking at the right speed is crucial for keeping your audience engaged. The average speaking rate in the United States is about 150 words per minute. But, this can change based on who you’re talking to and what you’re saying.
• Different types of speeches need different speeds. For TED Talks, aim for around 163 words per minute to keep things interesting. Political speeches should be slower, at about 110-120 words per minute, to add weight to your words. Business presentations work best at a pace of about 140 words per minute.
• Your speaking rate can vary because of many reasons like where you’re from, how excited you are, or if you know a lot about the topic. Other big factors include how confident you feel and physical things like being tired or sick.
• You can get better at finding the right speed by practicing out loud with exercises and asking people for their honest thoughts on your speech style. Using tools like word counts helps plan how long your talk will be.
• Changing how fast or slow you speak during a presentation makes it more exciting and helps highlight important points. Slowing down when sharing something significant or speeding up when showing excitement keeps listeners interested.

Understanding Speaking Rates and Words per Minute

Understanding speaking rates involves grasping the concept of speaking rate and average reading speed, as well as identifying the factors that influence how fast or slow someone speaks.

Additionally, it’s important to understand the ideal speaking rate for different types of speeches such as TED Talks , political speeches , and business presentations .

What is speaking rate

Speaking rate is how fast or slow you talk, measured in words per minute . For example, the average speaking rate for English speakers in the United States is around 150 words per minute.

This number can change depending on who you are talking to or what you’re talking about. Some people naturally speak faster, while others take their time and speak more slowly.

The speed at which someone speaks can affect how well the audience understands and engages with the speech. Speaking too fast might confuse listeners, but going too slow might make them lose interest.

Knowing your ideal speaking pace helps keep your audience hooked and conveys your message effectively. Let’s look into why understanding this balance is crucial for public speakers of all levels.

Average reading speed

After introducing the concept of speaking rate, it’s essential to touch on the average reading speed . This is crucial because it sets a baseline for understanding how our speaking speed compares to how fast we read.

This table outlines different scenarios and the average or recommended words per minute for each. It helps us gauge how our reading speed compares to various speaking contexts. For instance, while the average conversation rate and general speeches pace are similar at about 150 words per minute, voiceovers tend to be much slower, at 75 words per minute. This comparison underscores how context affects the ideal speaking speed, showing us that effective communication is not just about what we say but also how fast we say it.

Factors that influence speaking rate

The pace we speak at is influenced by several factors, including our regional dialect, cultural background, and level of excitement . Other key influencers are our familiarity with the topic , our own confidence levels, and any existing anxiety or nervousness. Additionally, physical factors like fatigue, illness, or even the layout of the speaking space can also impact our speaking rate.

• Regional dialect and cultural background : The rhythm and intonation patterns associated with different dialects and cultures affect how fast or slow someone speaks.
• Level of excitement : When we’re excited or passionate about a topic, we tend to speak more quickly.
• Familiarity with the topic : If we’re very familiar with what we’re talking about, we might speak faster than if the subject matter is new to us.
• Confidence levels and anxiety : Higher confidence levels generally result in a faster speaking pace, whereas anxiety may cause someone to speak more slowly.
• Physical factors : Fatigue, illness, or environmental factors such as an uncomfortable speaking space can also influence speaking rate.

These variables show that many diverse aspects can affect how quickly or slowly someone speaks during a presentation or speech.

The Ideal Speaking Rate for Different Types of Speeches

TED Talks, political speeches, and business presentations each have their own ideal speaking rates to keep the audience engaged and effectively convey the message. Varying your speaking rate is essential for captivating different audiences in these varied speech contexts.

TED Talks are renowned for their powerful, thought-provoking content. The ideal speaking rate for TED Talks is about 163 words per minute . This pace allows the speaker to convey their message clearly and engagingly, keeping the audience captivated throughout the talk.

It’s important to maintain a steady yet expressive speed while delivering a TED Talk to effectively communicate your ideas and connect with your audience.

– Political speeches

Political speeches

Political speeches should aim for a speaking rate of about 110-120 words per minute . This allows the audience to absorb the information and feel the emotion behind your words. Remember , slower speaking rates can add weight and significance to your message, especially during pivotal moments in a speech .

For political speeches, aiming for around 110-120 words per minute ensures that you convey gravitas and allow your audience to absorb every point without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Business presentations

When delivering business presentations, aim for a speaking rate of around 140 words per minute . It’s crucial to vary your speed and enunciate clearly to maintain audience engagement .

Keep in mind that the average reading speed is about 150 words per minute , so adjusting accordingly will help ensure your message is effectively communicated.

The ideal speaking rate for different types of speeches varies; however, for business presentations, a slightly slower pace can help convey complex information more clearly and allow time for the audience to digest key points.

Tips for Selecting the Right Speaking Speed

Select the right speaking speed by knowing your own rate, using word counts, planning for delays, and varying your pace to keep your audience engaged. Read more on our blog!

Know your own speaking rate

Assess your speaking rate by timing yourself for a minute as you speak naturally. Then count the number of words spoken. This will help determine your average speaking speed . Repeat this process a few times to get an accurate estimate.

For example, if you speak around 160 words in a minute, then your speaking rate is faster than the average English speaker.

Understanding how fast or slow you normally speak can inform adjustments needed when preparing speeches and presentations. This self-awareness enables better planning and aids in choosing the ideal pace for conveying your message effectively to different audiences, like when delivering TED Talks or political speeches.

Use word counts as an estimation

When determining your speaking rate , use word counts to estimate how many words you need for a specific time frame . For example, if you aim for a 5-minute speech and speak at the recommended rate of 140 words per minute, then plan to include around 700 words in your speech.

Knowing this estimation can help you tailor your content effectively for different speaking duration requirements.

By using word counts as an estimation tool , it allows you to gauge how much content is needed based on the duration of your speech. This method helps in planning and organizing the material to fit within the allocated time while ensuring that key points are effectively conveyed without rushing or dragging them out.

Plan for technical delays and Q&A

Plan for technical delays and Q&A by adding extra buffer time to your speech. It’s common for things to go off schedule, so allow a few extra minutes in case of tech hiccups or questions from the audience.

Prepare some backup material in case you need to fill time unexpectedly. Also, practice answering potential Q&A queries during your rehearsals so you can respond confidently and succinctly.

Remember that technical issues are part of public speaking , so remaining calm and prepared will help you deliver a smooth presentation even if something unexpected happens.

Vary your speaking rate

To keep your audience engaged, change the speed of your speech. Slow down for important points and speed up to show excitement or urgency. This technique helps maintain interest and emphasizes key ideas , making your speech more dynamic.

Try adjusting your speaking pace using pauses, emphasizing words, or changing tone. Varying your rate adds interest and keeps listeners focused through different speeds and rhythms.

It’s a simple yet effective way to enhance engagement throughout your speech.

How to Improve Your Speaking Rate

Improve speaking rate by practicing different exercises and seeking feedback for adjustment. Always aim to enhance your verbal delivery.

Practice with different exercises

To improve your speaking rate, try these exercises:

• Read aloud various texts at a comfortable pace , gradually speeding up.
• Use a metronome to set the pace and match your speaking rate to it.
• Practice tongue twisters to enhance articulation and fluency.
• Record yourself speaking and analyze areas for improvement.
• Engage in role – playing scenarios to boost confidence and spontaneity.
• Experiment with storytelling to vary your speaking speed and tone.
• Attend public speaking workshops or join clubs like Toastmasters for structured practice.

Now let’s delve into the different exercises for improving your speaking rate!

Seek feedback and adjust accordingly

As a beginner in public speaking, seeking feedback and making adjustments is crucial. Feedback helps you understand how others perceive your speech rate and style. Adjusting accordingly can make your delivery more effective.

Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect! Therefore, seek out opportunities to speak in front of diverse audiences or record yourself to get constructive criticism from different perspectives.

Taking this step will help you gain confidence and enhance your speaking skills.

I’ve learned a lot about speaking rates and how they can impact a speech. Speaking at the right speed can make your message clearer and more engaging for your audience. Now, let’s hear from an expert in public speaking.

Meet Dr. Linda Harris, a renowned communication specialist with over 20 years of experience teaching effective speaking techniques at prestigious universities. Dr. Harris has authored several influential papers on voice modulation and oratory excellence, securing her place as an authority in the field of public speaking.

Dr. Harris emphasizes that understanding your personal speaking rate is crucial for crafting speeches that resonate with audiences. By aligning your delivery with the content’s nature and audience expectations, you enhance comprehension and retention.

She refers to studies indicating optimal engagement levels when speakers maintain rates close to 140-160 words per minute.

On safety, ethics, and transparency in speech delivery, Dr. Harris highlights the importance of accurate information dissemination above maintaining specific speech speeds. Ensuring messages are truthful maintains credibility regardless of the presentation pace.

She advises incorporating varied speech rates into everyday conversations as practice for formal presentations. This flexibility not only improves adaptability but also enriches personal communication skills noticeably.

In her balanced evaluation, Dr. Harris recognizes potential challenges like adapting to technological aids during online presentations or managing time constraints in live talks effectively without sacrificing quality — issues often addressed through conscientious preparation and continuous self-awareness.

Ultimately, Dr. Harris endorses prioritizing clarity and emotional connection over rigid adherence to exact words-per-minute counts in most speaking scenarios while acknowledging certain contexts may demand stricter timing control for maximum effect.

Her insights underline practical apparatuses offered by knowing ideal speech velocities yet encourage speakers to prioritize their unique voice within this framework.

Ryan Nelson is the founder of Speak2Impress, a platform dedicated to helping individuals master the art of public speaking. Despite having a crippling fear of public speaking for many years, Ryan overcame his anxiety through diligent practice and active participation in Toastmasters. Now residing in New York City, he is passionate about sharing his journey and techniques to empower others to speak with confidence and clarity.

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Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute

November 8, 2022 - Dom Barnard

The speed at which you talk has a huge influence on how the audience perceives you and your speech. It’s important, therefore, to understand your speaking rate and how to alter it depending on the type of speech you are delivering.

In this article, you’ll learn how to calculate your speaking rate and how it compares to the average rate for popular talks to give you some context. Audio samples of speaking rates at the extremes are provided, so you can understand the difference in words per minute.

At the end of the article, exercises are provided to help you develop an adaptive speaking rate.

How to calculate your speaking rate

Speaking rate is often expressed in words per minute (wpm). To calculate this value, you’ll need to record yourself talking for a few minutes and then add up the number of words in your speech. Divide the total number of words by the number of minutes your speech took.

Speaking rate (wpm) = total words / number of minutes

You can record yourself with this  online voice recorder . Once you have the audio of your speech, there are two ways to get the number of words:

• Manually count the words as you listen back to the audio
• Upload the speech recording to a  speech-to-text platform

When you have the speech converted to text format, copy the text into a software package such as Microsoft Word, which provides a useful word count for the document.

Once you have the number of words, convert the time to minutes – for example, if your speech was 4 minutes 30 seconds, you need to divide the number of words by 4.5 (as 30 seconds is half of a minute).

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, where he slowed his usually very high speaking rate down to below 100 wpm (his average was well above 150 wpm).

What is the average speaking rate?

The average speaking rate changes dramatically for the purpose of your speech. According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average conversation rate for English speakers in the United States is about  150 wpm . However, for radio presenters or podcasters, the wpm is higher.

Here is a list of average speech rates for different activities.

Average speech rates

• Presentations : between 100-150 wpm for a comfortable pace
• Conversational : between 120-150 wpm
• Audiobooks : between 150-160 wpm, which is the upper range that people comfortably hear and vocalize words
• Radio hosts and podcasters : between 150-160 wpm
• Auctioneers : can speak at about 250 wpm
• Commentators : between 250-400 wpm

To give these speech rates some context, if the speaking pace is 130 words per minute, you’ll finish reading an A4 page (Calibri, font size 11) in 4 minutes, 51 seconds.

Extremes of speaking rate – world record pace

Steven Woodmore  is a British electronics salesman and comedian known for his rapid speech articulation, being able to articulate 637 wpm, a speed four times faster than the average person.

Woodmore was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest talker, a title which he held for five years, taking the helm from the previous record holder, John Moschitta, Jr.

A comparison of words per minute for popular TED Talks

Let’s compare different presentation styles to show you how speech rates can vary widely. We’ll use popular TED Talks to compare words per minute for different presentations.

We’ve analyzed five TED Talks, ranging from short speeches up to 22 minutes. When we were calculating the length of the presentation, we included time when the audience was clapping and when the presenter changed slides.

We tried to pick from a wide range of speech topics to get an unbiased average.

The average speaking rate was 173 words per minute. The speaking rate ranged from 154 to 201 words per minute.

Popular TED Talk speaking rates

• How great leaders inspire action (Simon Sinek) – 170 wpm
• The power of introverts (Susan Cain) – 176 wpm
• Do schools kill creativity? (Sir Ken Robinson) – 165 wpm
• Why we do what we do (Tony Robbins) – 201 wpm
• The power of vulnerability (Brené Brown) – 154 wpm

What influences your overall speaking rate?

Here are several factors that affect the overall speaking rate, most of which can be controlled by you.

• Regular speaking rate  – this is the result of your environment, where you grew up, your parents, culture, friends around you, and more.
• Nervousness  – you’ve probably noticed it yourself,  when you are nervous , you speak much quicker and take short shallow breaths as you rush through the content.
• Saying something urgent  – understandably, we speak much quicker when there is an emergency, for example calling an ambulance or explaining an incident to the police.
• Mental fatigue  – tiredness affects our thought process, making it harder for us to articulate ourselves, causing us to talk more slowly.
• Complexity of the words  – longer, more complex words will take slightly longer to say, and if you are counting words per minute, it will affect speech pace slightly (although somewhat negligible)
• Complexity of content  – if you are presenting complex content, you’ll want to speak slower than usual to give the audience time to comprehend the concepts and content.
• Verbal pauses  – pauses are a great way to break up the content and give emphasis to what you are saying. Naturally this will slow down your speaking rate. Read  10 Effective Ways to use Pauses in your Speech .
• Event driven pauses  – these are pauses caused by a change in slides, a demo of your product, checking your notes, and so on.
• Audience driven pauses  – these events are caused by your audience, for example, when they laugh and ask questions.

Example audio clips of different speech rates

Example 1 – why we do what we do (tony robbins).

Sample of ‘Why we do what we do’ speech, spoken at 201 wpm.

Example 2 – We Shall Fight on the Beaches (Winston Churchill)

Sample of ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ speech, spoken at 128 wpm.

Tony Robbins giving his TED Talk, Why we do what we do, with an average speaking pace of 201 wpm.

Is speaking rate important?

In short, yes, your rate of speech does have an impact on how the audience perceive you and your message.

Generally, a slower rate is easier to understand for the audience. If you include pauses as well, you give the audience time to absorb the messages of your presentation.

However listening back to the Tony Robbins speech above, which was at over 200 wpm, you’ll probably find you were still able to understand what he was saying. This is because he clearly articulates his words and uses easy to understand language. Clarity is just as important as speech pace.

Try to vary your speaking rate

No matter what your average speaking rate is over the entire speech, you should vary it throughout the speech. Varying your speech makes it more interesting for the audience and adds emotion to the content. Without pace variation, you’re in danger of sounding monotone.

For example, you can speak faster to convey excitement, or slower to reflect sadness or importance.

When to change your speed

• Speaking fast  – indication of passion, urgency, excitement, and emotion
• Speaking slow  – indication of importance, sadness, confusion, the seriousness of a point

When you’re speaking quickly, initially it is exciting for the audience, but after a minute or two, it stops being stimulating and becomes overwhelming.

When you are speaking slowly, it can grab the attention of the audience and help them process every word, but an entire talk at a slow pace will bore your audience: while waiting for you to get to the point they will lose interest.

Remember: The rate we speak at is highly individual

This is an important point to remember. If you take some well-known speeches and change the pace of their delivery, the meaning would be lost. For example, the “ I Have a Dream ” by Martin Luther King was spoken at a slow rate.

The long pauses and carefully spoken words give us time to absorb the information and plenty of time for the audience to applaud throughout. Even if you did not understand the words, the slow pace indicates that the message is important and should be taken seriously.

Cultural differences

Culture plays a big role in the pace we naturally speak at. Even locations within the  same country  can make a difference – people in London typically speak faster than people from Yorkshire for example. Also, if English isn’t the speakers first language, they usually speak a little slower as well.

How to practice: Getting the right speaking pace

Test your speaking pace.

Practice reading a transcript aloud at different paces to better understand how different speeds sound. Learn More

Here are two ways to measure and practice your speaking pace.

Use a metronome

The metronome ticks at a certain rate depending on what you set it to. If you want to speak at 130 words per minute, set the metronome to this value and practice saying a word every tick of the metronome.

This is a good start, however when actually presenting to an audience, you’ll want to vary this pace to emphasise certain points – a speech at exactly 130 wpm throughout would sound very monotone and rehearsed.

Use practice exercises

Online exercises let you practice your speech in a variety of scenarios. Practice presenting at a conference, delivering a sales pitch, answering interview questions, and more. With  VirtualSpeech practice exercises , you can get feedback on your speaking rate after your speech and adjust it accordingly for your next speech.

Example practice exercises you can use to measure your speaking pace during a speech or presentation. See all the  practice exercises here .

5 exercises to develop an adaptive speaking rate

Tips taken from  Quick & easy tips for speaking rate

1. Reading children’s stories

Read a children’s story silently several times to familiarize yourself with the flow. Go through it again, noting which passages would suit taking more quickly and which should be slower. Then read it aloud and listen carefully to how speed alters interpretation. Repeat the exercise altering your speed over particular passages, noting the differences.

Record yourself if possible doing this and all the following exercises. Save all the versions you do. You’ll then have them to refer back to. Recording takes out the guess work as you can hear exactly what you did, rather than what you imagined you did. It doesn’t lie!

2. Read factual reports

Pick an information loaded report from a newspaper or magazine.

Go through it silently to familiarize yourself with the flow of material and then read it aloud. Make a note of which passages need careful or slow reading and which can be taken at a faster rate. Re-read aloud until you feel you have the mix of speeds right.

As an extension exercise, read the report as if you were reading for an audience who knew nothing about the subject. Note what changes you made and why.

3. Experiment with one of your own speeches

Record and time yourself delivering a speech of your own at your current ‘normal’ speaking rate.

Note the time down. Now go through again having marked passages for slower or faster treatment. Note the new time and your new insights.

4. Listen to good speakers

Listen to speakers you admire. They could be radio presenters,  commencement speeches , anybody accustomed to speaking in public. Note the different rates of speech they use over the course of their presentation and the effectiveness and experiment with them for yourself.

5. Play with material you are familiar with

Read or recite part of a text you know well quickly (or slowly). If you can record yourself, do so. If not, listen and note the effect it has on you. If you’ve recorded yourself, play it back.

Ask yourself where was the speed effective? Where was it detrimental? Mark those places on your script. Read again incorporating your changes.

Average Words Per Minute Speaking: Why It Matters

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• Last Updated On: June 2, 2024

Understanding your speaking pace can unlock new levels of communication effectiveness and personal insight. While many overlook the importance of speaking speed, it plays a crucial role in connecting and conveying our messages to others.

This exploration delves into the nuances of your average speaking rate, providing actionable advice to refine your verbal delivery and overall presentation skills.

Let’s explore the common pitfalls in speech delivery and master the art of impactful communication, backed by research indicating that influential speakers adjust their speed to match their message and audience.

📝 Key Takeaways

• 📊 Ideal speeds vary from 100-150 WPM for presentations to 250-400 WPM for commentators.
• 🕰️ Time yourself reading aloud to identify your average pace and areas for improvement.
• 📈 Your cultural background, confidence, and public speaking comfort significantly impact your speaking speed.
• 💻 Practice, feedback, and technology can help you fine-tune your speaking rate for clearer communication.

What Is The Average Words Per Minute For Speaking?

One may wonder, “How many words does the average person speak per minute?”

The average speaking rate is 150-160 words per minute (WPM) for podcasters. This can vary with context and individual differences, ranging from 110-250 WPM . Radio presenters or podcasters may speak faster than the average rate.

Average Words Per Minute (WPM) by Speaking Context:

Words to Minutes Calculator – Podcast Episode Timing

Planning your podcast episode ? Use this simple calculator to determine how long your script will take to deliver. Enter your script length and choose your average speaking speed.

Get results instantly to help manage your episode timing perfectly. This free tool is great for podcasters who want to plan their episodes and keep their audience engaged.

How to Determine Your Speaking Rate

Calculating this and adapting your average WPM can greatly enhance communication skills and ensure effective information delivery.

• Select a passage or piece of text that is around 200-300 words long. This length is ideal because it’s long enough to get an average rate but short enough to be manageable.
• Before you start reading, set a timer. Smartphones usually have a stopwatch function that works perfectly for this.
• Read the passage out loud, just as you would in a conversation or presentation. Do not rush or deliberately slow down; aim for a natural pace.
• Once you’ve finished reading, stop the timer and note down the time taken.
• To determine your speaking rate in words per minute (WPM), divide the number of words in the passage by the time taken in minutes to read it.
• Your speaking rate can vary depending on context, mood, or the complexity of the content. Repeating the process with different types of passages (e.g., technical content vs. casual conversation) might help you get a range of your average speaking speed.
• If your speaking rate is too fast or slow for your intended audience or purpose, practice adjusting it. Using a metronome can help maintain a consistent pace.
• Sometimes, we do not judge our speaking pace best. It can be beneficial to get feedback from peers or mentors. They can provide insights into whether you’re speaking too fast, too slow, or just right.
• Several apps and online tools can automatically calculate your speaking rate by analyzing a recorded speech sample.

Remember, while determining your speaking rate is useful, paying attention to clarity, intonation, and enunciation is also essential. The goal is to communicate effectively; sometimes, that might mean adjusting your pace to ensure comprehension.

Speaking Rate (WPM) of Professional Speakers

The average speaking rate of professional speakers is 167 words per minute (WPM).

It’s important to note that while Steve Jobs’ talk isn’t from the regular TED conferences, it’s featured on the TED website. This presentation, given by the late visionary, is a masterclass in capturing the audience’s attention and delivering a poignant message.

Tony Robbins, the fastest speaker on our list, epitomizes that speed need not compromise clarity. His crystal-clear articulation and lucid language ensure his message is understood, irrespective of the brisk pace.

Speakers must adjust their speaking rate to match their audience’s listening comfort . Racing through content might lose listeners, while a languid pace could let their attention drift. The art lies in striking that perfect equilibrium.

Optimal Script Length for Podcast Episodes

As podcasting continues to gain traction as a favored medium for content delivery, understanding the ideal script length for varying episode durations can be invaluable.

The table below provides a guideline for scriptwriters and podcasters to ensure content remains engaging and concise for listeners.

By aligning the script length with the intended duration, creators can better plan, structure, and deliver their content for maximum impact. Dive in to discover the recommended word count for your next episode!

➡️ How Long Should a Podcast Be ?

Factors That Influence The Speed Of Speech Of The Average Person

Many factors influence the speed at an average person speaks, including:

The Culture You Were Raised In

It might sound crazy, but the culture you were raised in can significantly impact your average speaking speed. Some cultures and languages naturally speak much faster than others, which can seriously impact your average WPM.

If you grew up speaking a first language that is naturally fast-paced, such as Spanish or Italian, then it is likely that you will speak at a faster rate than someone who grew up speaking a language with slower speech rates, such as English.

Slower speakers might take two seconds to say a word, while faster speakers could say the same in half a second. This difference may not seem like much, but it can increase over time. If you speak for five minutes, you will likely say twice as many words as the slow speaker.

Additionally, if you are used to hearing the average person speak quickly, you may find adjusting to slower speech patterns difficult. Slow speakers can often be frustrating for natives who speak faster, who may find themselves impatient or lost.

The good news is that you can learn to speak slower if necessary, no matter your natural speech rate.

Just remember to take your time and focus on speaking rather than worrying about the number of words you say. With practice, you can find the perfect balance for you.

How Confident You Feel

Your confidence level also has a huge effect on your speaking speed. If you feel confident, you’ll naturally speak slower and more evenly than if you feel insecure.

If you are nervous, you are more likely to rush your speech with faster-than-average speaking speed and trip over your words. A good speaker can control their speed and use it to their advantage.

World Fastest Speaker

Stephen Peter Woodmore (13 December 1959 – 6 February 2023) was a British salesman recognized for his extraordinary speech speed, articulating at 637 words per minute (wpm) — four times faster than average.

From August 1990, he held the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest talker, succeeding John Moschitta Jr. However, in 1995, Sean Shannon from Canada surpassed him with a speed of 655 wpm.

How Comfortable You Are With Public Speaking

Finally, your comfort level when speaking in public can significantly impact your speaking rate. If you are not used to being in front of large groups of people, you may struggle to keep up a steady pace, thus speaking faster and rushing your speech.

Good speakers, such as those from popular Ted talks, often have extensive practice and experience in public speaking , which has helped them become more comfortable and confident when addressing large audiences.

Tips To Improve The Speed Of How The Average Person Speaks

As you can see from our list above, several different aspects affect the speed of your speech. However, there are some simple things that you can do to improve your speaking rates.

Slow Down When Talking About Difficult Topics

When discussing difficult topics, such as politics or religion, it is important to think carefully about what you say. If you speak too quickly, you risk making mistakes and sounding awkward .

Instead, try to speak slowly and deliberately, and make sure that you pause between each sentence.

Practice Before Giving Presentations

Practice makes perfect, and this applies to speaking as well. If you plan on giving a presentation, practice speaking slowly and pausing frequently.

Avoid rushing through your speech and focus on getting all your points across without any mistakes. This will help you feel more confident and relaxed and allow you to speak more easily.

➡️ Which Lapel Mic For Podcast Should I Choose?

Practice Reading Out Loud

Reading aloud is one of the best ways to improve your talking speed because it forces you to slow down and pay attention to how you speak, especially when reading complicated words.

It also helps you to learn to control your breathing , another factor affecting your speaking speed.

Speak Clearly And Slowly

You should always aim to speak slowly and comfortably—even if you are nervous. If you speak too fast, you are more likely than ever to trip over your words, increasing your stress levels and mental fatigue.

As we mentioned earlier, nerves can cause you to breathe faster, so take note of your breath rate and try to slow it down slightly.

Take Deep Breaths

Taking deep breaths before talking will help you relax and give you time to prepare for your presentation. People speak more quickly when nervous or anxious, so it is essential to stay calm.

If you are tackling complex content, it can be helpful to slow down your thoughts by taking a few moments to pause and think about what you want to say before speaking. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you say what you want.

Taking deep breaths will also help you calm down, reduce the chances of you tripping over your words, and maintain a regular speaking rate.

Why Does Speaking Speed Matter?

When you are speaking publicly, the speed of your speech is important and can offer you several advantages when delivering a speech. These include:

Increasing Your Credibility

If you have a high speaking rate, you risk sounding like you are trying to convince everyone around you that you know what you are talking about.

Many speakers would want to avoid this, but if you speak at an appropriate pace, you can be seen as credible and trustworthy.

Radio hosts and TED Talk speakers are known for speaking slowly and deliberately, which helps them engage the audience and build trust .

Improving Your Audience’s Attention Span

Speaking too quickly can cause your audience to lose interest. They may find themselves nodding off or looking bored, meaning they won’t pay close attention to what you say.

By contrast, speaking slowly lets them listen carefully and absorb everything you say.

➡️ How To Make Your Podcast Popular ?

Avoiding Slips Of The Tongue

Speaking too quickly can make you more likely to slip up and accidentally say something embarrassing.

For example, if you talk about your favorite movie and say, “I love watching movies with my friends,” you could say, “I love watching movies alone.” This slip-up is unacceptable, and it is easy to see why.

FAQs: Average Words Per Minute Speaking

How fast does the average podcaster speak.

The average podcaster speaks approximately 150 to 160 words per minute, while the average professional speaker is slightly higher at 167 WPM (words per minute).

How Fast Does the Average Person Talk?

The average person speaks at a rate of approximately 125 to 150 words per minute.

How many words is a 5 minute speech?

A 5-minute speech would be around 750 to 800 words using the average speaking rate.

Is 100 words per minute fast speaking?

Speaking at 100 WPM is slightly below the average conversational rate, so it’s not considered fast.

Is 150 wpm speaking fast?

Speaking at 150 WPM is about average for most people, especially in presentations and general conversations.

Is speaking 200 words a minute fast?

Speaking at 200 WPM is faster than average and is typically seen in enthusiastic or rapid conversations.

How long is a 700 word speech?

A 700-word speech would last roughly 4.5 to 5 minutes at an average speaking rate.

Is 150 words per minute good for a speech?

Yes, 150 WPM is a good rate for a speech as it’s comfortable for listeners and ensures clarity.

Is it possible to speak 300 words per minute?

Speaking at 300 WPM is extremely fast. While some individuals, like certain record-holders, can achieve it, it’s beyond the average speaking rate for most people and can challenge comprehension.

How long is a 2 minute speech?

A 2-minute speech is typically 300 to 320 words, based on an average speaking rate of 150-160 words per minute (WPM).

Final Thoughts On How Many Words You Can Say Per Minute

Your speaking speed isn’t fixed; it can change with time. Utilizing our guidelines, you can determine your words-per-minute rate and refine your speech to be more composed, captivating, and effective for your listeners.

Other sources :

• Science Focus

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Average Words Per Minute Speaking (15 Experts Examples)

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What is the average words per minute speaking rate?

According to the National Center for Voice and Speech , the average rate for English speakers in the US is about 150 wpm. The average speaking rate can change for your project. Especially some professionals are known to speak faster purposeful ly.

Average words per minute speaking rates vary for different jobs and projects:

As you can see, presentations and conversational word per minute rates are lower. Those are situations where we care deeply about being understood. But also we have pauses and body language to capture the attention. 

Ebook publishers recommend the 150-160 wpm, which is close to the maximum speaking rate that also ensures full comprehension. 

150-160 words per minute (WPM) is also recommended for podcasts, radio hosts, and even YouTubers. This should be average for an entire show, while some of the passages should use a faster speaking rate while others slower. A smart adjustment will break the monotony and increase listener engagement.

On the fastest spectrum, there are auctioneers and commentators. Their job is to increase the hype, convey passion, and trigger a lot of emotions. 

We also cover the topic of how fast should you talk on a recording in this podcast episode:

Examples of average words per minute speaking rates by public figures

Analyzing transcripts of great and popular TED talks given by public figures, we checked how fast they talk. Talks are linked so you can check them, and they cover a variety of topics.

For these 14 talks, the average speaking rate is 167 words per minute. 

The Steve Jobs talk was not delivered as part of a TED conference, but it is included on the TED website. Above all, it is an excellent example of attention capturing and message delivery.

The fastest talker on the list, Tony Robbins, still delivers his message with clarity, and we can understand what he is saying. He achieves this by clearly articulating his words and using a simple language. His clarity compensates for his speed.

Your’ words per minute speaking rate should be perfectly adjusted to how fast people can listen and comprehend. If it is going to be too fast, you are going to lose a listener. If you are going to be too slow, their thoughts will drift away. The words per minute rate on your project should be just right.

The obvious question now is what is the “right” work per minute rate. In this article, we will discuss statistics, real-life examples, and present recommendations for making the most engaging recording.

Most people can talk quite fast when needed. Stress and other factors also can make us speed up. But it is essential to focus and slow down to speak perfectly for our audience. But always speaking at the same rate can also be too monotonous.

Can you control how fast we speak?

Definitely yes. According to professional speech coach Joan Detz:

“President John F. Kennedy was a notoriously fast talker – often topping 200 words per minute. You certainly don’t want to be that extreme. But, in general, talking a bit fast is better than talking too slow. Why? Speed projects charisma. Slowness projects lethargy and can frustrate listeners.” – “It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It.”

But for his most famous speech, his 1961 Inaugural Address, he slowed down significantly. He slowed his usually high speaking rate down to below 100 wpm. JFK projected command, vigor, and charisma. 

He achieved this using short sentences and action words. He had a focused message and he coveying it in an active voice.

JFK’s words per minute count was “Just Right” for the moment and the audience. Being this a live speech, he had some tools we don’t. He could pause, use facial expressions and body language, and keep attention focused on him. 

We can’t do this effectively during a voice-over, but there are methods to capture attention and reach optimal words per minute.

Is the average words per minute speaking rate important?

In short, yes, it is very important. Your rate of speech has an impact on how the audience perceives you and your message.

The speed of our speech affects comprehension, clarity, and customer experience.

• Comprehension is essential if you want your audio to be satisfying to your listeners and, most importantly if you genuinely want to help them. Working on improving your comprehension ensures that people that came looking for your show will find the answers quickly and won’t have to search the web for better and more valuable materials.
• With clarity , you increase your listeners’ focus, and you can help them learn and get a better result with your call to action. Clarity will allow you to get rid of the filler words. It keeps you focused on the topic. You will quickly cut away the redundant materials. 
• Customer experience will get you more good reviews, recommendations, and sales in the long run. 

When you nail your target WPM, you will start improving your language. You will remove empty words that don’t enhance meaning. Words that get overused are: literally, really, just, wrap my head around, etc.

Improved language, more precise communication, and clearer message simply mean there is more value in your podcast for your listeners.

How to calculate your average words per minute speaking rate?

Words per minute (wpm) is the most common way used to determine a speaking rate.

The calculation is simple and obvious. Just take the number of spoken words and divide by the number of minutes it took you to deliver the speech.

Speaking Rate (WPM) = Total words / number of minutes

There is one more way to calculate the speaking rate, but since it is harder to figure, it is not as popular as WPM. This other way is syllables per minute (SPM), and you get it by dividing the number of syllables spoken by the length of a speech.

Speaking Rate (SPM) = Total syllables / number of minutes

Let’s review this short example of how those numbers differ and what they can tell us about our speech.

• Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
• Modern, sophisticated presenters using expressive vocabulary can project passion and enthusiasm, thus successfully increasing listeners’ engagement.

Both passages have 17 words. But the first one has 19 syllables while the second one has 45 syllables. If you speak them both at the same words per minute rate, the longer passage will appear faster because you are saying more.

Using shorter words can help you say more in the same amount of time without sounding rushed.

How to easily check your average words per minute speaking rate?

To do it exactly, you need to memorize a passage and record yourself. Make a few tries speaking faster and slower to get different WPMs and determine when you sound the best.

You can also approximate this by reading a passage. It, however, calculates reading and not speaking rate. The familiarity of the material can impact the reading rate, so take this under consideration.

Reading rate, however, can be useful if you will be relying a lot on the script.

What influences how fast you talk on your audio project?

Many factors influence how fast you can talk . The good thing is that you can easily control the majority of these factors and achieve the speed you need for the most significant impact. 

• Regular speaking rate – this is highly influenced by our culture, and how people talk around. Along with a speaking rate, also pronunciation gets shaped thought the course of our lives. Thankfully all this can be influenced by a conscious effort. 
• Fatigue – whenever you are tired, you will speak slower. This is a natural response of the brain that you slow down when you are tired. Not only speaking is impacted. The simple answer here is to schedule your recording sessions in advance so you will be well-rested.
• New and complex content – when you will be working off a script that was completed a long time ago and is no longer familiar to you and on top contains a lot of long and complicated words. You will deliver it much slower. To avoid it, simply rehearse before recording and simplify. You can streamline your recording but splitting long sentences and using a more straightforward language.

Alongside being relaxed and prepared, other techniques can also help you sound better. Even what you drink and at what time of the day you record your voice-over can have an impact. Check here for a full list of tips to sound better: vocal tips 

How to use pauses effectively for better content delivery?

Pauses are a great way to capture attention during a speech. You have to use them smartly and strategically to engage your audience fully. 

When you make natural pauses, you automatically slow down your average words per minute speaking rate. In return, you should get more clear delivery and capture listeners’ attention.

Using pauses during a recording is a bit different than when giving a live speech. For example, on a podcast, you can always remove unwanted stops and keep only those you wish to include.

In a recording, you should use pauses to:

• Indicate a change in tone or topic – use a pause if you want to change the mood from excitement to being more calm and reflective. Or use one if you will change what you are talking about and ease the progression of the story. Adding music can help with changing tone.
• Emphasize key points – if you are reaching a conclusion or discuss some turning point in your story, you can pause to show that a critical piece is going to be addressed. Use those pauses in each episode to highlight the value you are delivering.
• Improve clarity of your message – when you are getting into the most convoluted part of your episode, slow down. This will give time to your listeners to process and fully appreciate the most complex and difficult to follow part of your speech.

How to control your words per minute rate on your project?

Control your environment and record your project in a soundproofed recording room . Using a quiet studio and planning your recording sessions will allow you to avoid distractions. This will help you with your speaking rate since:

• Adding control removes stress – having a controlled environment, and the scheduled session will allow you to speak more freely as it will remove some pressure. This will enable you to talk faster.
• Controlling your environment removes distractions – a soundproofed room guarantees no outside noises will lose your focus and break your concentration.

Controlling your schedule and understanding how noisy is your surroundings can help you get better audio and speak at the desired WPM even if you don’t have a fully soundproofed studio. Simply follow our guidelines on how to record in a bad room .

Is it better to speak faster, or is it better to speak slower?

There is no gold standard. If you are anywhere between 140-170 WPM, you should sound great.

Generally, slower is more intelligible than faster speech. Appropriate pauses allow your audience time to digest what you’ve said and begin to process it. 

Instead of obsessing about WPM, make sure your overall delivery is on point.

Put additional effort into:

• Simplification – use simple language, eliminate filler words, remove complex vocabulary and phrases to become more understandable
• Clarity – focus on diction, removal of vocal inflection, sharp pronunciation, and breathing.

How to practice average words per minute speaking pace?

The simplest and most effective way to practice keeping a constant pace is by using a metronome. You can buy one online (it’s a cool office decoration) or simply download any free app for your phone.

The metronome’s role is to tick at a specific rate and provide you with a constant rhythm. This is just for practicing as if you would talk precisely to the beat of the metronome you would sound very monotone (like voice assistants do). 

But practicing with a metronome will help you to oscillate at your desired words per minute rate.

There are many free metronome apps for Apple and Android phones, so you won’t have any issues finding one (you don’t need the premium versions).

How to Use Rate of Speech Effectively?

There are two valuable studies to help you craft your voice that talk about precipitation formed based on a rate of speech.

• In 1976 psychologists looked at speech rate and persuasion and concluded that faster speakers (195 wpm) were more persuasive than slower speakers (102 wpm). The results of this study suggest that speech rate functions as a general cue that augments credibility. 
• However, in 1991 a study on rapid speech suggested a more complicated relationship. Researchers conclude that when messages were in general disagreement with the audience’s views (counter-attitudinal), fast-talking increased persuasion. On the other hand, when the audience inherently agreed with the message (pro-attitudinal), slow speech emerged as the most persuasive way of delivery.

There is only one thing to do: vary your speaking rate

Always vary your words per minute speaking rate within one recording.

Don’t deliver all the sentences at the same rate. It will improve your delivery, and allow you to convey both meaning and emotions. Adjust the speed to match what you want to project at the moment.

Varying your WPM will make your recording more interesting for the audience. Without pace variation, you will sound monotone.

Change your speed according to what you want your listeners to feel.

• Speaking fast expresses passion, urgency, excitement, and emotion
• Talking slow expresses importance, sadness, confusion, the seriousness of a point

Tip : There is one more trick I use to control better my talking speed. I manage how close or far I’m from my dynamic mic.

What Playback Speed Is Used for Podcasts?

Surveys show that one of the podcasting trends is that, an increasing number of listeners regularly use higher than 1x playback speed to listen to podcasts.

The podcast player Pocket Casts estimates the feature has saved its listeners a cumulative 2,849 years between 2015 and 2019.

It may be an indication that busy people actually may enjoy a bit higher than average WPM rate.

How long should your script be for the best words per minute impression?

From analyzing podcast listeners’ demographics and usage patterns, we know that people mostly listen to podcast shows lasting between 30 and 40 minutes.

Experiment and measure your time to find the best way for you but start with a script of about 150-160 words per minute. In this case, start and experiment with:

• 2000 words for 15 minutes episode
• 3000 words for 20 minutes episode
• 4500 words for 30 minutes episode

We know that people mostly listen to podcasts between 30 and 40 minutes, but also take under consideration their attention span.

TED talks aim to be about 18 minutes. According to TED’s chief Chris Anderson, it is “long enough to be serious and short enough to hold people’s attention.” 

Information have material simply is harder and harder to digest as it goes on, so it is less satisfying for the listeners.

It is essential to care about quality and user experience with controlling the WPM speed. There are also other ways to improve the quality of your show. Besides, words per minute control my two favorites are thorough idea research and getting the best podcasting gear .

In conclusion

• 150-160 words per minute rate is the most typical speed at which radio and podcast host speak
• Many good speakers on TED lecture also talk close to this rate
• There is no golden solution and many speakers successfully deliver messages speaking above this rate
• Vary your speaking rate to avoid becoming monotone
• Speak faster to show more excitement and enthusiasm and speak slower to show importance and focus
• Alongside WPM rate a good speaker should also focus on clarity and simplicity
• A most common technique to train speaking rate is practicing with a metronome
• If you want to speak clearly and at a constant rate make sure you are rested, prepared for the recording, familiar with the material and record in a controlled and soundproofed environment
• Currently, people often use faster playback speeds to listen to podcasts. Consider this trend and test out how your audience will react to you, talking 10-20% faster.

Did you measure you average words per minute speaking rate? What did you found to be most effective for your project?

About the Author

I'm the owner and creator of ImprovePodcast.com, the site dedicated to providing actionable solutions for podcast creators. My goal is helping people to develop their podcasts into effective marketing and sales tools.

Very helpful! Thanks. This will help me with my pacing and script preparation!

Very helpful. I’ve adjusted my words per minute based on this article! Thanks.

I have no idea when this was written, but it’s rare to be searching the internet for new and useful information. I searched for “How many words per minute for a podcast” hoping to come across something that I might be able to adapt to my question. Wow. This article is everything I was asking for and more. You list famous Ted Talk speakers (interesting my two favorite Simon and Tony are 170/180. I think I found my model). Thank you for the effort on this. I will subscribe to this site.

I’m always happy to help.

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Harmonizing the Art and Science of Vocal Expression

How Many Words Per Minute Speaking? Average, Fast & Slow

February 8, 2024 By David V. Risner Leave a Comment

Talking well isn’t about what you say, but how fast you say it. This “speed” is words per minute (WPM).

Choosing the right WPM is like finding the right volume – too fast and people get lost, too slow and they get bored.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. The best WPM depends on how fast you naturally speak.

In this article, unlock the secrets of effective communication . The words you choose and the pace you deliver them both matter!

How Many Words Per Minute Speaking

Curious how fast people talk? Turns out, we don’t all chat at the same speed!

Let’s explore why and see what makes us tick when it comes to talking speed.

Research Findings On The Average WPM

Have you ever been in a conversation and thought, “Is this pace normal ?” Well, researchers have been on the case!

– On average, folks tend to utter about 140-160 words per minute in a casual chit-chat. It’s the sweet spot where understanding meets comfort.

Fast Talkers: The Speed Racers

– On average, fast talkers zip through at a rapid-fire 170-190 words per minute.

– It’s like a verbal rollercoaster. Trilling but sometimes tricky to catch every detail.

Slow Talkers: The Turtles

– Slow talkers are like turtles. They take their time and choose their words.

– On average, they say 120-130 words per minute in conversation.

Even though they’re slow, they can be interesting to listen to. It’s because their words have more weight.

How Many Words In A 2 Minute Speech

Ever wondered how many words you should aim for in a 2-minute speech? Buckle up, let’s find the perfect length!

Average Words In 2 Minute Speech

– In a 2-minute speech, the average speaker can say 280-300 words to keep your audience hooked.

– This natural rhythm seems to strike the right balance between clarity and engagement.

Fast Talkers Words In 2 Minute

– The text talks about people who talk fast. It says that these people can speak 340-360 words in a 2-minute speech.

– If you talk fast, you can think of this as your chance to show off your skills!

Slow Talkers Words In 2 Minute

– Taking your time can be charming, letting your words land with impact.

– Most slow talkers speak 230-250 words in a 2-minute speech.

How Many Words In A 3 Minute Speech

Knowing how many words fit in 3 minutes can be helpful. Let’s break down how many words you can say in a 3 minute speech.

Average Words In 3 Minute Speech

– On average, people tend to speak at a pace of about 430-450 words in a 3 minute speech.

– Research shows that this is the sweet spot for keeping listeners engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

Fast Talkers Words In 3 Minute Speech

– Fast talkers zoom through their words at a pace of 510-530 words in a 3 minute speech.

– Some people talk fast . This can be because they’re excited, nervous, or naturally quick thinkers.

Slow Talkers Words In 3 Minute Speech

– Slow speakers are careful and thoughtful. They can speak at a pace of around 360-380 words in a 3 minute speech.

– Some folks prefer to do things at their own pace. Maybe they want to be extra careful, make their point clear , or just take it easy.

How Many Words In A 4 Minute Speech

Want to know how many words fit in a 4-minute speech without sounding fast or boring? Let’s explore the magic of words.

Research Findings On Average Words In 4 Minute Speech

– If you talk at a normal speed, your 4-minute speech should be around 590-610 words.

– Think of it like a relaxing walk in the park.

Fast Talkers Words In 4 Minute Speech

– Super-fast speakers can fly through a crazy 700-720 words in just 4 minutes!

– That’s faster than you can blink!

Slow Talkers Words In 4 Minute Speech

– If you speak slowly, your 4-minute speech will have about 480-500 words.

– Each word will be clear and easy to understand, like a treasure for your listeners .

How Many Words In A 5 Minute Speech

Wonder how many words to fit in a 5-minute speech? It’s like finding the perfect song length!

Research Findings On Average Words In 5 Minute Speech

– For a 5-minute speech, aim for 730-750 words.

– This keeps things short and sweet, making your talk easier to understand and remember.

Fast Talkers Words In 5 Minute Speech

– People who talk quickly can say a lot in a short time, sometimes even 860-880 words in a 5-minute speech.

– While that’s exciting, it’s important to speak at a pace that everyone can understand.

Slow Talkers Words In 5 Minute Speech

– People who talk slowly have a speed of about 610-630 words in 5 minute speech.

– But to keep listeners interested, it’s important to speak at a pace that isn’t too slow.

How Many Words In A 10 Minute Speech

Curious how many words fit in a 10-minute speech? Knowing the average helps!

Let’s explore how fast and slow talkers fit words in their 10-minute talks.

Research Findings On Average Words In 10 Minute Speech

– According to various studies, a 10-minute speech has about 1,480-1,520 words.

– This keeps your audience engaged and helps them understand your talk.

Fast Talkers Words In 10 Minute Speech

– You are a fast talker, in a 10-minute speech, you could hit 1,730-1,750 words.

– That’s great, but slow down sometimes. Your audience needs time to understand you.

Slow Talkers Words In 10 Minute Speech

– A comfy pace for a 10-minute speech is 1,250-1,300 words.

– Remember to keep things moving to hold your audience’s attention.

How Many Words In A 15 Minute Speech

Attention spans are short, so 15-minute talks need to be tight! How many words are perfect?

Average Words In 15 Minute Speech

– Studies suggest around 2,230-2,250 words is a good target.

– Remember, this can change depending on how fast you speak, how much you pause, and if you include stories.

Fast Talker Words In 15 Minute Speech

– Fast talkers can hit around 2,600-2,650 words in 15 minutes.

– But remember, talking fast isn’t enough! Your words still need to be clear and easy to understand.

Slow Talker Words In 15 Minute Speech

– If you are a more thoughtful speaker, you can say 1,850-1,900 words for a 15-minute speech.

– Remember, it’s not about how many words you say, but how powerful they are.

How Many Words In A 20 Minute Speech

Feeling lost about how many words in your 20-minute speech should be? Let’s find out.

Average Words In 20 Minute Speech

– For a 20-minute speech, aim for around 2,900-3,000 words.

– The key is to be clear and engaging, no matter how long you talk!

Fast Talker Words In 20 Minute Speech

– Speakers who talk fast could be saying anywhere from 3,400-3,500 words in a 20-minute speech.

– Remember, clarity is key! The audience will appreciate it more if they can understand you

Slow Talkers Words In 20 Minute Speech

– Slow speakers usually use fewer words, around 2,400-2,500 in a 20-minute speech.

– Take your time, highlight important points, and let your words sink in.

Public Speaking And WPM

Nervous about public speaking? Don’t worry, the magic number for a great presentation is within reach!

Explore the ideal pace (words per minute) to captivate your audience. Analyze famous speeches to learn from the pros.

1. Ideal WPM For Effective Public Speaking

Picture this: you’re at a friend’s backyard barbecue, chatting about your weekend plans. The words flow naturally, and everyone is engaged.

Public speaking , ideally, should feel like that – comfortable and conversational. The sweet spot for WPM in public speaking is around 140-160 words.

Why this range? It’s the Goldilocks zone – not too fast to overwhelm, and not too slow to bore.

Think of it as the pace that keeps your audience hanging on to every word without feeling like they’re racing against the clock.

2. Tips For Adjusting Speech Rate

Think about your listeners

–  Younger folks:  They might be cool with a quicker, more energetic delivery.

–  Older folks:  Take things a little slower so they can understand everything.

Match your message to your speed

–  Good news:  Speed it up to show your excitement!

–  Serious stuff:  Slow down to make sure it’s all clear.

Practice without becoming a robot

– Speak naturally, like you’re talking to a friend.

– Try different speeds until you find what feels comfortable and effective.

3. Famous Speeches And Their WPM Analysis

Let’s play detective and dissect a couple of iconic speeches:

–  Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”:  This masterpiece clocked in at approximately 110 WPM.

King’s deliberate pace allowed the power of his words to resonate. This made his message unforgettable.

–  Steve Jobs’ Address:  Jobs, a master storyteller, maintained a brisk pace of around 190 WPM.

His energy and enthusiasm kept listeners on the edge of their seats.

–  TED Talks – The 18-Minute Rule:  Many TED Talks aim for a total duration of 18 minutes, keeping the WPM close to 160.

This intentional limitation ensures clarity and impact without overwhelming the audience.

Talk clearly, and connect deeply!

How fast you talk matters. Too fast, people get lost. Too slow, they zone out. Find the “just right” pace to make your words easy to understand.

Curious about your own speaking pace ? Record yourself and listen back. See how it feels? Try slowing down, adding pauses, and see how it changes things.

Remember, talking is an art, not a science. Your unique voice and rhythm can turn boring chats into amazing connections.

So speak up, find your flow, and let your voice sing!

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How Many Words Should Be in My Speech? (Based on Number of Minutes)

Crafting a speech? Typically, individuals speak at 125-200 words per minute. For instance, a 5-minute speech is about 625-1000 words. Keep this pace in mind to tailor your speech’s length to your time limit. Familiarity and nerves can also influence speed.

You can use our handy guide to find out how many words should be in your speech, based on the number of minutes you have to speak. We will also discuss the ideal word count for different lengths of speeches. Let’s get started!

At a Glance:

• Average speaking rate is 125-200 words per minute.
• Word count for a 5-minute speech is typically 625-1000 words.
• Speaking speed varies based on personal style, familiarity, and nerves.
• Several factors influence the ideal word count for a given speech duration.
• Regular rehearsal ensures effective speech delivery.

Speech Duration vs. Word Count

Estimating speaking time for a manuscript, factors affecting the word count in your timed speech, number of words based on the number of minutes.

The average person speaks at a rate of about 125 to 200 words per minute, but this can vary depending on your natural speaking style and the context of your speech. Other factors like how well you know your material and how nervous you are can also affect your speaking rate.

When it comes to speeches, many people worry about how many words they should use per minute. The truth is, there is no specific number. However, knowing the average word count for different speech lengths can help you plan and pace your words more effectively.

Here is a breakdown of the average word counts for speeches of different lengths.

To simplify things, let’s look at word counts for standard time intervals:

1-minute speech: 125 – 200 words 5-minute speech: 625 – 1000 words 10-minute speech: 1250 – 2000 words 15-minute speech: 1875 – 3000 words 20-minute speech: 2500 – 4000 words 30-minute speech: 3750 – 6000 words 45-minute speech: 5625 – 9000 words 60-minute (or 1-hour) speech: 7500 – 12000 words

For intermediate minutes, you can use the average rate of 125-200 wpm to estimate.

If you have a written speech or manuscript, you might be curious about its duration when spoken.

Here’s a quick guide based on word counts:

100 words: About 0.5 to 0.8 minutes 200 words: About 1 to 1.6 minutes 250 words: About 1.25 to 2 minutes 500 words: About 2.5 to 4 minutes (And so on, using the average speaking rate of 125-200 wpm.)

Several factors can impact how many words your speech should ideally have for a given time frame. Understanding these variables can help you deliver a presentation that’s both engaging and perfectly timed. Here’s a breakdown of these influential factors:

• Natural Speaking Rate: Every individual possesses a unique speaking pace. Some naturally express thoughts swiftly, clocking in around 200 words per minute or even faster. In contrast, others may speak more deliberately, averaging around 125 words per minute. This inherent rhythm greatly influences the word count of a speech for a given time frame.
• Audience Demographic: Your audience’s age, background, and familiarity with the topic can dictate the speed at which you should present. For example, a technical presentation for industry experts might proceed faster than one for novices, even if the word count remains consistent.

• Topic Complexity: More intricate or challenging subjects demand a slower pace to ensure comprehension. In such cases, even if the speech’s duration is lengthy, the word count might be on the lower side to accommodate pauses and explanations.
• Use of Visual Aids: Incorporating slides, charts, or videos can mean fewer words spoken. Visual elements often require pauses, allowing the audience to process the information visually rather than just auditorily.
• Nervousness: Unsurprisingly, nervousness can speed up one’s delivery. A speaker might rush through their material when anxious, resulting in a higher word count in a shorter time frame.

Crafting a speech that’s both engaging and appropriately timed is an art. While the word count provides a framework, considering the factors above ensures your speech is not just well-timed, but also effective. As you prepare, always prioritize clarity, engagement, and resonance with your audience over sticking rigidly to word counts.

It’s important to know how many words your speech should be so that you can plan and structure it accordingly. We hope this guide will help you determine the number of minutes your speech should be based on the number of words. Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline, and you may need more or less time depending on your content.

So use this as a starting point, and then adjust as needed. And most importantly, practice, practice, practice! The more you run through your speech beforehand, the smoother it will go when you’re up in front of an audience. Thanks for reading!

Related Posts:

Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute

What is personal development.

The contemporary professional world is a whirlwind of change, innovation, and relentless competition. In such an environment, relying solely on one's formal education or initial skill set is not enough. Continuous growth and evolution are essential. Enter the concept of personal development. While you may have heard of it, do you truly understand its magnitude?

At its core, personal development involves activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents, and realize dreams and aspirations. For the working professional, it's about honing skills, expanding knowledge, and improving personal and professional life.

The Importance of Personal Development

• Keeping Pace with Change : Industries evolve, and to remain relevant, it's vital to update skills and knowledge continuously.
• Boosting Career Progression : A commitment to personal development often translates to better job opportunities and faster promotions.
• Enhancing Self-confidence : As you learn and grow, you become more confident in your abilities, allowing you to tackle challenges with a positive mindset.
• Improving Job Satisfaction : With increased competence, you're more likely to feel accomplished and satisfied in your role.

How to Manage Your Personal Development:

• Set Clear Goals : Understand where you are and where you want to go. Define short-term and long-term goals, both personal and professional.
• Seek Feedback : Regularly ask for feedback from peers, superiors, and subordinates. It provides a clearer picture of areas needing improvement.
• Prioritize Lifelong Learning : Enroll in courses, attend workshops, or simply read up on industry news.
• Network Actively : Engage with professionals inside and outside your field. It can provide fresh perspectives and new learning opportunities.
• Practice Mindfulness and Reflection : Set aside time to introspect. It helps you understand yourself better and identify areas of growth.
• Embrace Challenges : Step out of your comfort zone. Whether it's a new project or a new role, challenges push you to grow.

Benefits of Personal Development:

• Career Advancement : A continuous focus on personal development makes you a valuable asset to any company, leading to better job roles and promotions.
• Improved Productivity : By sharpening skills and acquiring new ones, tasks that once seemed challenging become easier, boosting productivity.
• Enhanced Resilience : Personal development helps in building a mental resilience that aids in handling stress and challenges more effectively.
• Better Decision Making : With a broader skill set and increased knowledge, making informed decisions becomes second nature.
• Holistic Growth : Personal development isn't just about professional growth. It also fosters personal growth, leading to better relationships, improved mental health, and a more fulfilled life.

Personal Development Skills To Master

The landscape of professional excellence is not just built upon technical know-how or formal education. Equally crucial are soft skills, which, when nurtured, can significantly enhance one's personal and professional life. These skills, often rooted in emotional intelligence, play a pivotal role in one’s ability to navigate the complex terrains of modern workplaces and personal relationships.

Let's dive into some of the most important personal development skills every professional should cultivate:

1. Communication

• What it is : The ability to convey information clearly, persuasively, and empathetically.
• Why it matters : Effective communication can prevent misunderstandings, build trust, and foster collaboration. Whether it's giving a presentation, writing an email, or simply chatting with a colleague, clear communication is key.
• What it is : The capacity to understand and share another person's feelings or perspective.
• Why it matters : Empathy allows for better team collaboration, fosters positive work relationships, and aids in conflict resolution. It makes you more approachable and understanding.

3. Self-awareness

• What it is : Recognizing one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.
• Why it matters : Self-aware individuals are better equipped to manage their emotions, understand their strengths and areas of improvement, and navigate interpersonal relationships.

4. Values and Integrity

• What it is : Standing by a set of principles and ensuring your actions align with them.
• Why it matters : Integrity in the workplace fosters trust. People are more inclined to collaborate with, rely on, and respect someone who walks their talk.

5. Adaptability

• What it is : The ability to adjust to new conditions or changes in the environment effectively.
• Why it matters : Change is the only constant. Being adaptable means you can navigate changes in the industry, job roles, or work processes with ease, ensuring long-term success.

6. Problem Solving

• What it is : The ability to analyze a problem, identify solutions, and apply effective remedies.
• Why it matters : Every role comes with its set of challenges. Problem-solving skills enable you to approach these challenges logically and innovatively.

7. Time Management

• What it is : Effectively using one's time to prioritize tasks and achieve goals.
• Why it matters : With numerous tasks and limited hours in a day, effective time management ensures you meet deadlines, reduce stress, and enhance productivity.

8. Active Listening

• What it is : Fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to what someone is saying.
• Why it matters : Active listening can prevent miscommunication, foster positive relationships, and ensure that you truly understand the perspectives of others.

9. Conflict Resolution

• What it is : The ability to handle, manage, and resolve disagreements or disputes, whether personal or professional.
• Why it matters : Conflicts are inevitable. Effectively resolving them ensures a harmonious work environment and strengthens relationships.

10. Continuous Learning

• What it is : A commitment to regularly update and enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Why it matters : Industries evolve. Continuous learning ensures you stay relevant and are equipped to handle new challenges and opportunities.

In today’s ever-changing professional landscape, having a robust set of soft skills complementing your technical abilities can set you apart. Personal development is an ongoing journey, and cultivating these skills ensures you're not just surviving but thriving in your personal and professional life. Remember, it's not just about what you know but also how you apply it and interact with others.

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Rate of Speech   Speech is a universal means of oral communication. The rate of speech should be slow enough for the oral output to be comprehensible to the listener and swift enough to sustain interest. In short, unless the rate of speech is proper, these goals cannot be accomplished. A simple technique for adjusting the rate of speech to the comprehension pace of the listener is to count the number of words spoken per minute. Most experts agree that the ideal rate of speech is between one hundred and forty to hundred and eighty words per minute, generally known as WPM – Words Per Minute. At this rate of speech, your audience would be able to listen to and follow your speech. Let us do some exercises to measure our rate of speech. Speech Writing Delivery Techniques PowerPoint & Visuals Speaker Habits Speaker Resources Speech Critiques Book Reviews Browse Articles ALL Articles Learn About Us About Six Minutes Meet Our Authors Write for Us Advertise With Us What is the Average Speaking Rate? What’s the average speaking rate ? Is it better to speak faster or is is better to speak slower? In this article, we answer these questions and look at the factors which influence your speaking rate , a critical component of your delivery. Speech Pauses Filler Words (um, ah) Speaking Rate Vocal Volume Vocal Projection Vocal Strength Exercises How to calculate your speaking rate The most common way to express one’s speaking rate is in words per minute (wpm). To calculate this, simply take the total number of words spoken and divide by the number of minutes it took you to speak them. Speaking Rate (wpm) = Total words / # of minutes Another way to measure speaking rate is in syllables per minute (spm): Speaking Rate (spm) = Total syllables / # of minutes Why syllables per minute? Not all words are equal. Consider these two sentences: Modern readability tests are designed to indicate comprehension difficulty when reading a passage of contemporary academic English. (17 words; 41 syllables) Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. (17 words; 19 syllables) If you were to speak these two sentences at the same rate in words per minute, the first passage would seem considerably faster because you are saying more. Despite the sensibility of using syllables/minute, the words/minute measure is more commonly used, because it is generally easier to calculate. How to determine your speaking rate A really quick estimate of your speaking rate can be obtained by timing yourself while reading a selection of text with a known word count. Then, simply calculate using the method above. But, this is not really your speaking rate. It’s your reading rate . Even if you read out loud, it’s not the same thing as a speaking rate. The best way to determine your speaking rate is to time yourself delivering a real speech with a real audience. (Video helps — you can count your words from it too.) What is the average speaking rate? The average speaking rate will vary across languages and situations. But, rather than dodging the question entirely, let’s come up an estimate given a fairly narrow speaking situation —  TED talks  — which we often study in Six Minutes  speech critiques. I analyzed 9 TED talks which have been critiqued on Six Minutes . These talks ranged from just under 7 minutes in length to just under 20 minutes. Some speakers used visuals, some did not. Their topics were widely variable. [Click the links in the table below to view these speeches and read the critiques. Note that the Steve Jobs talk was not delivered at a TED conference, but is included on the TED website.] Speaker Speaking Rate (words/minute) 133 153 155 158 161 167 168 187 188 For these 9 talks, the average speaking rate is 163 words per minute . Two thirds of the talks are clustered in a narrow range between 153 and 168 words per minute. Remember that this average and range do not necessarily apply to all speaking situations. One can also calculate the speaking rate for the 9 TED talks in syllables per minute, and these results are shown below, sorted in the same order as in the words/minute chart above. The most notable difference using the syllables/minute measure is that of Majora Carter. She has a much higher syllables/word count (1.62) compared to the others, which all fall between 1.43 and 1.54. More frequent use of longer words is one factor which contributes to my perception that she’s talking too fast. What influences your overall speaking rate? There are many factors which influence your overall speaking rate: Your normal speaking rate This is a product of your birth, your culture, and your history (family, profession, etc.) Some people talk faster. Some people talk slower. Neither is inherently  good or bad . Nervousness and stress Speaking under pressure tends to make you speak faster. I am not immune to this trait. If I’m speaking with notes of any kind, I’ll often write “SLOW DOWN” in red ink in the margin as a reminder. Mental fatigue If you are tired, you will tend to speak slower. You’ll also tend to make more mistakes which further slows your effective speaking rate. Complexity of the words If you’re measuring speaking rate in words per minute, then longer words will usually slow down your speaking rate. Complexity of content Longer sentences and more complex speech content means more pauses are necessary, and this will slow down your speaking rate, too. This is desirable because it helps your audience — they need more time to mentally process longer sentences and more complex content. However, it would help them more to simplify your content and shorten your sentences. Verbal pauses Insertion of natural pauses in your verbal delivery will slow your speaking rate, but the gains in understandability are worth it! Extra pauses induced by you Every time you stop to checking your notes, think to search for a word, show a prop or slide, or demonstrate something, your speaking rate drops. Often, the benefits of doing these things outweighs the drawbacks. [Some of these pauses can be reduced by more thorough preparation.] Extra pauses induced by your audience When your audience applauds or laughs, this slows you down too. Larger audiences tend to induce larger delays. Extra pauses induced by the environment These are harder to predict, but you should allow for them. For example, loud noises outside the room or other distractions may force you to pause, or repeat yourself. All but the last two factors are completely within your control, and even those last two factors can be predicted somewhat. Is it better to speak faster or is is better to speak slower? It depends, but if you are anywhere close to the range of the speakers analyzed above (133 to 188 words/minute), you’re fine. Generally, slower is more intelligible than faster speech. Appropriate pauses allow your audience time to digest what you’ve said and begin to process it. However, instead of worrying too much about your numerical speaking rate, it probably would be better to focus on improving your clarity and lowering the complexity of your language. Clarity : Good enunciation, sharp pronunciation, and proper stresses will produce clear language and make it easy for your audience to hear each word. Complexity : By simplifying words and simplifying your sentences by eliminating unnecessary words, you become much more understandable. Vary your speaking rate! No matter what your average speaking rate is over the entire speech, you should always vary it within a speech. Don’t deliver sentence after sentence at the same exact rate. Varying your speech rate adds life to your vocal delivery, and allows you to convey both meaning and emotional content. For example, you can speak a little faster to convey excitement, or a little slower to reflect sadness or confusion. Final Thoughts I know very few people who speak considerably too slow, but many who speak too fast. Because of the common tendency to put too much content into our presentations, we tend to speak at a blazing speed to get through it all. So, in general, slow down! Like many delivery characteristics, the best way to be aware of whether you are doing it well is to solicit feedback. Ask trusted audience members whether your pace was too slow, too fast, or just right. Please share this... This is one of many public speaking articles featured on Six Minutes . Subscribe to Six Minutes for free to receive future articles. Image credit: Speedometer in MPH by FreeImages.com/Bartek Ambrozik ( license ) Add a Comment Cancel reply E-Mail (hidden) Subscribe - It's Free! Follow Us Similar Articles You May Like... Breathing: The Seductive Key to Unlocking Your Vocal Variety Volume and the Public Speaker: Be Heard and Be Effective Speak Up! A Guide to Voice Projection Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety What is Charisma? Can it be Learned? Speech Pauses: 12 Techniques to Speak Volumes with Your Silence Find More Articles Tagged: 27 comments. Great post Andrew. I love the analysis. Research shows that Australians generally speak slower than other english speakers, and I recently ( http://wp.me/p2k3hy-Ev ) suggested that we speak around 100 wpm. Quite a difference! Despite this, I have a flash card that I take into every high school speech class and I use it a LOT. It says “slow down”. Fascinating! I wasn’t aware of the speaking rate difference in Australians. Do you have a reference to the research handy? it is said that the normalspeaking rate is 140_160 word per minute Thanks for this post Andrew. I think it also depends on the nature of the speech. My experience in Toastmasters tells me that, when telling stories and trying to convey emotion, I’ll speak much slower than when speaking about plain facts and figures. Is this your case as well? Yes, it certainly depends on the nature of the overall speech and, as you have pointed out, on the nature of what you are presenting at a given time within the speech. I agree that emotional content and stories (which have more dramatic pauses) tend to be delivered slower than factual details, but even that isn’t a hard rule. Andrew, As always I appreciate your thoroughness and your practical approach to dealing with the challenges of public speaking. I agree with this article and thank you for your approach using syllables rather than words to assess rate of speech. One thought, another situation affecting ROS is the fact that people may not practice speaking at the slower pace often enough. This is where it is helpful to read a piece aloud that has the desired number of words in it (or syllables) and time yourself to be able to read it at the correct pace. If you do that often enough, you get the “feel” of that pace and can more easily duplicate it under pressure. And you’ll also notice that when you slow down you are more able to add nuances and variety, making the slower pace actually MORE interesting than the faster one, in case you are worried about boring people when speaking more slowly. Up to now, I’ve never seen syllables used to express speaking speed, but it makes such sense – as the comparison of sentences with the same word count but vastly different syllable counts clearly shows in this post. A while ago, I published a piece about using fewer syllables when speaking. It lists 14 terms that people often use when speaking (or writing), and it gives low-syllable equivalents (up to 80% shorter) for each term: http://remotepossibilities.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/minimise-blur-firstframework-part-1m/#bb3 If you make simple changes like those, you can avoid rushing, and your audience can absorb your message far better. Here’s another tip related to speaking rate, which I’ve found really handy when listening to recorded speeches or webinars: By using Windows Media Player (or a similar tool), you can play recordings slower or faster than normal speed. Typically, speakers talk too fast. So you can use Media Player to slow down the recording, and/or you can keep clicking Pause to give yourself time to digest what was just said. Conversely, for slow or well-paced speakers, you can play a recording at (say) 150% speed, so for instance you can hear a 1-hour webinar in only 40 minutes. What a timesaver! (I’m in Australia like Claire, above, but the slowest speaker I’ve come across is actually a well-known CEO from the US. In a live speech, the slow speed lets you absorb what he’s saying, but in a recording it can get frustrating unless you speed it up.) If your version of Media Player’s like mine, you’ll find the speed control by choosing View > Enhancements > Play Speed Settings. (In Media Player on Windows 7, instead you choose Play > Play Speed, which gives you just 3 speeds to choose from.) I hope you find that as handy as I have! Thanks for the tip, Craig. I’ll have to try that out. Andrew, This is extremely helpful for novice public speakers. I am forever being asked how much can I say in a minute? What’s interesting about the numbers for me is that they look so high. Once you allow time for audience reaction and time to pause to let your points sink in, I always find that even the fastest public speakers struggle to get much more than 140 words per minute. 150 tops. It’s our nervous novices that speak at 180. I’d be interested to know: Why is it that these experienced hands say so many words? Does their experience mean that they can command an audience’s attention and compress more content into less time? Or would they be better if the slowed down? Without a great deal more data, it’s hard to answer your questions. However, I think it is fair to say that these TED speakers are able to deliver at a higher words/minute rate because [1] they are extremely well-prepared, and thus rarely make any verbal slips which would slow them down and [2] the culture of TED talks tends to allow for a pretty high information density. As for whether these talks would be better if slowed down, I leave it up to the audience. As a trainer of professional actors I can assure you that there seems to be more of a correlation of slower speed with “reading” and faster speed with passion. Perhaps the TED speakers are a bit more passionate about their ideas? Wow. I couldn’t disagree more. If a person is aligning operative words then TEMPO has almost no bearing on the speech. If someone is passionate then they are going to speak at a faster rate (SPM), but they will also hit words in such a way as to convey meaning. Anything between 160-210 (wpm) is common in everyday speech. Why should conveying ideas in a “speech” be different? Love your pages! However, please take caution when using the word ” slower”. It is an adjective. When speaking of how something is done, the proper use is ” more slowly”. 😉 I agree with you SO much that I filed a federal lawsuit asking court and other public officers to SLOWDOWN. My lawsuit is called Ovitsky v. Washington County, etc. It’s less about money and more about understanding what people are speaking, for me most of the time it is “too fast,” quite literally. Federal relay types about 60 wpm. Court officers speak 100+ wpm. If I can walk away with one non financial gain, it would be a federal order asking the locals to slow down and also asking FCC to hire faster typists to transcribe calls for deaf. I write for myself, I cannot read 100+ wpm, I can read about 80 wpm and I can hear maybe 60 wpm with pauses and repeats, which is why I use deaf telecom, I need a SLOWDOWN more than I need the visual but after seven years, I’m accustomed to doing both. I am in Oregon, not far from where ye hail from? Au Canada? In any event, thank you for your wonderful article and I appreciate your posting it. I re-posted it on my FaceBook page with a link back to this site. Hi, Andrew, Congratulations for your blog! It’s terrific! I also write about public communication, but I focus on phonetics. I’ll keep reading your posts, thanks!! Carolina (Madrid, Spain) Ray Hull, Ph.D. recommended 124 wpm. That was great to read your research Please advise the top 10 speech or speaker in a world Many Thanks Nice article, I came here looking to learn what speed I wanted to be able to play guitar at. I was wondering if you might have an article you could direct me to which delves deeper into the mood tone/frequency or as you put it an article that tells me what speed rates convey what sorts of meanings and emotions? Andrew, thank you! One of the 1st training segments of Accent training ( Not “accent reduction” – rather “Accent Addition”) is to train folks how to monitor their speaking rate. We do this by doing an analysis of TED speakers on the # of words per minute ( WPM). The Syllables Per Minute (SPM) analysis that you have done is phenomenal. A person cannot change how they move their speaking/articulator-voice muscles until they can be attuned to and control the speed of their speaking movements. Additionally, they cannot be attuned to how their listeners are responding or understanding if they cannot use effective pauses. Your analysis of the WPM and SPM of top TED speakers helps others to strategically garner specific tactics to be more effective speakers. Again, Thank you!!! Thank you for this post Andrew! I learned a lot of details about public speaking while browsing through your blog. It actually inspired me to create an app which estimates the speaker’s speaking rate, pauses, pitch and volume (a digital presentation coach). Now available for free on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quantle/id1241930976 Thanks again for your valuable pages! a very good job. I hope you will creat a a android version of the app. Thank you. Hi Andrew. Thank you for your very interesting post on speaking rate. I am interested in doing this at a more academic level, in a paper, for instance. Do you have any papers/references on calculating speaking rate? Thank you in advance for your help. Interesting that the fact of deafness are not being dealt with enough. Some deaf persons (especially older persons) has big difficulties in following newsreaders. It must be remembered that with the years all functions slow down a little bit with extreme cases here and there.Also older persons tend to listen more to radio and tv and find it very difficult in understanding than in the past.I am very fond of news channels but find that some readers (especially women ) are faster readers than their male colleges.To all out there please speak slower! Do you have DVDs to help with practice sounds Recently I reviewed a video where the speaker talked at 230 wpm! (I linked to this post for comparison with other talks.) You might think that’d be WAY too fast, but in that case I think the speaker pulled it off. If done well, one benefit of speaking so fast is that it conveys passion for the topic. See what you think… The reason why Majora Carter’s spw is so much higher is because she says ‘sustainability’, ‘environmental’ and ‘sustainable development’ a lot. You could also say that: • the avg wpm of those “2/3 between 153 and 168 wpm” is 160; and that • the avg spm of those talks is 274, and 237 amongst without the 3 fast-talking women and slomo Gore. Personally, I’m more interested in how fast can people listen. Any clues? Recent Tweets 163 words per minute is an average speaking rate for presentations. http://t.co/Tknk8f0A0O #speaking — @anthea_rowe Sep 10th, 2015 This was helpful to me as I’m preparing a talk: What is the Average Speaking Rate? https://t.co/oA8Scl26sx by @6minutes — @cesarbrea Oct 19th, 2015 @AlexWattsEsq about 90 hours by my very unscientific estimate. Used average speaking rate here: https://t.co/8CHXhuUt5K — @InfiniteClock Dec 2nd, 2015 What is the Average Speaking Rate? Very insightful 🙂 @GitteWBruhn and @SCThatcher https://t.co/UmmT6sa4N3 by @6minutes — @ClaireLauper Dec 18th, 2015 @grace_elliot Varies quite a lot. Some useful info here https://t.co/lXLdUZty91 😊 — @DamianSomebody Apr 20th, 2016 The average speaking rate of English as 1st Language TED speakers in Words & syllables https://t.co/ekitKC9jw6 — @accentcoach Jun 14th, 2016 #TuesdayTips Too fast, too slow, or just right? Good article by @6minutes on pace of speech. https://t.co/hPXErFUsVX — PitchVantage (@pitchvantage) Jul 5th, 2016 .@6minutes Found today. Looking forward to following. https://t.co/yWCQwBzJjg — @realestaterossi Nov 19th, 2016 ¿sabías que la velocidad media de hablar óptima en un discurso está entre 153 y 168 palabras? #apor1600kwds https://t.co/bbwrBgo7BU — @DanielRDelPino Oct 17th, 2017 What is the Average Speaking Rate? https://t.co/Th6LajR5J8 — @BigDru Jul 6th, 2018 1 Blog Link Hearing | Sherry Chandler — Nov 17th, 2012 Featured Articles Majora Carter (TED, 2006) Energy, Passion, Speaking Rate Hans Rosling (TED, 2006) 6 Techniques to Present Data J.A. Gamache (Toastmasters, 2007) Gestures, Prop, Writing Steve Jobs (Stanford, 2005) Figures of speech, rule of three Al Gore (TED, 2006) Humor, audience interaction Dick Hardt (OSCON, 2005) Lessig Method of Presentation Books We Recommend [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Follow Six Minutes Six Minutes Copyright © 2007-2022 All Rights Reserved. Read our permissions policy , privacy policy , or disclosure policy . Comments? Questions? Contact us . Ryan Vet’s Bio Books by Ryan Recent Press Ryan on Vivino – Wine Ratings Dental Podcast Ryan Vet on Cameo Crash Course on Wine by Ryan Vet Recommended Books Ryan Vet in the Press Articles by Ryan Vet How Many Words per Minute is right for Professional Speakers? Professional Speaking February 20, 2024 In the realm of professional speaking, the rate at which you deliver your words can significantly impact the effectiveness of your presentations. Understanding the optimal speaking rate, often measured in words per minute (WPM), is crucial for engaging your audience effectively. This blog post delves into the nuances of speaking rates for professional speakers and provides actionable tips and tricks to master your delivery speed. Understanding Speaking Rates The average speaking rate for professional presentations fluctuates widely, with a general range between 120 to 150 WPM for a conversational pace. However, certain professions, such as auctioneers or sports commentators, may speak at a rapid pace of 200-450 WPM. Notably, extremes in speaking rates exist, as evidenced by record holders like Steven Woodmore, who could articulate 637 WPM, significantly surpassing the average person’s speed​​. The Impact of Speaking Rate on Audience Perception The pace of your speech can convey various emotions and intentions. Speaking quickly may indicate urgency, passion, or excitement but can also suggest nervousness or a desire to rush through the presentation​​. On the contrary, a slower speech rate can help emphasize the importance of your message and ensure comprehension, particularly when presenting complex information ​​. Finding Your Ideal Speech Rate Determining your personal speech rate involves practice and awareness. Recording and timing your presentations can offer valuable insights into your typical speaking pace. Tools like Preply, Orai, and Ummo can assist in tracking and adjusting your speech rate as needed​​. It’s important to consider that while the average speaking rate might hover around 125 WPM, this can vary based on numerous factors, including your background, the presentation’s content, and audience engagement​​. Tips for Effective Speech Rate Management Practice with Purpose : Regularly practicing your speeches and recording them can help you understand your natural speaking pace and how it fluctuates throughout your presentation. Mind Your Audience : Observing audience reactions can provide cues on whether your speaking rate is effective. Disengagement may suggest a need to adjust your pace​​. Vary Your Pace : A dynamic presentation often involves varying your speaking rate to maintain audience interest and emphasize key points. Fast speech can generate excitement, while a slower pace can underscore critical information​​​​. Use Pauses Strategically : Effective use of pauses can enhance understanding and retention, allowing your audience to process the information presented​​. Cultural and Environmental Awareness : Recognize that cultural backgrounds and the environment can influence your natural speaking rate. Adjust accordingly to ensure clarity and engagement​​. Mastering the pace of your speech is a critical skill for any professional speaker. By understanding and adjusting your speaking rate, you can enhance audience engagement, improve comprehension, and deliver more impactful presentations. Remember, the goal is not to adhere strictly to a “perfect” rate but to find a pace that complements your speaking style, presentation content, and audience needs. With practice and mindfulness, you can develop a versatile speaking rate that resonates with diverse audiences and maximizes the impact of your presentations. Related Posts HOW IT WORKS INSTITUTIONAL SALES In later years, I also wrote speeches for industry leaders and CEOs. So when a friend emailed to request advice on how to write speeches, I decided to summarize the seven things I know. The average person speaks at somewhere between 125 and 150 words per minute. It's always better to speak more slowly than quickly. Thus, if you're speaking for 20 minutes, you want a total word count of about 2,500 words. Be careful! I once got the math wrong and saddled a good friend with a 48-minute speech when he was trying for 30! be to work in some sort of interactive component. Invite questions or give the audience tasks to do. The TV and the Internet have ruined our ability to sit quietly and listen to a talking head for very long. an introduction, point 1, point 2, point 3 and a conclusion. Or, in other words, tell people what you're to tell them, tell them and then wrap up by telling them This format is adaptable to a speech of just about any length but I'd divide a 20-minute speech as follows: If you're thin on ideas for the three points, consider using a mindmap to help you. (Anyone who subscribes to my receives an ebook on mindmapping at no charge.) If you have a story to illustrate each of your three points, so much the better. Stories are "sticky" — that is, people remember them. Unless you're a scientist, always prefer sticky stories to statistics. I hate opening jokes that are unrelated to the actual speech topic — they feel so fake and tacked on. You want humor to be organic — that is, related to the topic you're covering. Also be sure to avoid any comments that could be considered even remotely vulgar, or sexist, racist, ageist, etc. But if you're one of those people who can't quite pull off a joke, don't try. No humor is better than lame humor or bad delivery. Make sure the language is easy to say — even if you're writing the speech for someone else. Say it out loud many times, so you can check to ensure there are no stumbling blocks. For example, the line "a lower-cost alternative to traditional plans" is harder to say than it looks (try it!). Change that kind of language, fast. Barack Obama and Winston Churchill are/were both excellent speakers. They're also totally different. While you can gain pointers from observing great speakers, you need to be true to yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not! And if you are writing a speech for someone else, it's important you spend significant time interviewing them and learning speech patterns — as well as their stories. Are there any expressions that they use regularly? Can you work them into the speech? Finally, as a kind of a P.S., let me say that I use PowerPoint in my speeches or presentations. I know not everyone agrees with this philosophy — but most will concur that if you use PowerPoint you need to be skilled and practiced with it. It's not a good tool for beginners. A former daily newspaper editor, Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of . She offers a free weekly newsletter on her website . Informative Conversion Calculator Follow Us On: Words per Minute Calculator Number of Words or Paragraph Add this calculator to your site The Words per Minute calculator helps you to know the amount of time required for reading or speaking a particular set of words. It is essential to calculate the right duration for effective presentation. How Does This Words Per Minute Calculator Work? Follow the below-mentioned steps to find the estimated time for speaking or reading a particular number of words using our number of words calculator: Input your speed of speaking. Enter your speed of reading. Input the number of words or write a paragraph you are going to read or speak. Hit the “ Calculate ” button. Words Per Minute (Speech): It is the number of words per minute a speaker can deliver an adequate presentation of  a topic. Words per minute (Speech) = (Number of words Delivered) / Number of Minutes In order to get the most accurate value, use our words per minute speech calculator which is quite free and accurate. Professional Speech Table(wpm): Presentations Conversational Audiobooks Radio hosts & podcasters Auctioneers Commentators Between 100 – 150 wpm Between 120 – 150 wpm Between 150 – 160 wpm Between 150 – 160 wpm About 250 wpm Between 250- 400 wpm Words Per Minute (Reading): It is the number of words per minute a reader can read and understand easily.  Word per minute Speech = (Number of word Read) / Number of Minutes You can use our words per minute reading calculator which is quite free to get the most accurate value. Reading Speed Table(wpm): Grade Level and Age Audiobooks 1st Grade 6-7 years old 53 – 111 wpm 2nd Grade 7-8 years old 89 – 149 wpm 3rd Grade 7-8 years old 107 – 162 wpm 4th Grade 9-10 years old 123 – 180 wpm 5th Grade 10-11 years old 139 – 194 wpm 6th-8th Grade 11, 12, 13, 14 years old 150 – 204 wpm Highschool 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years old 200 – 300 wpm College 18-23 years old 300 – 350 wpm Adults 220 – 350 wpm Practical Example: Find speech time per minute if the Number of words is 1000 and the speaking speed is 130 wpm without using the words to minute calculator Step 1:  Number of words =1000 speaking speed  = 130 wpm Step 2:  Word Per minute Speech = (Number of words Delivered)/Number of Minutes Step 3:  Word Per minute Speech = [1000/130] Word Per minute Speech = 7 min 41 second How to Calculate Words Per Minute in a Speech? It depends upon your audience whether you are speaking to kids or delivering speech to adults. The average speed of speech is 130 words per minute but you can set the speed of the speech according to you. Moreover, you can easily calculate the reading speed using a reading word per minute calculator. How Many Words are in a Five Minute Speech? The ideal number of words in a five-minute speech is 500-600. For better understanding, this count must not be more than 650 words in a minute. If you are willing to find out the number of words for any minute value, you can search for words read per minute calculator or word to minute calculator. How Many Words Per Minute in a 10-Minute Speech? To deliver a successful 10-minute speech, choose between 1000-1200 words. The maximum speed should not exceed 1300 words, this is where you could use a words per minute calculator prior to preparing your speech to achieve fluency. How do I Calculate the Number of Words in a Talk? Follow the below-mentioned steps to calculate the number of words while speaking: Find your speaking rate (i.e., slow, average, and fast). Decide the number of minutes you have to speak. Multiple the speaking rate with the number of minutes you have. By following the above-mentioned steps, you can easily find the number of words in a talk. References: From the source of Wikiedia.com: Words per minute , Alphanumeric entry From the source of improvepodcast.com: Speaking rate , Average Words Reading Time Calculator Data Transfer Calculator Overtime Calculator Download Calculator Cap Rate Calculator Time Calculator Add this calculator to your site. Just copy a given code & paste it right now into your website HTML (source) for suitable page. Give Us Your Feedback Share Result Get the ease of calculating anything from the source of calculator online Email us at © Copyrights 2024 by Calculator-Online.net Do you wonder how long it takes to deliver your speech? This website helps you convert the number of words into the time it takes to deliver your speech, online and for free. This tool is useful when preparing a speech or a presentation. The number of minutes you will take is dependent on the number of words and your speed of speech, or reading speed. Note: This calculator provides an indication only. Enter details below The overview below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 130 words per minute): Words in a 1 minute speech 130 words Words in a 2 minute speech 260 words Words in a 3 minute speech 390 words Words in a 4 minute speech 520 words Words in a 5 minute speech 650 words Words in a 10 minute speech 1300 words Words in a 15 minute speech 1950 words Words in a 20 minute speech 2600 words How long does a 500 word speech take? 3.8 minutes How long does a 1000 word speech take? 7.7 minutes How long does a 1250 word speech take? 9.6 minutes How long does a 1500 word speech take? 11.5 minutes How long does a 1750 word speech take? 13.5 minutes How long does a 2000 word speech take? 15.4 minutes How long does a 2500 word speech take? 19.2 minutes How long does a 5000 word speech take? 38.5 minutes Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Nervous about making a speech? Life Kit can help Nervous about making a speech life kit can help.. It can be anxiety-inducing to deliver a speech in front of an audience. NPR's Life Kit talks with a speechwriter and a speech coach to get their best tips for public speaking. Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Fact Checking Trump’s Mar-a-Lago News Conference The former president took questions from reporters for more than hour. We examined his claims, attacks and policy positions. By The New York Times Share full article Former President Donald J. Trump held an hourlong news conference with reporters on Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, during which he attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, his general election opponent, criticized the Biden administration’s policies and boasted of the crowd size at his rallies. We took a closer look at many of his claims. Trump claims his Jan. 6 rally crowd rivaled the 1963 March on Washington. Estimates say otherwise. “If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech. And you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people. If not, we had more.” — Former President Donald J. Trump This lacks evidence. Mr. Trump was talking about the crowds gathered for his speech on Jan. 6, 2021, and for the “I Have a Dream” speech the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered during the March on Washington in 1963. While it is difficult to gauge exact crowd sizes, estimates counter Mr. Trump’s claim that the numbers gathered were comparable. Dr. King’s speech drew an estimated 250,000 people . The House Select Committee responsible for investigating the events of Jan. 6 estimated that Mr. Trump’s speech drew 53,000 people. “She wants to take away your guns.” — Former President Donald J. Trump Ms. Harris, in 2019, said she supports a gun buyback program for assault weapons, not all guns. Her campaign told The New York Times recently that she no longer supports a buyback program. Advertisement Peter Baker “They take the strategic national reserves. They’re virtually empty now. We have never had it this low.” This is exaggerated.. President Biden has indeed tapped the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to mitigate gasoline price increases , drawing it down by about 40 percent from when he took office, and it is currently at the lowest level since the 1980s. But it still has 375 million barrels in it now , which is not “virtually empty” nor is it at the lowest level ever. “The vast majority of the country does support me.” Mr. Trump never won a majority of the popular vote in either of the elections he ran in and never had the approval of a majority of Americans in a single day of Gallup polling during his presidency. An average of polls by FiveThirtyEight.com shows that he is viewed favorably by just 43 percent of Americans today and has the same level of support in a matchup against Vice President Kamala Harris. Alan Rappeport “They’re going to destroy Social Security.” President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have pledged not to make any cuts to America’s social safety net programs. Mr. Trump suggested this year that he was open to scaling back the programs when he said there was “a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting.” He later walked back those comments and pledged to protect the programs. But if changes to the programs are not made, the programs’ benefits will automatically be reduced eventually. Government reports released earlier this year projected that the Social Security and disability insurance programs, if combined, would not have enough money to pay all of their obligations in 2035. Medicare will be unable to pay all its hospital bills starting in 2036. Coral Davenport “Everybody is going to be forced to buy an electric car.” While the Biden administration has enacted regulations designed to ensure that the majority of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States are all-electric or hybrids by 2032, the rules do not require consumers to buy electric vehicles. “Our tax cuts, which are the biggest in history.” The $1.5 trillion tax cut, enacted in December 2017, ranks below at least half a dozen others by several metrics. The 1981 tax cut enacted under President Ronald Reagan is the largest as a percentage of the economy and by its reduction to federal revenue. The 2012 cut enacted under President Barack Obama amounted to the largest cut in inflation-adjusted dollars: $321 billion a year. “They’re drilling now because they had to go back because gasoline was going up to seven, eight, nine dollars a barrel. The day after the election, if they won, you’re going to have fuel prices go through the roof.” The price of gasoline reached a low of $1.98 per gallon in April 2020, when Mr. Trump was president, chiefly as a result of the drop in driving in the first months of the Covid pandemic. It rose to a peak of $5 per gallon in June 2022, but has since steadily dropped to $3.60 per gallon in July 2024. The United States has steadily increased its oil production over the last decade, becoming the world’s largest producer of oil in 2018, a status it still holds today . “If you go back and check your records for 18 months, I had a talk with Abdul. Abdul was the leader of the Taliban still is, but had a strong talk with him. For 18 months. Not one American soldier was shot at or killed, but not even shot at 18 months.” Mr. Trump spoke with a leader of the Taliban in March 2020. In the 18 months that followed, from April 2020 to October 2021, 13 soldiers died in hostile action in Afghanistan. “Democrats are really the radical ones on this, because they’re allowed to do abortion on the eighth and ninth month, and even after birth.” No state has passed a law allowing for the execution of a baby after it is born, which is infanticide. Moreover, abortions later in pregnancy are very rare: In 2021, less than 1 percent of abortions happened after 21 weeks’ gestation, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report based on data from state and other health agencies. More than 90 percent of abortions happened within 13 weeks of gestation. Simple and flexible. Only pay for what you use. Latest models Multiple models, each with different capabilities and price points. Prices can be viewed in units of either per 1M or 1K tokens. You can think of tokens as pieces of words, where 1,000 tokens is about 750 words. Language models are also available in the Batch API (opens in a new window) that returns completions within 24 hours for a 50% discount. GPT-4o is our most advanced multimodal model that’s faster and cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo with stronger vision capabilities. The model has 128K context and an October 2023 knowledge cutoff. Price per 1M tokens (fixed) $2.50 512 × 512 tiles 1 Total tiles 1 Base tokens 85 Tile tokens 170 Total tokens 255 Total price $0.000638 *Batch API pricing requires requests to be submitted as a batch. Responses will be returned within 24 hours for a 50% discount. Learn more about Batch API ↗ (opens in a new window) GPT-4o mini is our most cost-efficient small model that’s smarter and cheaper than GPT-3.5 Turbo, and has vision capabilities. The model has 128K context and an October 2023 knowledge cutoff. Price per 1M tokens (fixed) $0.15 512 × 512 tiles 1 Total tiles 1 Base tokens 2833 Tile tokens 5667 Total tokens 8500 Total price $0.001275 Build advanced search, clustering, topic modeling, and classification functionality with our embeddings offering. Create your own custom models by fine-tuning our base models with your training data. Once you fine-tune a model, you’ll be billed only for the tokens you use in requests to that model. **Fine-tuning for GPT-4o mini is free up to a daily token limit through September 23, 2024. Each qualifying org gets up to 2M complimentary training tokens daily and any overage will be charged at the normal rate of $3.00/1M tokens. The Assistants API and its tools make it easy for developers to build AI assistants in their applications. The tokens used for the Assistant API are billed at the chosen language model's per-token input / output rates. Additionally, we charge the following fees for tool usage: GB refers to binary gigabytes (also known as gibibyte), where 1 GB is 2^30 bytes. Build DALL·E directly into your apps to generate and edit novel images and art. DALL·E 3 is the highest quality model and DALL·E 2 is optimized for lower cost. Whisper can transcribe speech into text and translate many languages into English. Text-to-speech (TTS) can convert text into spoken audio. 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Election 2024 Entertainment Newsletters Photography AP Buyline Personal Finance AP Buyline Shopping Press Releases Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine War Global elections Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East Delegate Tracker AP & Elections 2024 Paris Olympic Games Auto Racing Movie reviews Book reviews Financial Markets Business Highlights Financial wellness Artificial Intelligence Social Media FACT FOCUS: A look at claims made by Trump at news conference Trump lashes out at Harris, recommits to a Sept. 10 debate at hourlong news conference Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Copy Link copied FILE - Crowds are shown in front of the Washington Monument during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington. (AP Photo, File) Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks about his ear as he speaks to reporters during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) In his first news conference since Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for president, former President Donald Trump said he would debate her on Sept. 10 and pushed for two more debates. The Republican presidential nominee spoke for more than an hour, discussing a number of issues facing the country and then taking questions from reporters. He made a number of false and misleading claims. Many of them have been made before. Here’s a look at some of those claims. CROWD SIZES CLAIM: “The biggest crowd I’ve ever spoken — I’ve spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody’s spoken to crowds bigger than me. If you look at Martin Luther King when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not we had more. And they said he had a million people, but I had 25,000 people.” THE FACTS: Trump was comparing the crowd at his speech in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, to the crowd that attended Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial. But far more people are estimated to have been at the latter than the former. Approximately 250,000 people attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which King gave his speech, according to the National Park Service . The Associated Press reported in 2021 that there were at least 10,000 people at Trump’s address. Moreover, Trump and King did not speak in the same location. King spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , which looks east toward the Washington Monument. Trump spoke at the Ellipse , a grassy area just south of the White House. CLAIM: “Nobody was killed on Jan. 6.” THE FACTS: That’s false. Five people died in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and its immediate aftermath. Pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol that day amid Congress’ effort to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Among the deceased are Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter shot and killed by police, and Brian Sicknick, a police officer who died the day after battling the mob. Four additional officers who responded to the riot killed themselves in the following weeks and months. Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot and killed by a police officer as she climbed through a broken part of a Capitol door during the violent riot. Trump has often cited Babbitt’s death while lamenting the treatment of those who attended a rally outside the White House that day and then marched to the Capitol, many of whom fought with police. DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION CLAIM: “The presidency was taken away from Joe Biden, and I’m no Biden fan, but I tell you what, from a constitutional standpoint, from any standpoint you look at, they took the presidency away.” THE FACTS: There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents the Democratic Party from making Vice President Kamala Harris its nominee. That process is determined by the Democratic National Committee. Harris officially claimed the nomination Monday following a five-day online voting process, receiving 4,563 delegate votes out of 4,615 cast, or about 99% of participating delegates. A total of 52 delegates in 18 states cast their votes for “present,” the only other option on the ballot. The vice president was the only candidate eligible to receive votes after no other candidate qualified by the party’s deadline following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race on July 21. What to know about the 2024 Election Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP. Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday. AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more. THE ECONOMY CLAIM: Suggesting things would be different if he had been in office rather than Biden: “You wouldn’t have had inflation. You wouldn’t have had any inflation because inflation was caused by their bad energy problems. Now they’ve gone back to the Trump thing because they need the votes. They’re drilling now because they had to go back because gasoline was going up to 7, 8, 9 dollars a barrel.” THE FACTS: There would have been at least some inflation if Trump had been reelected in 2020 because many of the factors causing inflation were outside a president’s control. Prices spiked in 2021 after cooped-up Americans ramped up their spending on goods such as exercise bikes and home office furniture, overwhelming disrupted supply chains. U.S. auto companies, for example, couldn’t get enough semiconductors and had to sharply reduce production, causing new and used car prices to shoot higher. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 also sent gas and food prices soaring around the world, as Ukraine’s wheat exports were disrupted and many nations boycotted Russian oil and gas. Still, under Biden, U.S. oil production reached a worldwide record level earlier this year . Many economists, including some Democrats, say Biden’s $1.9 trillion financial support package, approved in March 2021, which provided a $1,400 stimulus check to most Americans, helped fuel inflation by ramping up demand. But it didn’t cause inflation all by itself. And Trump supported $2,000 stimulus checks in December 2020, rather than the $600 checks included in a package he signed into law in December 2020. Prices still spiked in countries with different policies than Biden’s, such as France , Germany and the U.K. , though mostly because of the sharp increase in energy costs stemming from Russia’s invasion. IMMIGRATION CLAIM: “Twenty million people came over the border during the Biden-Harris administration — 20 million people — and it could be very much higher than that. Nobody really knows.” THE FACTS: Trump’s 20 million figure is unsubstantiated at best, and he didn’t provide sources. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports 7.1 million arrests for illegal crossings from Mexico from January 2021 through June 2024. That’s arrests, not people. Under pandemic-era asylum restrictions, many people crossed more than once until they succeeded because there were no legal consequences for getting turned back to Mexico. So the number of people is lower than the number of arrests. In addition, CBP says it stopped migrants 1.1 million times at official land crossings with Mexico from January 2021 through June 2024, largely under an online appointment system to claim asylum called CBP One. U.S. authorities also admitted nearly 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela under presidential authority if they had financial sponsors and arrived at an airport. All told, that’s nearly 8.7 million encounters. Again, the number of people is lower due to multiple encounters for some. There are an unknown number of people who eluded capture, known as “got-aways” in Border Patrol parlance. The Border Patrol estimates how many but doesn’t publish that number. CLAIM: Vice President Kamala Harris “was the border czar 100% and all of a sudden for the last few weeks she’s not the border czar anymore.” THE FACTS: Harris was appointed to address “root causes” of migration in Central America. That migration manifests itself in illegal crossings to the U.S., but she was not assigned to the border. NEW YORK CASES CLAIM: “The New York cases are totally controlled out of the Department of Justice.” THE FACTS: Trump was referring to two cases brought against him in New York — one civil and the other criminal. Neither has anything to do with the U.S. Department of Justice. The civil case was initiated by a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James. In that case, Trump was ordered in February to pay a $454 million penalty for lying about his wealth for years as he built the real estate empire that vaulted him to stardom and the White House. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a state-level prosecutor, brought the criminal case . In May, a jury found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. ___ Associated Press writers Melissa Goldin and Elliot Spagat and economics writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this article. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck . An earlier version of this story mixed up “latter” and “former” in the third paragraph. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, drew a far larger crowd than Donald Trump’s speech near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. 490 IMAGES Free Online Words to Minutes Calculator 3 Ways to Calculate Words Per Minute Speech : Words to Minutes Calculator. Allows you to gain an approximate Words Per Minute: What is the best WPM for your talk? How many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide PPT COMMENTS How many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide The average number of words per minute (wpm) in a 1 through to 30-minute speech for slow, medium and fast talkers. A guide to help you fit your time allowance. ... The factors influencing a faster rate or slower rate of speech; How to develop an ideal rate of speech: one matching content, speech purpose and your audience: ... Speech Rate: Do you speak too fast, too slow, or just right? Slow speech is usually regarded as less than 110 wpm, or words per minute. Conversational speech generally falls between 120 wpm at the slow end, to 160 - 200 wpm in the fast range. People who read books for radio or podcasts are often asked to speak at 150-160 wpm. Auctioneers or commentators who practice speed speech are usually in the 250 to ... Guide to Speaking Rates: How Many Words Per Minute Should Your Speech For TED Talks, aim for around 163 words per minute to keep things interesting. Political speeches should be slower, at about 110-120 words per minute, to add weight to your words. Business presentations work best at a pace of about 140 words per minute. Your speaking rate can vary because of many reasons like where you're from, how excited ... Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute Average speech rates. Presentations: between 100-150 wpm for a comfortable pace. Conversational: between 120-150 wpm. Audiobooks: between 150-160 wpm, which is the upper range that people comfortably hear and vocalize words. Radio hosts and podcasters: between 150-160 wpm. Auctioneers: can speak at about 250 wpm. Average Words Per Minute Speaking: Why It Matters Stephen Peter Woodmore (13 December 1959 - 6 February 2023) was a British salesman recognized for his extraordinary speech speed, articulating at 637 words per minute (wpm) — four times faster than average. From August 1990, he held the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest talker, succeeding John Moschitta Jr. Optimal Words Per Minute in a Speech Expert Insights and Tips For a 4-minute address, aim for around 500-word content. This gives you enough room to convey key points without overwhelming the listeners. Similarly, for a 7-minute speech, a 900 to 1,000-word estimate should suffice. The key is to match your word count with the time allocation for your delivery. Average Words Per Minute Speaking (15 Experts Examples) Average words per minute speaking rates vary for different jobs and projects: Presentations. between 100 - 150 wpm for a comfortable pace. Conversational. between 120 - 150 wpm. Audiobooks. between 150 - 160 wpm (upper range that people comfortably hear & vocalize words) Radio hosts & podcasters. between 150 - 160 wpm. How Many Words Per Minute Speaking? Average, Fast & Slow Research Findings On Average Words In 5 Minute Speech - For a 5-minute speech, aim for 730-750 words. - This keeps things short and sweet, making your talk easier to understand and remember. Fast Talkers Words In 5 Minute Speech - People who talk quickly can say a lot in a short time, sometimes even 860-880 words in a 5-minute speech. How Many Words Should Be in My Speech? (Based on Number of Minutes) 10-minute speech: 1250 - 2000 words. 15-minute speech: 1875 - 3000 words. 20-minute speech: 2500 - 4000 words. 30-minute speech: 3750 - 6000 words. 45-minute speech: 5625 - 9000 words. 60-minute (or 1-hour) speech: 7500 - 12000 words. For intermediate minutes, you can use the average rate of 125-200 wpm to estimate. Speaking Rate If you think your speaking rate might be affecting your intelligibility, we recommend that you speak just slightly slower than the average English speaker (about 150 words per minute). That means that you might want to aim for about 140 words per minute. 4 That sounds like this: Approximately 143 Words Per Minute: Interactive Speaking Time Calculator On average there are 600 words in a 4 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. Still, even a novice speaker could maintain the 150 words per minute rate. Try it in the Soundbite above. Set your words per minute and speak along to see if you could endure consistency over 4 minutes. Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute Self-awareness. What it is: Recognizing one's emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Why it matters: Self-aware individuals are better equipped to manage their emotions, understand their strengths and areas of improvement, and navigate interpersonal relationships. 4. Values and Integrity. What is the ideal rate of speech? A good rate of speech ranges between 140 -160 words per minute (wpm). A rate higher than 160 words per minute can be difficult for the listener to absorb the material. There may be some areas of the country that speak at faster rates but a slower rate is preferable. Too slow of a rate may give the listener the perception of slow thinking ... Pace of speech A simple technique for adjusting the rate of speech to the comprehension pace of the listener is to count the number of words spoken per minute. Most experts agree that the ideal rate of speech is between one hundred and forty to hundred and eighty words per minute, generally known as WPM - Words Per Minute. At this rate of speech, your ... What is the Average Speaking Rate? For these 9 talks, the average speaking rate is 163 words per minute. Two thirds of the talks are clustered in a narrow range between 153 and 168 words per minute. Remember that this average and range do not necessarily apply to all speaking situations. One can also calculate the speaking rate for the 9 TED talks in syllables per minute, and ... Speaking rate If you aren't comfortable reading this passage, choose any chunk of text that is 200 words long. To read at a rate of 150 words per minute, you should finish the passage in 1 minute, 20 seconds. 200 words per minute should, obviously, take you one minute, and a rate of 250 words per minute should take you about 48 seconds. 5-Minute Speech Word Count + Crucial Writing & Speaking Tips The 5-minute speech word count is roughly 750 words. This is based on the average talking speed of 150 words per minute (WPM). Of course, the timing of your speech will vary depending on how quickly you talk, as well as the words that you use. Monosyllabic words are shorter than multisyllabic words, so if your speech is filled with long-winded ... See How Many Words Is A 3-Minute Speech & How To Prepare One Ideal Words Per Minute (WPM) You may have heard about the golden "WPM" (words per minute). Everyone has a WPM of their own! If you want to find the ideal number of words for your own speech, try talking in a way that you neither rush nor linger during your speech and take the time. How Many Words per Minute is right for Professional Speakers? The average speaking rate for professional presentations fluctuates widely, with a general range between 120 to 150 WPM for a conversational pace. However, certain professions, such as auctioneers or sports commentators, may speak at a rapid pace of 200-450 WPM. Notably, extremes in speaking rates exist, as evidenced by record holderslike ... Seven Ways to Write a Better Speech This format is adaptable to a speech of just about any length but I'd divide a 20-minute speech as follows: Introduction: 2 minutes (250 words) Point 1: 5 minutes (625 words) Point 2: 5 minutes (625 words) Point 3: 5 minutes (625 words) Conclusion: 3 minutes (375 words) If you're thin on ideas for the three points, consider using a mindmap to ... Words Per Minute Calculator Words Per Minute (Speech): It is the number of words per minute a speaker can deliver an adequate presentation of a topic. Words per minute (Speech) = (Number of words Delivered) / Number of Minutes ... The ideal number of words in a five-minute speech is 500-600. For better understanding, this count must not be more than 650 words in a minute ... Voiceover Words Per Minute: Choosing the Ideal Information Rate Voiceover words per minute, or wpm, rates are usually around 75 wpm. This is just enough to pack in a lot of information without running the risk that your content will become hard to follow. Although you can usually exceed or undershoot this standard, it's best not to deviate too much. The 75 wpm figure is the golden number of voiceovers ... Convert Words to Minutes Words in a 2 minute speech 260 words. Words in a 3 minute speech 390 words. Words in a 4 minute speech 520 words. Words in a 5 minute speech 650 words. Words in a 10 minute speech 1300 words. Words in a 15 minute speech 1950 words. Words in a 20 minute speech 2600 words. How long does a 500 word speech take? 3.8 minutes. Nervous about making a speech? Life Kit can help : NPR Whether you write your speech word for word and read it from the page or from a screen, memorize it or use bullet points on 3 by 5 cards, find a system that works for you. Fact Checking Trump's Mar-a-Lago News Conference King's speech drew an estimated 250,000 people. The House Select Committee responsible for investigating the events of Jan. 6 estimated that Mr. Trump's speech drew 53,000 people. Pricing Chat completion (opens in a new window) requests are billed based on the number of input tokens sent plus the number of tokens in the output(s) returned by the API.. Your request may use up to num_tokens(input) + [max_tokens * max(n, best_of)] tokens, which will be billed at the per-engine rates outlined at the top of this page.. In the simplest case, if your prompt contains 1500 tokens and ... FACT FOCUS: A look at claims made by Trump at news conference THE FACTS: Trump was comparing the crowd at his speech in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, to the crowd that attended Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech on Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial. But far more people are estimated to have been at the latter than the former. Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, capping the Midwestern Democrat's short but swift ascent from a relative unknown to a leading driver of the ... assignment essay homework phd report resume review speech thesis