The Chunking Method: How to Read Faster and Understand More

Why Most People Read Too Slowly

When people read, they usually go word by word.

Training → your → memory → can → help → you → learn → faster.

It’s like trying to eat a pizza one crumb at a time. Eventually you finish, but it’s frustrating and inefficient. (Unless you love that kind of stuff. You psycho.)

The truth is, your brain doesn’t process information this way. It prefers patterns. It looks for groups of meaning. That’s why chunking, reading multiple words at once, is the foundation of speed reading.

What Is Chunking?

Chunking means grouping words into meaningful clusters. Instead of processing every single word, you see a handful of words at once, and your brain links them together as one unit.

For example:

• Word-by-word: Training / your / memory / can / help / you / learn / faster.

• Chunked: (Training your memory) / (can help you) / (learn faster).

One glance, one idea. That’s speed reading in action.

The Science Behind Chunking

Eye Fixations and Saccades

When you read, your eyes don’t glide smoothly. They jump in quick bursts called saccades, stopping briefly in between, those stops are called fixations.

• Average readers fixate on almost every word.

• Skilled readers fixate on clusters of words.

By reducing fixations, chunking reduces the number of stops your eyes make per line, instantly increasing speed.

Reading Span

Your eyes can actually see more than you realize. Most people’s “reading span” is about three to four words, but with practice, you can extend it to eight or more. Chunking deliberately stretches that span.

Working Memory

Psychologists like George Miller showed that short-term memory can hold about 7±2 pieces of information. By chunking words, you reduce the number of items your brain juggles. Instead of 10 words, you handle 3–4 phrases.

Natural Language Processing

We don’t speak word by word. We speak in phrases. “I’m going to the shop” isn’t four separate words, it’s one thought. Chunking aligns reading with the way your brain already processes spoken language.

How to Start Chunking

Step 1: Use a Visual Guide

Place your finger or a pen under the words as you read. Move it smoothly across the page. This anchors your eyes, stops distractions, and sets the rhythm.

Step 2: Begin With Three Words

Draw imaginary brackets around three words. Place your guide in the middle. Let your eyes take in the group in one glance.

(Training your memory) / (can help you) / (learn faster).

Step 3: Expand to Five Words

When three feels natural, move to five. Your peripheral vision picks up the edges, your brain handles the chunk.

Step 4: Push to Eight

At eight, you’re reading almost entire sentences in one glance. It’s challenging, but even practicing stretches your visual span.

Step 5: Focus on Comfort

Don’t force speed. The goal is comfortable pace. Too fast and comprehension drops. Too slow and you’re stuck in old habits. The sweet spot is where you glide without effort.

The Challenges of Chunking

Incomplete Phrases

Sometimes chunks cut off before the thought finishes. “Can help you…” makes your brain ask “help with what?” With practice, your brain learns to hold partial meaning until the sentence resolves.

Speed vs. Comprehension

Push too fast and you skim without encoding. Slow down and you lose efficiency. Balance comes with practice, like finding your rhythm in running.

Early Resistance

When I coach chunking, half my students love it right away. The other half hate it. It feels unnatural because it rewires lifelong habits. But after a few weeks of persistence, even the skeptics notice breakthroughs.

A 30-Day Practice Plan

Week 1: Three-Word Groups

• Read 15 minutes daily.

• Use your finger under each chunk.

• Focus on seeing, not subvocalizing.

Week 2: Five-Word Groups

• Extend your vision span.

• Place your guide in the middle of the five words.

• Read for 20 minutes daily.

Week 3: Eight-Word Attempts

• Push your limits.

• Even if comprehension drops, practice.

• Aim for 10–15 minutes daily.

Week 4: Flexible Reading

• Mix 3, 5, and 8 depending on the text.

• Technical material = smaller chunks.

• Stories or light reading = bigger chunks.

• Practice 20–30 minutes daily.

By the end of the month, you’ll notice your natural speed has doubled, without effort.

Stories From My Coaching

One student came to me frustrated. He still crawled word by word. When I introduced chunking, he said, “This feels unnatural.”

I told him to stick with three words a day for 10 minutes. Two weeks later, he was much more comfortable seeing groups of words and ideas together, rather than singular words and waiting for the meaning to arise after seeing words one after another.

Applications of Chunking

• Students: absorb textbooks faster, prep for exams effectively.

• Professionals: tackle reports, contracts, and emails without drowning.

• Researchers: scan journal articles while keeping comprehension.

• Casual readers: enjoy novels and articles without fatigue.

• Presenters: digest source material quickly, recall it fluently.

Advanced Chunking Tips

• Relax your gaze. Use “soft eyes” to see clusters, not single words.

• Use mind mapping. After reading, map the main points to lock in comprehension.

• Alternate speeds. Chunk fast for scanning, slow for detail.

• Practice daily. Even 10 minutes rewires habits.

• Stay relaxed. Deep breathing keeps your reading smooth.

Historical Context: Chunking in Speed Reading

Chunking isn’t new. In the 1960s, speed reading pioneer Evelyn Wood taught students to read groups of words instead of individual words. Later studies on eye movements confirmed that reducing fixations boosts speed dramatically.

Every speed reading system since then, whether called scanning, rapid serial visual presentation, or guided reading, has chunking at its core. It’s not a trick. It’s how skilled readers naturally operate.

FAQ: Chunking and Speed Reading

Q: Won’t chunking lower comprehension?

A: No. It usually improves it because you’re processing ideas, not just words.

Q: How fast can I get?

A: Many people double or triple speed within weeks of practice.

Q: Is chunking the same as skimming?

A: No. Skimming skips details. Chunking processes details faster.

Q: Do I need to stop subvocalizing?

A: Chunking reduces it naturally. You can’t say five words in your head at once.

Q: Can I chunk on digital screens?

A: Yes. Use your cursor or finger as a guide.

Q: What if my eyes get tired?

A: That’s normal early on. Eye stamina builds with practice.

Q: Will chunking work on complex texts?

A: Yes, but use smaller chunks for technical content.

Q: Do I need to see every word clearly?

A: No. Peripheral vision fills in gaps. Trust it.

Q: How long before it feels natural?

A: Most people feel comfortable within 3–4 weeks. It took me much longer. You will only know once you try. The trick is to simply try.

Q: Can kids learn chunking?

A: Absolutely. They often adapt faster than adults.

Q: Should I always chunk the same size?

A: No. Adapt chunk size to the text. Flexibility is the real skill.

Q: Can chunking help with memory?

A: Definitely. Larger chunks = fewer pieces to remember, which reduces mental load.

Final Thoughts

Chunking is the bridge between slow, linear reading and fast, idea-based reading.

At first, it feels awkward. You’ll resist. You’ll miss words. You’ll question whether it works. But with persistence, it clicks. Suddenly, sentences appear as complete thoughts. Reading feels like gliding instead of slogging.

And once you experience that flow, you’ll never want to go back.

👉 Ready to take chunking further? Explore my memory and reading coaching by clicking here.