The simple example below explains part of how we are able to read so much faster than we currently tend to...

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.

When we first learn to read, we sound out each individual letter and build the word.

As our reading develops, we start to recognize words directly, they become symbols in themselves.

As the warped English above shows so well, we are still able to read these words even if they are somewhat broken.

It is this ability to read whole words that allows us to recognize words so quickly.

We only actually need a fraction of a second to read each word before moving on to the next.

This instant recognition of words is the reason we can all read so much faster...

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