# How much faster can you talk than write? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 26, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765 "2007-11-26T03:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaelghat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c5a1d2/32.png) [@aaelghat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaelghat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765/1 "2007-11-26T03:46:50Z")
I know the answer is “it depends” but I’m trying to come up with a range that describes the time it takes to write something out longhand vs. speaking the same thing vs. typing it for most people. I’m looking for something like, “most people can talk five to ten times faster than they can write”. Or even, 80% of people can talk five to ten times faster than they can write". I just made up the “five to ten times” - I don’t know what the real ratio is. Again, I’d also want to make a distinction between writing something out vs. typing it out. This would mainly be for English speakers, and to be precise, it would be in the context of writing a journal or diary vs. recording (speaking) your thoughts and stories. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765/2 "2007-11-26T06:06:10Z")
**Speaking** 175 wpm = _typical book-on-tape narrator_ 250 wpm = _typical auctioneer_[sup]1[/sup] **Touch Typing** 33 wpm = _average rate for “average computer users”_ 50-70 wpm = _average for “typists” (really? that seems pretty low…)_[sup]2[/sup] **Longhand** 25-30 wpm = _average_[sup]3[/sup] **Stenography** 225 wpm = _minimum to be a certified court reporter in the US_ (on a stenotype machine)[sup]4[/sup] [sup]1[/sup] [The 1,000-Word Dash](http://www.slate.com/id/74766/) [sup]2[/sup] [Typing - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typing#Alphanumeric_entry) [sup]3[/sup] [ERA Learning PERSONAL SHORTHAND](http://www.eralearning.com/01/ps.php) [sup]4[/sup] [Court reporter - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_reporter#Training) [sup]5[/sup] This had better not be homework. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765/3 "2007-11-26T06:33:38Z")
[QUOTE=Randy Seltzer] **Touch Typing** 33 wpm = _average rate for “average computer users”_ 50-70 wpm = _average for “typists” (really? that seems pretty low…)_[sup]2[/sup] [/quote] Yeah, seems low to me, too. When I applied for a job with a temp agency, I was clocked at 90 wpm, and I am not by any means a trained or experienced “typist.” -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765/4 "2007-11-26T06:51:53Z")
[QUOTE=Randy Seltzer] **Speaking** 175 wpm = _typical book-on-tape narrator_ 250 wpm = _typical auctioneer_[sup]1[/sup] [/QUOTE] Interesting figures. I was active in the bizarre world of policy debate through high school. Debaters speak in the 300-400 wpm range, in order to get out more argument than opponents (a sample is available [here](http://ia331332.us.archive.org/2/items/Mother_Jones_Jeremy_Kreisberg/Kreisberg_torture_64kb.mp3) ). Over time, you get to be able to totally understand people speaking at those ridiculous speeds (I can pick out all of the words in that linked clip), nobody can write down anywhere near all of the words. Instead, to take notes, debaters and judges “flow” - that is, they take down brief taglines that summarize arguments. Even then, it’s difficult to get more than a handful of words written, even when I can totally comprehend what they are saying. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2007, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-faster-can-you-talk-than-write/427765/5 "2007-11-26T08:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=Randy Seltzer] … [/QUOTE] Wow! Well formatted, with footnotes for cites! We should have a good poster award 😉