How reading time is estimated
Reading speed is estimated at three paces. For English we assume 150 words per minute (slow), 200 (normal) and 250 (fast). For Chinese we assume 250 characters per minute (slow), 350 (normal) and 450 (fast). When you paste text, the calculator automatically detects English words and Chinese characters and times each with the correct rate; when you enter a number, choose which language it represents.
For speeches
Speaking aloud is slower than reading. We estimate 130 words per minute for English and 200 characters per minute for Chinese. This is a useful planning figure for presentations: a 600-word English speech takes roughly 4½ minutes to deliver, and a 10-minute talk corresponds to about 1,300 words. Add a little buffer for pauses, audience reactions and Q&A. Use the main word counter to get the exact word count of a finished script.