speech length word count

convert words to time .

How long will it take to read a speech or presentation?

Enter the word count into the tool below (or paste in text) to see how many minutes it will take you to read. Estimates number of minutes based on a slow, average, or fast paced reading speed.

Number of words

Reading speed

Common conversions (average speed)

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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

Speech calculator:  how long does it take to deliver your speech?

With this speech calculator, you can easily calculate how long it will take you to deliver a speech.

How many words per minute?

In the English language, people speak about 140 words per minute. A fast speaker will get to 170 words per minute, a slow speaker will use around 110 words.

Professional speechwriters use this speech calculator to find out how long a speech takes.

Copy your full text and paste it in the box below:

The entire analysis happens within your browser. The text will NOT be stored and NOT be sent over the web.

Word count:

Your speech rate:

Speech duration:

FAQ’s

How many words is a 3 minute speech  .

A speaker with an average speaking speed will need 420 words for a 3 minute speech. A fast speaker will need 510 words while a slow speaker will only need 330 words.

How many words is a 5 minute speech?  

A speaker with an average speaking speed will need 700 words for a 5 minutes speech. A fast speaker will need 850 words for the same speech length. A slow speaker will only need 550 words.

Is this a word count calculator?  

The speech calculator is a word count calculator. Insert your text and the tool will automatically calculate the word count.  It will then also calculate the speech length depending on the selected talking speed.

How to best select the right speaking speed?

Fast, average or slow? The answer depends on the speaker, the speech type and the speech setting.

The speaking speed of the speaker

Some speakers are natural fast or slow speakers. The best speakers keep a variance during their speeches. They speed up to keep momentum and slow down to put special emphasis on other parts.

The speech type

The type of speech matters a lot in selecting the right speech speed. If you read the whole speech word for word from paper then your average speech speed will be lower. If you intend to use the written speech as speaker notes then your average speaking speed will be much higher.

The speech setting

An informal setting will have a faster average speaking speed compared to a more formal setting.

Keeping all three factors in mind you will able make a better judgement about selecting the right speech speed in the speech calculator.

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Convert Speech Words to Minutes

How long will my speech be? Use the calculator below to convert your words to minutes. 1) Enter the number of words your speech is. 2) Choose your speaking style/speed 3) Find your speech length.

The following table below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 125 words per minute):

• How many words are in 1 minute speech? 125 words
• How many words are in 2 minute speech? 250 words
• How many words are in 3 minute speech? 375 words
• How many words are in 4 minute speech? 500 words
• How many words are in 5 minute speech? 625 words
• How many words are in 10 minute speech? 1,250 words
• How many words are in 15 minute speech? 1,875 words
• How many words are in 20 minute speech? 2,500 words
• How many words are in 30 minute speech? 3,750 words
• How long does a 500 word speech take? 4.0 minutes
• How long does a 1000 word speech take? 8.0 minutes
• How long does a 1250 word speech take? 10.0 minutes
• How long does a 1500 word speech take? 12.0 minutes
• How long does a 1750 word speech take? 14.0 minutes
• How long does a 2000 word speech take? 16.0 minutes
• How long does a 2500 word speech take? 20.0 minutes
• How long does a 3000 word speech take? 24.0 minutes
• How long does a 4000 word speech take? 32.0 minutes

Welcome to our conversion tool - Words to Minutes! We are here to help estimate the duration of any speech for conventions, zoom calls, weddings, special celebrations, business presentations, graduations, classroom demonstrations, performances, you name it. Use the Convert Speech Words to Minutes calculator to better prepare yourself for your next presentation.

How to use Convert Speech Words to Minutes

• Enter Word Count: Enter the number of words in your speech. You can find your word count by copying and pasting your speech in Wordcounter.net or Google Docs. In Google Docs go to TOOLS --> Word Count to see how many words.
• Choose Speed of Speaker: Choose your speaker pace from the options available: slow speaker, average speed speaker or fast speaker.

Make sure to choose your speech speed as it can have a major impact on your timing. Remember you will likely speak fast at times, and slow as well. Thus, average is typically a good indicator as to how long your speech or presentation will take. Whether you are making a wedding speech or giving a business presentation, this conversion of words into minutes should hold true.

Now you have an idea of how many minutes your speech will take to deliver, and can make any modifications if necessary. Also be sure to add time for audience participation if your speech calls for that.

Why should I use the Convert Speech Words to Minutes?

Do you know how many minutes are in a 5-minute speech, or maybe how long does a 2000 word speech take?

Using the words to minutes converter tool is crucial while preparing for a speech or presentation, especially when you are given limited time to convey your message and wrap up your ideas. Although the time may vary according to the delivery speed of each individual, converting words to minutes is a good indication of the length of your content and if it is suitable for the time frame you were given. That is how you know if you should work on your content length. Keep in mind that according to the National Center for Voice and Speech , the average rate of conversational talk in the US is around 150 words per minute (wpm), which means that balancing content, the number of words and reading speed does matter when preparing your speech.

How to craft an outstanding speech

Whether you are preparing content for a speech presentation for a business meeting, a graduation celebration of a wedding, the content does matter. While speaking in public does require a good amount of confidence, when you prepare yourself in advance, you will empower yourself with tools that will assure you are ready for it. With your speech, your main goal is to engage with your audience, catch their attention and delivery a message that will convey your idea in a clear and effective way. Here are some tips to help:

• Write using the first person. Use a conversational tone.
• Start by briefly introducing yourself.
• Prepare a striking outline/opening statement.
• Construe your speech in structural steps.
• Start with a topic sentence in every paragraph.
• Do not feel too shy to express your honest opinion.
• Practicing ahead of time will help tremendously. It helps with confidence, knowing the material, comfortability, and much more. This is our top tip!

In order to engage with your audience, try to include personal stories, share your personal experiences and do not feel constrained to share your personal opinion. Good luck, you got this!

What do you think about our Convert Speech Words to Minutes tool? Was it helpful? We want to hear from you.

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Speaking time calculator

Type or paste your speech to instantly calculate your speaking time

How does this speech timer work

To begin, delete the sample text and either type in your speech or copy and paste it into the editor.

The average reading speed and speech rate is 200 words per minute and is the default setting above. Once you paste your speech, click “Play” and Speechify will analyze your speech by the number of words and generate a time to speak it at the default rate.

You can listen to your speech in various accents or languages. If you are aiming for a specific timeframe for your speech, click edit to either increase or decrease the number of words to see how long it would take to speak them.

You can also increase or decrease the speaking rate to gauge how fast or slow you should speak in order to get to a specific time with the number of words you have in your speech.

To get to that perfect word count to fit with the speech length time, you’ll have to keep editing between words per minute (WPM) and number of words.

The best part is that you can share your speech in audio format to your friends, relatives, or peers to review it. They can simply click play and listen to your speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words are there in a 1 minute speech.

Based on the average speed of speech, there are 150 words in a 1 minute speech.

How many words are there in a 2 minute speech?

There are 300 words per minute in a 2 minute speech. 2 minutes isn’t a long time so when you speak, you could endure the average speaking rate.

How many words are there in a 3 minute speech?

On average there are 450 words in a 3 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. At the 3 minute mark, even a novice speaker could keep going at the rate they started – with some practice.

How many words are there in a 4 minute speech?

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.

How many words are there in a 5 minute speech?

On average there are 750 words in a 5 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. While this is simple math, we after all are humans and 5 minutes can be pushing the boundaries of a consistent speech tempo and words per minute.

How many words are there in a 10 minute speech?

In a 10 minute speech aim for 1000 words. The math might tell you 1,500 words but consider your speech. You might need pauses, rest for your voice, dramatic effects, and perhaps even audience interaction. Also, it becomes quite difficult to endure a consistent 150 words per minute speech rate for 10 minutes. Consider your listeners. We doubt very few people would want to listen to a precisely 150 words per minute speech for 10 minutes. It wouldn’t be engaging. And in a speech, you should engage and communicate.

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Convert Words to Time

Calculate how long it will take to read a speech or presentation

Enter the word count of your speech below to see how long it will take you to read. Estimate the number of minutes based on a slow, average, or fast speaking pace.

Number of words

Reading speed, common conversions (average speed).

Speech Estimator – Accurate Speech Length Calculator

This tool estimates the length of a speech based on the number of words you enter.

Speech Length Estimator Calculator

How to use the speech length estimator calculator.

This calculator helps you estimate the length of your speech based on the number of words, your speaking speed in words per minute (WPM), and any additional time you may take for pauses and emphasis.

• Enter the total number of words in your speech.
• Enter your speaking speed in words per minute (WPM). The default value is set to 130 WPM since it is a common speaking speed.
• If needed, enter any extra time in minutes you think you’ll take for pauses, emphasis, or other factors.
• Click the “Calculate” button to get the estimated length of your speech.

How It Calculates the Results

The calculator divides the total number of words by your speaking speed (WPM) to get the base duration of your speech in minutes. It then adds any extra time you specified to this base duration to provide a final estimate.

Limitations of This Calculator

• WPM Accuracy: The speaking speed (WPM) can vary widely between individuals and contexts. It’s recommended to speak a passage and manually measure your WPM for better accuracy.
• Extra Time: It’s challenging to accurately predict the extra time needed for pauses, especially if your speech is dynamic and involves audience interaction.
• Word Count: Highly technical speeches or those with many numbers may impact the accuracy of the words-per-minute metric.

Use Cases for This Calculator

Use case 1: estimating words per minute.

Calculate how many words you speak per minute by entering the total number of words you just spoke and the duration in minutes it took you. This tool is perfect for public speakers, teachers, or podcasters looking to gauge their speaking speed accurately.

Use Case 2: Determining Speech Length

Estimate the duration of your speech by inputting the total number of words you plan to speak. This feature is handy when you have a time limit for your presentation and need to ensure your speech fits perfectly within that timeframe.

Use Case 3: Analyzing Speech Rate Variability

Identify the variability in your speech rate by providing the total number of words spoken and the time taken for each segment of your speech. This function helps you understand if your speaking pace fluctuates during presentations or conversations.

Use Case 4: Calculating Average Words per Sentence

Determine the average number of words you use per sentence by entering the total number of words spoken and the total number of sentences in your speech. This tool is beneficial for analyzing your sentence structure and overall speech clarity.

Use Case 5: Evaluating Pausing Duration

Measure the total time you pause during your speech by inputting the number of pauses you took and the average duration of each pause. This feature assists you in refining your delivery by minimizing unnecessary pauses and enhancing the flow of your speech.

Use Case 6: Tracking Speech Progression

Monitor your speech progression by updating the total number of words spoken as you deliver your presentation. This live tracking tool helps you stay on course with your speech length goals and alerts you if you need to adjust your pace.

Use Case 7: Comparing Speaking Speeds

Compare your speaking speed with previous speeches by entering the total words spoken and the duration for each speech. This comparative analysis feature allows you to gauge improvements in your speaking pace over time and tailor your future presentations accordingly.

Use Case 8: Planning Break Duration

Plan appropriate break durations during your speech by entering the total number of words you’ll speak before each break and the duration of the break. This tool helps you strategize optimal break intervals for maintaining audience engagement and speaker efficiency.

Use Case 9: Estimating Presentation Time

Estimate the total duration of your presentation by inputting the number of sections or topics you’ll cover and the average number of words you’ll speak for each section. This function aids in creating a structured timeline for your presentation and ensures a well-paced delivery.

Use Case 10: Enhancing Speech Clarity

Improve the clarity of your speech by analyzing the distribution of words among different segments of your presentation. By entering the words spoken in each segment, you can identify areas that may require additional emphasis or simplification for better audience understanding.

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Speech Length Calculator

Author: Calculator Academy Team

Last Updated: July 31, 2023

Enter the total number of words, and your words per minute speech speed into the calculator to determine the total length of a speech.

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Speech Length Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the length of a speech.

• Where T is the total time
• W is the total number of words
• SS is the speaking speed in words/min

To calculate the speech length, divide the total number of words by the speaking rate.

Speech Length Definition

A speech length is defined as the total time it takes to perform a speech or presentation.

Speech Length Example

How to calculate speech length?

Measure the total number of words in the speech.

Determine the average speed at which you speak.

Calculate the time of the speech using the equation above.

A speech should be as long as it needs to be to convey the information being presented. No shorter and no longer than that exact length. What that length is, is a little hard to determine. If you get your point across concisely and quickly, it can be good enough.

Convert words to time

Word per minute speech

Enter the number of words in the box below to find out how many minutes it will take you to give your speech.

Word Counter

Paste your text here to find out the word count

Word Count: 0

Online Stopwatch

Time your speech on a timer for the actual time it takes you to deliver your speech, practice.

Our tool comes in handy when you are preparing for a speech or creating a presentation. The length of your speech depends on the amount of text and your speaking or reading speed.

Words To Time Converter

Estimate how many minutes your speeches, presentations, and voice-over scripts will take based on your words per minute rate!

Words per Minute: 183

How To Convert Words to Minutes Using This Tool?

If you have a certain number of words or a piece of text you want to time, you can either type in the word count or paste the text into the provided area. This tool will then calculate how long it would take to read that text out loud.

The talk time estimate is calculated using the average speaking speed of adults, which is determined to be 183 words per minute based on scientific studies. If you’re interested in how long it would take to read silently, it’s estimated at 238 words per minute ( This data is also backed by research )

You can adjust the slider to change the words per minute value, which will affect the talk time estimate. However, the silent reading time estimate remains fixed at 238 words per minute. 

For ease of use, we’ve also provided reference points for slow, average, and fast reading rates below the slider.

To begin anew, simply click the ‘clear text’ button to erase the content and restore the slider back to its original setting of 183.

I. Who is This Words to Minutes Converter Tool For?

If you are a student wondering how long is my essay or you’ve been tasked with writing a speech and need to know how many words to aim for and how many minutes will it take to deliver or perhaps you are a podcaster, just starting out, who wants the ability to easily synchronize music and spoken word without having to painstakingly calculate seconds between them, then this words to time converter (or speech time calculator-you may call it if you are a public speaker) is precisely for you! 

From now on, instead of spending long hours in front of the computer trying to figure out how many seconds it takes for one phrase or section of dialogue to end and another to begin, you can let our innovative tool do all the work and convert your text to time quickly and accurately. With this powerful tool at your disposal, whether you’re giving a TED talk or just need to nail a business presentation, your life will become a little bit easier.

So keep reading to learn more about what this fantastic words to minutes converter has in store for public speakers, aspiring students, and professional radio producers alike!

Whether you want to read the text silently or speak aloud, you can use this tool as both:

• Reading time calculator
• Talk time calculator

II.I Explanation of the Reading Time

Reading time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a written text silently while still comprehending its content. Based on an extensive analysis of 190 studies that involved 18,573 participants , research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 suggests that the typical silent reading speed for an adult individual is approximately 238 words per minute .

To convert word count to read time for a specific text, you can do so by dividing the total word count of the text by this established value of 238. Here is the mathematical equation for determining the duration of reading time in minutes:

Reading Time = Total Word Count / 238

II.II Explanation of the Speech Time

Speech time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a text out loud. Based on data from 77 studies involving 5,965 people , it’s been found that most adults read aloud at a speed of approximately 183 words per minute ( research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 ). To figure out how long it will take to read a specific piece of text aloud, you can divide the total number of words in the text by this average rate of 183 words per minute.

Of course, it’s important to note that talk time can vary depending on factors such as clarity of speech, pauses for emphasis, and use of visual aids. However, using this tool for converting the number of words to minutes can still provide a helpful guideline for planning and practicing your presentation. By having a better understanding of speech rates, you can ensure that your message is delivered effectively and efficiently.

III. Benefits of Using a Words to Time Converter

Time management in presentations.

Effective time management during presentations is crucial to ensure the audience remains engaged and the information is accurately conveyed. This is where our speaking time converter comes in handy. By using this tool, presenters can easily determine how many words they need to include in their presentation to stay within the allotted time frame.

Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that the pacing of the presentation is consistent, making it easier for the audience to follow. With the use of this tool, presenters can confidently deliver their presentations without the worry of running over time or rushing through it.

Estimated speech time for public speaking

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have too little or too much information to fill your time slot. You wonder only if there were an accurate public speaking time calculator available so that you could be able to allocate the appropriate amount of time to each section of your presentation, ensuring that you cover all the necessary points without rushing or going over time. 

Effective pacing is key in ensuring your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

Most public speakers target an average of 130-150 words per minute for their spoken content, meaning you should aim to limit your speaking time to roughly one minute per 130-150 words. While this may take some practice to achieve, the end result is a confident, well-timed delivery that keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.

Remember, in public speaking, less is often more—take your time to breathe and emphasize key points. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful and measured approach. For that, you can use this tool and adjust your words to speech time.

Accurate estimations for audiobooks and podcasts

As more and more people turn to audiobooks and podcasts for their entertainment and information needs, accurate estimations of listening time have become more important than ever. After all, there’s nothing worse than settling in for a quick listen only to find yourself trapped in a story that goes on for hours longer than you anticipated.

That’s why it’s great to see publishers and podcast producers taking estimated reading time seriously, providing listeners with the information they need to choose the right content for their schedule. Whether you’re looking for a quick listen on your daily commute or a lengthy distraction for a lazy Sunday afternoon, accurate estimations using this speaking time calculator make it easier than ever to find the perfect content.

IV. Some Popular Speech Times

V. Conclusion

As the world becomes more fast-paced, time is a precious commodity. Determining how long your script will take to read, whether for a presentation or a video, can make a significant difference in engaging and retaining your audience’s attention.

That’s where our Words to Time Converter comes in handy. It’s a valuable tool for anyone working in various professions, from broadcast journalists to teachers to executives. No matter the industry, time is of the essence, and knowing how long your speech or presentation will take is crucial for effective communication.

Free Online Words to Minutes Calculator

How long should your 5 minutes speech be? How many words should your essay be to take 5 minutes reading?

To find an answer, you need words to minutes calculator. IvyPanda Experts prepared this post, where you will find 10 free words to minutes converters, find out how to measure your speaking rate, and how long your X-minute speech has to be.

🏆 Top 10 Free Words to Minutes Converter

🎤 how long does a 4-minute speech have to be, ⏱ how to measure your speech length, 1. speech in minutes.

This is a free-to-use speech calculator to measure how long it takes to deliver your speech. To use this tool, you need to enter the word count and choose the reading speed: from slow (100 words per minute) to fast (160 words per minute). No registration is needed.

2. Words to Time

Words To Time as an ad-free text to speech calculator that will provide you with the number of minutes immediately. You can type the number of words you want to convert or paste your text and grab the result. Don’t forget to pick up the reading speed!

3. The Word Finder

This is a free speech length estimator. No sign-up, no ads, or captcha. Type the word count, choose speaking speed, and grab the result immediately. There are also available various cool apps like Font Generators, Backwards Text Converter, Time Calc, etc.

4. EdgeStudio

Edge Studio, the voice recording company, developed a free online script timer. Depending on the data available, you can put the words count, paste your text, or type the average words per line. You will get a result instantly after you click the button “Submit.” On the tab “Statistics,” you can find out stats about reading speed, word, and line count.

5. Copywritely

At this website, you can measure the time of reading your text within a couple of clicks using its words to minutes calculator. Paste your text, and at the bottom of the field, you will see the word count and the approximate speech time.

The tool is available in English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch. Also, there are available Grammar Checker, Alphabetizer, Words to Pages, and other apps that will become handy for any writing purpose.

6. Read-O-Meter

Read-O-Meter is a simple and hassle-free word to minutes calculator to estimate the reading time. All you have to do is just type or paste the text you want to calculate the speech or article length and press the button “Estimate Reading Time.”

7. TheVoice Realm

This speech length calculator was designed by the online voice casting company. To use it, you need to paste your text or the word count and find out the estimated time. The page also contains background information about the speaking speed and how many minutes in 300, 900, and more words.

To use the Words to Time Conversion tool, you need to know the word count of your text. To get the estimated speech time, you need to type the number of words and adjust reading or speaking time, and you will get an immediate result. The tool is free and contains no ads.

9. Debatrix

This is another ad-free word to minute speech calculator to find out how long your speech will take. To measure the estimated time, you need to paste the text. The online app will count the number of words and speech duration.

10. TextConverter

The website provides plenty of tools that will be useful for students, SEO specialists, and writers.

Choose the text type: speech or locution, reading rhythm, and get the estimated time for your project. The app also will count the number of words and characters.

On the website, you can also find other utilities: Text Randomizer, Upper and Lower Case converters, E-mails Extractor, Hashtags, etc. The site is available in English and Portuguese languages.

Why do we need to measure the reading or speaking time?

There can be a variety of reasons. For example, you should prepare a 5-minute speech, or your post should not exceed 10 minutes of reading.

Speaking or reading time depends on the person who is going to read the text. Below, you will find a table that will help you quickly determine the duration of the content. The table is divided into two parts. The first one gives you reference information of minutes to words conversion. The second one shows the inverse correlation.

This table provides only the estimated information. The actual speech duration depends on your speaking pace, pauses, and so on. Below you will find out what impacts and how to measure your speaking rate.

Keep reading!

In this post, we will share with you how to measure how long your speech will be. Also, you will find out what impacts your speaking pace and how to practice it.

Determine the Word Count

First things first, so let’s determine the number of words you want to turn to minutes. If you use the Microsoft Word or Open Office, you will find out the word count on the status bar at the bottom of the screen.

In Google Docs, you can click Tools>>Word Count, or use the shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+C. If you use other word processors, refer to the help system of the tool.

Determine the Speech Pace

If you don’t know how many words you speak per minute, there are a couple of options to find out it. Check them below!

Use the sample text. Here is how it works: take your sample text, start the timer, and begin reading it aloud. When the minute is up, use your word processing app to figure out how many words you read. This will be your speed of speech.

Record yourself. Another way to find out your speaking pace is to record your speech. Set a timer for a minute, read any text, or talk about any topic while recording it. Then, listen to it and count the words you spoke. You can count it manually or use the software, for example, IBM Speech to Text calculator .

What Impacts Your Speaking Rate?

The speaking rate is individual. There are many factors that influence it. Here are some of them:

• Pauses, and rhetorical devices. The more it has, the slower your speaking rate will be.
• Condition of the speaker. If you’re angry, excited, or in a hurry, you will probably speak faster than usual. On the other hand, when you are tired, it makes it harder to speak quickly.
• Urgency. Here’s the deal: in emergencies, we are more likely will speak quicker than in a calm environment.
• Mental issues. Some mental conditions may lead to a slower or faster speech rate.
• Audience and event. For example, if you are recording audio for a radio ad, you will speak faster, since you are limited by the time. Another example is when you are trying to explain the complicated term to students. More likely, you will slow down your speech. During the presentation, you can also make pauses while changing the slides or checking your notes.
• Environment. Yes, your background directly impacts your speaking pace: your dialect, family, culture, friends, and neighbors, etc.
• Words and content complexity. The long and complex words also impact your speaking pace, making it slower. The same can be said about complex content—it requires more time to deliver it to the audience. Remember about this if you are limited by time.
• Language. Depending on the language you speak, your speaking rate will vary. In 2011, the University of Lyon researchers asked volunteers to read twenty texts in their native languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and Italian. The purpose of studies was to find out how the density of syllables impacts the rate of communication.

Here’s what they found: the Mandarin language is the slowest one, with 5.18 syllables per second. However, it has the highest information density. The fastest language is Japanese, with its 7.84 syllables per second rate. English language speaking rate is 6.19 syllables per second.

Another interesting fact about the speaking rate is the world record shattered by Steve Woodmore . He articulates 637 words in one minute!

If you are wondering about the average speaking rates, check the table below:

Source: National Center for Voice and Speech

But what about reading? Is the reading pace the same as speaking?

On average, people read 180-300 words per minute. However, speed readers can read 1000+ words per minute.

How to Practice Your Speaking Rate?

You might have met people called a motor-mouth — they speak too fast, and words seem rocket out from their mouths. Others, on the opposite, speak too slowly. You can compare them with sloths from the movie Zootopia:

Both these cases can be fun for a while. However, the too fast and too slow speech will make the listeners lose their interest.

The solution is to practice your speaking rate, making it flexible, and adapting to your audience’s needs.

Below, you will find five easy exercises that will help you to develop a flexible speaking rate:

Read children’s books aloud.

Here’s the deal: when you read stories to a child, you might notice that some passages require you to speak faster, while others must be read at a slow pace.

Read a story several times aloud to become familiar with the text and its passages. If it is possible, record yourself. Then, try reading the text and change the pace. Listen to the records to hear the differences. Think of how the speaking rate impacts the comprehension of the text.

Read scientific reports.

You may find this exercise boring, but yet it will be helpful for delivering complex things in your future speeches.

First, pick up the newspaper or magazine. For example, you can try a Science magazine website — there are plenty of interesting topics, reports, and articles to discover. After you select the report, read it silently to familiarize yourself with the material. The next step is to read it aloud (don’t forget about recording yourself!), noting which parts of the text should be read at a slow pace, and which — faster.

You can extend this exercise and image that you read the article to someone who knows nothing about this topic. Listen to the records and pay attention to the changes you made.

Read your own class speeches.

Make a series of experiments with one of your old class speeches. First, record it delivering the speech at your normal speaking pace. Check the time it took to deliver.

The next step is to mark down some passages to read at slower and others — at a faster rate. Now, read it aloud again while adhering to the marks. Listen to the records; note how changed the time and overall speech comprehension.

Listen to various speakers.

Watch the movie, listen to the news on TV, and watch the classical play. Compare the speech rates of the speakers. You will notice the rhetorical devices they use and how effective their speech is. Then, experiment with your own speech and see how it changes.

Read texts you are familiar with.

Read the text you already know at a quicker or slower pace than usual. Record yourself and play it back. Note the places where your speaking rate was effective and where it wasn’t. Then, mark these places and reread the text again, implementing these changes and recording yourself. See how your speech has changed.

These simple exercises will help you to produce effective speeches for various audiences.

There are a couple of things you need to remember when you speak:

• Fast speaking indicates urgency, passion, and emotions. If you want to stimulate and excite the attention of your listeners, speak quickly. However, you should remember that after a couple of minutes of listening to fast speech, it becomes overwhelming.
• Slow speaking, on the other hand, indicates the seriousness of your point, its importance. Use this approach to grab the attention of your audience. The slow pace also will help them to easier process the information you want to deliver. Similar to fast speaking, too slow pace in your entire speech also can overwhelm and bore your listeners.

How to Make the Speech Memorable

Pace yourself to highlight the most important parts of the speech, and your audience will memorize what you said. The key to any great speech is the retention of the audience. Check the IvyPanda expert advice to make your talks memorable :

• Tell stories. Interesting examples not only illustrate your speech but also help listeners to recall what you said. Humor and short stories from your life will also help you to grab the attention of your audience. Important notice: tell only relevant ones and don’t overuse them.
• Use pauses and breaks. Just like a novel is broken into chapters and paragraphs, pauses in your speech serve as a signal of the end of one point and transition to another.

Use simple and short sentences and phrases. Short sentences and simple language will help you to maximize the engagement and comprehension of your audience. Avoid complex words unless you are talking about specific tech terms in front of the professionals in this sphere.

• Engage your audience with questions. At the beginning of the speech, ask your audience a question or two. This method will give them a hook and grab their attention.
• Review your speech after you wrote it. Check if everything is clear. Rehearse it in various rates and note places where you need to speed up your speech and where to slow it down.

Now you know how to find out the length of your speech, have all the tools to convert words to minutes, and advice on how to practice your speaking rate. Don’t forget to check our other tools to write outstanding speeches.

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

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Curious about how long it will take to read your text? IvyPanda's online words-to-minutes calculator instantly converts your word count into an estimated reading time. Here, you will also find tips on measuring your speaking rate and making your speech memorable.

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• How many words per minute in a speech

How many words per minute in a speech?

A quick guide for slow, average and fast rates of speech.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

If you're preparing a speech or presentation with a strict time limit it’s useful to have an estimate of the number of words you’ll need to fit the number of minutes you've been given.

And it's even more useful to have those guidelines before you rush into writing, only to discover when you’re done, you’ve written far too much. Something I used to do on a regular basis! (And then, I had the tedious job of pruning to fit.)

What's on this page:

How many words are there in a 1-minute speech, how many words are there in a 2-minute speech, how many words are there in a 3-minute speech, how many words are there in a 4-minute speech, how many words are there in a 5-minute speech, how many words are there in a 6-minute speech, how many words are there in a 7-minute speech, how many words are there in an 8-minute speech, how many words are there in a 9-minute speech, how many words are there in a 10-minute speech, how many words are there in a 15-minute speech, how many words are there in a 20-minute speech, how many words are there in a 25-minute speech, how many words are there in a 30-minute speech.

• How to calculate your own speech rate: 2 easy methods
• How many pages is a 4, 7 or 20-minute speech?     

About this quick reference guide

The following table (below) shows the average number of words spoken per minute for speeches from 1 to 30 minutes long. It's a quick reference guide: one only intended to provide general information.

Who, and what, is truly average?

An average word count for any timed speech (one minute, two minutes, three, four, five, six...or more, minutes) is impossible to give. As there really is no such thing as an average person, who uses an average rate of words per minute when they speak.

We are individuals: each of us different. Speech patterns and speech (speaking) rates vary considerably between person to person for a great many reasons. The best you’ll ever get is an educated guess.

Use as an estimate: test yourself to be sure

That aside, the following estimates will give you a handy indication of the number of minutes it takes to say x number of words depending on whether you talk at a slow speed, a medium speed or you're one of the world's fast talkers.

(And, no, it's never a good idea to gabble at a mile a minute to fit everything you've prepared into the length of time you've been given!)

To be absolutely sure what you've done will fit the time allocation you've been given it's a good idea to test yourself to establish your own speaking rate or speed of speech .

How many pages is a 'x' minute speech?

Multiple variations on the question how many pages are needed for a speech are frequently asked. For instance:

• How many pages is a 4-minute speech?
• How many pages is a 7-minute speech?
• How many pages is a 20-minute presentation?

Unfortunately, the answer is not simple. Calculating the number of A4 pages of text you need for a speech of any number of minutes long is tricky for two reasons.

How many words are on an A4 page?

The first reason is that the number of words on an A4 page depends on how the page has been formatted. The answers to the questions below make a very big difference to the total number of pages needed to print a speech.

• What is the font family being used? (Different fonts take up differing amounts of space because of the shape/design of their characters.)  
• What is the size of the font? (The font size you're reading right now is 20px.)
• What is the spacing between each of the letters in a word?
• What is the spacing between each line of text? Is it single spacing, 1.5 or double line spacing?
• What spacing has been set for paragraphs?
• What size have the margins of the page been set at?
• Are there headings? Sub-headings or lists?

On average if the font is plain, (sans-serif, without embellishment), like Arial or Verdana, its size is set for 12px, and the line spacing is set for 1.5, then a page may have between 400-500 words on it.

Speech rate changes how we calculate the number of words we need

The second reason why using the number of pages to gauge how long a speech will take to deliver is problematical is because we speak at different rates. 

A 500-word page may take someone speaking at very slow rate 4 minutes to get through.

Another person, who has a much faster speaking rate, may take about 2.5 minutes to deliver exactly the same text.

Using the number of pages as a guide for a speech that has to fit a time limit is completely unreliable.

If you need to use a 'guesstimate' use the speech rate table below. Forget about counting the pages! 

If you are a slow speaker, less than 120 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 120 - 160 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 160 - 200 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 240 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 240 - 320 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 320 - 400 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 360 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 360 – 480 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 480 - 600 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 480 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 480 – 640 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 640 - 800 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 600 words,

If you speak at an average speed between: 600 – 760 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 760 - 1000 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 720 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 720 – 960 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 960 - 1200 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 840 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 840 – 1120 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1120 - 1400 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 960 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 960 – 1280 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1280 - 1600 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 1080 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1080 – 1440 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1440 - 1800 words.

If you are a slow speaker a little less than 1200 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1200 – 1600 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1600 - 2000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 1,800 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1,800 - 2,400 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 2,400 - 3,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 2,400 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 2,400 - 3,200 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 3,200 - 4,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 3,000 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 3,000 - 4,000 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 4,000 - 5,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 3,600 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 3,600 - 4,800 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 4,800 - 6,000 words.

Return to Top

Find out more about speech rate

• How to calculate your own words per minute speech rate - two easy methods
• 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: six exercises for flexible speaking rate

Words per minute calculator

Lastly here's the link to a useful online words per minutes calculator . Once you've completed your speech enter the total number of words, and select whether you want it to give you an average for a minute of your speech at a slow rate, average or fast rate. Again, it's a 'guesstimate'. ☺

The only really safe way to find out whether your speech fits your time allocation is to say it aloud at an ideal rate or pace: one taking into account the content, and the audience who is going to listen to it, while timing it.

(Use the record function on your phone. It will assist in lots of other ways too! You'll hear where you need more vocal variety, where your pronunciation is blurred ...and, so on. It's super helpful.)

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Speaking time

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Here is a graphical representation that summarizes the analysis of the occurrences of your text. For information, words whose number of occurrences is less than 2% of the total of all occurrences are classified in the "Other" category.

Calculate the speaking time of a text in a few seconds!

In a world where time is precious, mastering the timing of your speeches and presentations is essential. Our tool for estimating speaking time simplifies this task for you. In just a few seconds, you can evaluate the length of your speech and estimate the time needed to deliver it, allowing you to effectively plan your speeches. Find out how our free tool can optimize your preparation and help you captivate your audience.

• Accurate estimate of speaking time : Calculate speaking time in seconds, adjusting for words per minute.
• Optimal customization: Define your speaking speed for an even more precise estimate adapted to your style.
• Get detailed statistics about your text, such as the number of sentences, words, paragraphs and characters.

Optimize your speeches and presentations using our simple and free tool to calculate the speaking time of your texts. Master your time and impress your audience!

How the speaking time calculator works

The speaking time calculator works in several steps:

1. Text analysis:

• The text is entered or copied and pasted into the interface.
• The number of words, characters, sentences and paragraphs is determined.
• The complexity of the text is analyzed (word length, sentence structure, technical vocabulary).

2. Estimated speaking time:

• The average speaking speed is around 120 to 160 words per minute.
• You can set your own speaking speed for a more accurate estimate.
• Speaking time is estimated by dividing the number of words by the speaking speed and applying a factor of 1.2 to 1.3 to account for additional speaking time (articulation, pauses, etc.).

3. Displaying results:

• Estimated speaking time is displayed in minutes and seconds.
• Detailed statistics can be displayed with the click of a button.

4. Settings to refine the estimate:

• You can set your speaking speed (faster or slower than average).
• You can adjust the complexity of the text (simple, normal, complex).
• You can enable or disable the consideration of pauses in speaking time estimation.
• You can choose the text language for better complexity analysis.

5. Examples of settings with word count:

By combining these settings and taking into account your reader characteristics, you will obtain a more precise estimate of the speaking time for your text.

• Practice reading your text out loud to get a better idea of ​​how long you will take to read it.
• Use a stopwatch to measure your actual speaking time and compare it to the tool's estimate.
• Adjust the tool settings according to your needs and preferences.

By following these tips, you can use the Talk Time Counter to optimize your communications and improve your performance.

Note that actual speaking time may vary depending on your natural speaking rate, preparation level, and reading style.

Reading Aloud Speaking Speed ​​Guide

When you read aloud, the speed at which you speak can impact your comprehension of the text and the fluency of your expression. This guide provides a speaking rate scale in words per minute (WPM) with corresponding interpretations to help you assess your reading aloud proficiency.

To determine your speaking speed level, you can simply measure yourself. Several methods exist to measure your speaking time:

• Stopwatch: This method is the simplest. Start the timer when you begin speaking and stop it when you're finished. You can therefore set the counter according to your speed. Divide the total number of seconds by 60 to get your speaking time in minutes.
• Sheet of paper and pen: Write down the time you start speaking and the time you finish. Calculate the difference to get your speaking time in minutes.

This table also gives you guidelines for adjusting the meter according to your level. To determine your level, you can use these simple and effective methods!

Once you know your speaking speed, you can use it to improve your communication skills. For example, if you speak too quickly, you can slow down your pace so that your audience can understand you better. If you speak too slowly, you can speed up your pace to make your speech more engaging.

Speech speed is an important element of effective communication. By measuring your speaking speed and practicing it, you can improve your communication skills and make yourself better understood by others.

Possible uses of the calculator

Preparation of speeches and presentations:.

• Make sure you respect the allotted time by estimating the length of your speech or presentation.
• Adapt your content accordingly by adding or removing information to meet the time limit.
• Practice reading your speech out loud using the built-in timer to ensure you don't exceed the allotted time.
• Identify long or complex passages and work to simplify or shorten them.

Writing articles and web content:

• Optimize the length of your writing for better readability and better SEO.
• Aim for appropriate paragraph and sentence length to maintain the reader's attention.
• Use transition words to make your text more fluid and easier to read.
• Vary the structure of your sentences to avoid monotony.

Language learning:

• Track your reading and speaking progress by timing your read alouds.
• Compare your performance to your previous results to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• Set goals and use the speaking time calculator to track your progress toward those goals.
• Practice reading texts of different difficulty levels to improve your comprehension and speaking skills.

Other possible uses:

• Scheduling meetings and interviews
• Estimated working time for projects
• Calculating speaking time for audiobooks
• Track time spent reading or writing

The speaking time calculator is a versatile tool that can be used in many different situations.

By using this tool, you can improve your communication, productivity and performance.

Advantages of our calculator

Easy to use :.

• Copy and paste your text or enter it directly into the intuitive interface.
• No need to create an account or download software.
• The tool is accessible on all devices and web browsers.

Fast and precise:

• Get an accurate speaking time estimate in seconds.
• The tool uses advanced algorithms to analyze your text and provide reliable results.
• Speaking time is calculated taking into account reading speed, text complexity and pauses.

Free and without registration:

• Access the tool for free and without any limitations.
• Use it as many times as you want, without registration or subscription.
• The tool is ad-supported, so you can enjoy it for free.

How to use the tool?

Copy and paste your speech or text into the dedicated interface.

• You can copy and paste text from any source, such as a Word document, email, or web page.
• Make sure the text is formatted correctly, with clear paragraphs and sentences.

Set your speaking speed (optional).

• The average speaking speed is around 120 words per minute.
• You can adjust this setting according to your own speaking speed.
• If you don't know your speaking speed, you can test it by reading a text aloud and timing how long you take.

Click the “Calculate” button.

The tool will analyze your text and display the results in seconds.

Check out the results:

• The number of words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in your text will be displayed.
• You will also see the estimated speaking time, in minutes and seconds.

Estimated speaking time:

The speaking time of a speech or text is generally estimated based on the number of words and the speed of speaking.

You can use the following formula to calculate speaking time:

Speaking time = Number of words / Speaking speed

For example, if your speech contains 300 words and your speaking speed is 120 words per minute, the estimated speaking time will be 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Factors influencing speaking time:

• Complexity of speech: A more complex speech may require more speaking time.
• Familiarity with the topic: If you are knowledgeable about the topic, you can speak more quickly.
• Level of preparation: Proper preparation can improve the flow of your speech.
• Presence of pauses: Pauses for reflection or for dramatic impact can influence speaking time.

Tips for a more accurate estimate:

• Use simple, concise language.
• Divide your speech into clear, distinct sections.
• Use smooth transitions between ideas.
• Repeat key points to reinforce your message.
• Practice speaking out loud to improve your speech and fluency.

By using our tool and following these tips, you will get an accurate estimate of the speaking time for your speech or presentation.

Concrete examples

Example 1: preparing a speech.

Goal : Make sure you respect the allotted time of 5 minutes for a speech.

• Enter the text of your speech into the tool.
• Set your speaking speed to 150 words per minute (average speed).
• Click "Calculate".
• Number of words: 750
• Estimated speaking time: 5 minutes

interpretation:

Your speech respects the allotted time of 5 minutes. You are ready to present your speech successfully!

Example 2: Writing a blog post

Goal : Optimize the length of the article for better readability and better SEO.

• Enter the text of your article into the tool.
• Click "Calculate" to get detailed statistics.

Your article is a bit long. You can optimize its length by using shorter sentences and removing unnecessary content.

Example 3: Learning a language

Goal : Track your progress in reading and speaking.

• Read a text in the language you are learning.
• Time how long it took you to read it.
• Enter text into the tool and set the language.
• Click "Calculate" to compare your actual reading time with the speaking time estimated by the tool.

By comparing your actual reading time with estimated speaking time, you can assess your reading speed in the language being learned and track your progress over time.

Other examples:

• Preparing for a meeting: Estimate the time needed to present your ideas.
• Writing an email: Make sure your message is concise and clear.
• Creating a presentation: Adapt the amount of information to your speaking time.
• Calculation of working time for a project: Determine the necessary resources.

The speaking time counter is a versatile tool that can help you in many situations.

The Word and Talk Time Counter is a powerful tool that can help you improve your communication and productivity in many areas. In just a few seconds, you can get an accurate estimate of the time it takes to read or speak a text, as well as detailed statistics on its composition.

Here are some key points to remember:

• Easy to use : Copy and paste your text or enter it directly into the intuitive interface.
• Fast and precise: Get reliable results in seconds.
• Free and without registration: Access the tool for free and without any limitations.
• Versatile: Multiple uses for speech preparation, article writing, language learning, etc.
• Tips for a better estimate: Use simple vocabulary, divide paragraphs, use phrases transition, etc.
• Concrete examples : Preparing a speech, optimizing a blog post, monitoring progress in learning a language.

Feel free to use our tool and contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.

By using the speaking time counter, you can:

• Save time by planning and preparing your communications.
• Improve your communication by ensuring that your messages are clear, concise and tailored to your audience.
• Increase your productivity by estimating the time needed to complete your tasks.
• Achieve your goals by communicating effectively and efficiently.

The Talk Time Counter is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills and productivity.

Useful links

• Readability-Score.com
• Hemingway Editor
• Toastmasters International

Talk Time Counter FAQ

What is the speaking time counter?

It's a free online tool that analyzes your text and gives you an estimate of how long it will take to read it aloud. It also calculates detailed statistics about your text, such as the number of words, characters, vowels , sentences and paragraphs.

Who is this tool for?

This tool is useful for anyone who works with text, including students, teachers, writing professionals, speakers, translators, and more.

How is it useful?

The speaking time counter can help you:

• Prepare speeches and presentations within the allotted time.
• Estimate the time needed to read a text aloud, for example for a meeting or a podcast.
• Track your progress in reading aloud.
• Improve your speech rate and articulation.

Functioning

Copy and paste your text into the tool interface.

Click the “Count” button.

How is speaking time estimated?

Speaking time is estimated by dividing the number of words by your reading speed (or average reading speed if you don't set it) and applying a factor to account for pauses and articulation.

Is the accuracy of the estimate guaranteed?

The speaking time estimate is provided for information purposes only. Actual speaking time may vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the text, your natural flow, your level of preparation, and your reading style.

Advanced features

Does the tool take into account the complexity of the text?

Some tools offer settings allowing you to refine the estimate depending on the complexity of the text (simple, normal, complex).

Can I adjust the playback speed?

Yes, you can set your reading speed for a more accurate estimate. Most people read between 120 and 160 words per minute.

Can the tool be used for foreign languages?

Yes, some tools provide an option to set the language of the text, which can improve the accuracy of complexity analysis.

Need additional help

Where can I find more information about using the tool?

Most websites offering this type of tool also have a dedicated instruction page or FAQ. You can also contact us if you have any questions specific to our tool.

What happens if I encounter technical problems?

If you encounter technical problems using the tool, please contact the owners of the website where the tool is located.

I hope this FAQ was helpful to you! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

• Please note that this type of tool does not take into account punctuation, line breaks and paragraphs, which may slightly affect the accuracy of speaking time estimation.
• It is important to practice reading your text aloud to familiarize yourself with the content and improve your delivery and intonation.

Tips for better estimation of speaking time:

• Use simple and precise vocabulary.
• Divide your text into short, concise paragraphs.
• Use transitional phrases to make your speech more fluid.
• Repeat key words to reinforce your message.
• Practice reading your text out loud to improve your delivery and intonation.

By using the speaking time counter and following these tips, you will get a more accurate estimate of the time it takes to read your text aloud.

Confirmation

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!

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How Many Words Are in a Speech?

How can you measure your spoken words per minute.

To quickly know what your speaking rate is, write a 650-word essay and then get out a stopwatch. Time how long it takes you to speak all of the words in the essay.

Once you’ve finished, divide the word count (650 words) by the number of minutes in decimals (30 seconds = 0.5 minutes) and you’ll get an estimate of your words per minute speaking rate.

For example, if it takes you 4.5 minutes to speak 650 words, you would divide 650 by 4.5 to get 144 words per minute.

Word Count per Speech Length

To quickly find out how many words a typical speaking length requires, see the table below. You can quickly map word counts to typical speaking rates:

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Free Words-to-Minutes Converter by PapersOwl

Figure out how many words your speech or presentation should have.

Step 1. Choose Your Score of Reading

Step 2. Input number of Words or Time

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Words-to-minutes converter, what is a word to minutes calculator.

Use a speech convertor or words-to-time calculator to find out in seconds how long it will take you to deliver your perfect address. This is a powerful application that takes your text limits and synchronizes them with the chosen speed at which you read to give you precise results. A words-to-minutes calculator aids in estimating the duration of any speech whether it be for your class, an awaited event, or a professional meeting. This online app makes it easier for you to speak according to any given time.

This is the perfect tool if you want quick solutions and accurate answers that will help you write and then read perfectly crafted speeches for specific occasions.

Why Should I Convert Words Into Minutes?

Isn’t it easier to just know instead of guessing exactly the span in which to read a script or speak on a given topic or even deliver a speech? It is a crucial part of any good deliverance to know the accurate span and then make preparations to read accordingly so that the order of the event or day continues smoothly. Convert words into minutes to be in a comfortable position while presenting anything.

Every so often, certain formats of speech or presentation require a set time frame, and sometimes it is important to keep your text precise and time short. A conversion website like PapersOwl helps in doing just that by transforming the text into time so it becomes easier to adjust your writing if and when necessary.

For many speeches and essays, some parts require more emphasis and longer durations than the rest. When you read, you adjust your tone and voice, and your pace according to the importance of the topics. Similarly, word count can also be adjusted with words to time conversion, in turn helping with the length of paragraphs within any essay to re-establish the importance of a certain topic. If you get help from a custom research paper writing service , using a words to minutes converter becomes essential as it can help you find out exactly how many words per minute have been used or are needed according to your own speaking rate.

Converting Words Into Minutes Online: Benefits

While writing, you never try to guess the words per minute or know if 2 pages will take you more than a minute to read. Stay on top of your presentations and speeches with words conversion. A word to minutes calculator has many benefits for students, businessmen, teachers, or anyone looking to perfect their art of speech time or speak about any topic.

Manage the Span of your Text

A speech calculator is a hassle-free way to determine the span and speed of your speech according to the word count. You can use it multiple times and keep iterating your content. A words-to-minutes calculator gives you accurate results according to the average speaking rate.

Easy and Efficient to Use

Converting each word into the exact span is easy for all types of people. A good speech calculator also includes information about speaking speeds, giving you all the essential information you need to get your work done quickly.

Helps You Practice

Practice your speech without worrying about managing time with a timer easily with a words-to-minutes converter. A words-to-minutes converter can also be adjusted to your own speaking rate, and you can add specific excerpts where you tend to speak fast or slower than normal. Just a few clicks can get you to the desired result and the exact number of words needed for your speech. Remember to always be original with your writing and a free plagiarism checker to use is a great way to ensure this. Once you’re sure that the text is unique, our tool can be used to your advantage to make your speech memorable when you read it. By increasing and decreasing your voice along the way and by adding pauses where necessary, emphasis where required, and omitting unnecessary details, you can practice your words before heading onto the stage.

How to Use a Words to Time Calculator?

Public speaking is a monstrous task on its own. For some, it might be harder than for others. It demands a certain level of confidence, and with good preparation and exactly the right tools, you can equip yourself to read and deliver any presentation with confidence.

A words-per-minute calculator is one such tool. It is easy to use and adjustable according to your pace. Crafting your presentation has been made easier than ever, with the words-to-minutes converter to determine the words-to-minutes ratio. To start using the words to time convertor, just enter the word count into the app. This will give you the results in just seconds and you can then use this to edit your essay fast , which in turn helps you save days and take full advantage of the tools available. After entering the word count, you can choose the reading speed. This is the speaking rate at which you speak. Options include slow, average, and fast speakers. It is important to choose the correct option according to your average reading speed for the most effective results.

That’s pretty much all you need to do to get your results quickly and easily. Once you have an answer, simply adjust your text depending on whether you need it to last longer or end more quickly.

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How Long is a 5-minute Speech?

How long is a 2-minute speech, how to measure the length of your speech, how to make your speech longer.

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Voice Over Script Word Counter

How long will my voice over script go for.

We've made a little app to help you out. Remember rates are determined by script WORD COUNT

As a general guide

• REGULAR - 150
• 300 WORDS = 2 MINS
• 900 WORDS = 5 MINS
• 1,800 WORDS = 10 MINS
• 2,750 WORDS = 15 MINS
• 3,500 WORDS = 20 MINS
• 5,500 WORDS = 30 MINS
• 7,500 WORDS = 45 MINS
• 9,500 WORDS = 60 MINS

35 MINUTES FOR THIS 5,250 WORDS FOR SCRIPT

What Do You Need?

The voice realm, administration.

Voice-Over Speaking Time Word Count Calculator

Estimate your voice-over speaking time with our fast and accurate calculator.

Word Count to Speaking Time Calculator

Enter the number of words in your script:, estimated speaking time:.

Voice-Over Speaking Time Calculator

Estimate your voice-over speaking time with our fast and accurate calculator. Our tool allows you to calculate the length of your script in minutes and seconds, based on the number of words and your preferred speaking rate - whether that's slow (100 words per minute), normal (150 words per minute), or fast (200 words per minute). With our calculator, you can easily plan your recording schedule and ensure that you have enough time to complete your project.

Essential Speaking Time Calculator

A text-to-speaking time calculator is an essential tool that can be useful for a wide range of individuals and professionals. This calculator can help you determine the exact time it takes to deliver a speech or read through a piece of text, making it an invaluable resource for public speakers, podcasters, and content creators. Instead of having to manually calculate the time it takes to deliver a speech or read through a script, simply enter the text into the calculator and receive an accurate estimate of the time it will take.

Free To Use from VoiceoverGuy!

Help yourself. Bookmark this page!

Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

This text-to-speaking time calculator can help you improve your public speaking skills by enabling you to refine your delivery and pacing. With a better understanding of how long your speech will take, you can adjust your delivery and make sure you are delivering your message effectively. Overall, a text-to-speaking time calculator is valuable for anyone needing to deliver a speech or read through a piece of text, and can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your communication.

If you would like to know more please get in touch.

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Introducing Speech Time Calculate

Estimate how many minutes your speeches, presentations, and voice-over scripts will take based on your words per minute rate!

How To Speech Time Calculate Using This Tool?

If you have a certain number of words or a piece of text you want to time, you can either type in the word count or paste the text into the provided area. This tool will then calculate how long it would take to read that text out loud.

The talk time estimate is calculated using the average speaking speed of adults, which is determined to be 183 words per minute based on scientific studies. If you’re interested in how long it would take to read silently, it’s estimated at 238 words per minute ( This data is also backed by research )

You can adjust the slider to change the words per minute value, which will affect the talk time estimate. However, the silent reading time estimate remains fixed at 238 words per minute.

For ease of use, we’ve also provided reference points for slow, average, and fast reading rates below the slider.

To begin anew, simply click the ‘clear text’ button to erase the content and restore the slider back to its original setting of 183.

Who is This Words to Minutes Converter Tool For?

If you are a student wondering how long is my essay or you’ve been tasked with writing a speech and need to know how many words to aim for and how many minutes will it take to deliver or perhaps you are a podcaster, just starting out, who wants the ability to easily synchronize music and spoken word without having to painstakingly calculate seconds between them, then this Speech Time Calculate is precisely for you!

From now on, instead of spending long hours in front of the computer trying to figure out how many seconds it takes for one phrase or section of dialogue to end and another to begin, you can let our innovative tool do all the work and convert your text to time quickly and accurately. With this powerful tool at your disposal, whether you’re giving a TED talk or just need to nail a business presentation, your life will become a little bit easier.

So keep reading to learn more about what this fantastic words to minutes converter has in store for public speakers, aspiring students, and professional radio producers alike!

Whether you want to read the text silently or speak aloud, you can use this tool as both:

• Reading time calculator
• Talk time calculator

Explanation of the Reading Time

Reading time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a written text silently while still comprehending its content. Based on an extensive analysis of 190 studies that involved 18,573 participants , research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 suggests that the typical silent reading speed for an adult individual is approximately 238 words per minute .

To convert word count to read time for a specific text, you can do so by dividing the total word count of the text by this established value of 238. Here is the mathematical equation for determining the duration of reading time in minutes:

Reading Time = Total Word Count / 238

Explanation of the Speech Time

Speech time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a text out loud. Based on data from 77 studies involving 5,965 people , it’s been found that most adults read aloud at a speed of approximately 183 words per minute ( research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 ). To figure out how long it will take to read a specific piece of text aloud, you can divide the total number of words in the text by this average rate of 183 words per minute.

Of course, it’s important to note that talk time can vary depending on factors such as clarity of speech, pauses for emphasis, and use of visual aids. However, using this tool for converting the number of words to minutes can still provide a helpful guideline for planning and practicing your presentation. By having a better understanding of speech rates, you can ensure that your message is delivered effectively and efficiently.

Benefits of Using a Speech Time Calculate

Time management in presentations.

Effective time management during presentations is crucial to ensure the audience remains engaged and the information is accurately conveyed. This is where our words to speaking time converter comes in handy. By using this tool, presenters can easily determine how many words they need to include in their presentation to stay within the allotted time frame.

Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that the pacing of the presentation is consistent, making it easier for the audience to follow. With the use of this presentation time calculator, presenters can confidently deliver their presentations without the worry of running over time or rushing through it.

Estimated speech time for public speaking

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have too little or too much information to fill your time slot. You wonder only if there were an accurate public speaking time calculator available so that you could be able to allocate the appropriate amount of time to each section of your presentation, ensuring that you cover all the necessary points without rushing or going over time.

Effective pacing is key in ensuring your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

Most public speakers target an average of 130-150 words per minute for their spoken content, meaning you should aim to limit your speaking time to roughly one minute per 130-150 words. While this may take some practice to achieve, the end result is a confident, well-timed delivery that keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.

Remember, in public speaking, less is often more—take your time to breathe and emphasize key points. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful and measured approach. For that, you can use this tool and adjust your words to speech time.

Accurate estimations for audiobooks and podcasts

As more and more people turn to audiobooks and podcasts for their entertainment and information needs, accurate estimations of listening time have become more important than ever. After all, there’s nothing worse than settling in for a quick listen only to find yourself trapped in a story that goes on for hours longer than you anticipated.

That’s why it’s great to see publishers and podcast producers taking estimated reading time seriously, providing listeners with the information they need to choose the right content for their schedule. Whether you’re looking for a quick listen on your daily commute or a lengthy distraction for a lazy Sunday afternoon, accurate estimations using this words to speak time calculator make it easier than ever to find the perfect content.

Some Popular Speech Times

how many words in a 2 minute speech

Almost 300 words

how many words in a 3 minute speech

Almost 450 words

how many words in a 4 minute speech

Almost 600 words

how many words in a 15 minute speech

Almost 2250 words

The speech time is calculated taking 150 words per minute as reference value

Common conversions (average speed)

How long does it take to read 500 words?

3.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 750 words?

5.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 1000 words?

7.7 minutes

How long does it take to read 1200 words?

9.2 minutes

How long does it take to read 1500 words?

11.5 minutes

How long does it take to read 1800 words?

13.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 2000 words?

15.4 minutes

How long does it take to read 3000 words?

23.1 minutes

As the world becomes more fast-paced, time is a precious commodity. Determining how long your script will take to read, whether for a presentation or a video, can make a significant difference in engaging and retaining your audience’s attention.

That’s where our Words to Time Converter comes in handy. It’s a valuable tool for anyone working in various professions, from broadcast journalists to teachers to executives. No matter the industry, time is of the essence, and knowing how long your speech or presentation will take is crucial for effective communication.

How Many Words Are There in a 10 Minute Speech?

Some people speak slowly when giving a speech while others speak quickly. Those who speak quickly will need to write more words for each minute of their speech than those who speak at a slower pace. That being said, there are some general guidelines which can help you make an educated guess at approximately how many words will be needed for a speech.

The general rule for speech giving is 100 to 200 words per minute. With this in mind, a 10-minute speech would require 1,000 to 2,000 words . The WordCounter speaking time detail defaults 150 words per minute (an average speed which would give a result of 1,500 words, as this is the recommended speed for audiobooks to be read at for best listening), but you can use the options section to adjust to a slower or faster pace. Simply click on “Options” then the “Details” tab and then the wrench next to the “Speaking Time” button.

If want to know how many words per minute (WPM) you personally say when giving a speech, you can use a timer to time yourself, then input that number into the options section. Time yourself for one minute of your speech, then copy to where you made it into WordCounter to see how many words you speak per minute. This will give you a more accurate estimate of how many words you must write for however long the speech you need to make will be.

It’s important to remember that speech patterns can increase when a person is nervous. This means that even when determining the number of words needed for a 10-minute speech when practicing at home by yourself, you may actually need more during the actual speech if you get nervous.

While the number of words in a speech will depend heavily on how fast or slow the person giving the speech speaks, for those who are looking for a basic estimate of how many words would be in a speech, you can use the following estimates. These estimates use the average speaking pace of 150 words per minute to estimate.

How many words in a 1-minute speech? There are 150 words in a 1-minute speech. How many words in a 2-minute speech? There are 300 words in a 2-minute speech. How many words in a 3-minute speech? There are 450 words in a 3-minute speech. How many words in a 4-minute speech? There are 600 words in a 4-minute speech. How many words in a 5-minute speech? There are 750 words in a 5-minute speech. How many words in a 6-minute speech? There are 900 words in a 6-minute speech. How many words in a 7-minute speech? There are 1050 words in a 7-minute speech. How many words in an 8-minute speech? There are 1,200 words in an 8-minute speech. How many words in a 9-minute speech? There are 1,350 words in a 9-minute speech. How many words in a 10-minute speech? There are 1,500 words in a 10-minute speech. How many words in a 15-minute speech? There are 2,250 words in a 15-minute speech. How many words in a 20-minute speech? There are 3,000 words in a 20-minute speech. How many words in a 25-minute speech? There are 3,750 words in a 25-minute speech. How many words in a 30-minute speech? There are 4,500 words in a 30-minute speech. How many words in a 45-minute speech? There are 6,750 words in a 45-minute speech. How many words in a 1-hour speech? There are 9,000 words in a 1-hour speech.

How minutes is 250 words? 250 words is 1.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 500 words? 500 words is 3.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 750 words? 750 words is 5 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,000 words? 1,000 words is 6.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,500 words? 1,500 words is 10 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,000 words? 2,000 words is 13.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,500 words? 2,500 words is 16.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 3,000 words? 3,000 words is 20 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 4,000 words? 4,000 words is 26.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 5,000 words? 5,000 words is 33.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 7,500 words? 7,500 words is 50 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 10,000 words? 10,000 words is 66.67 minutes of speaking time.

(Photo courtesy of Scott Schiller )

How can you estimate the number of minutes a speech is going to be if you know you get nervous during the speech, but you don’t get nervous when you practice? That’s my problem. My speech needs to be 5 minutes, but 5 minutes when I practice won’t be long enough when I do the speech. I need to know how much faster it will be so I can write more. How do I calculate that?

There is no tried and true method to get the exact number of minutes it will take you to do a speech except to practice. Keep records of how long it takes you to do a speech when you practice, and then when you actually give a speech. After doing this a few times you should be able to estimate how much faster you speak when giving a speech than when you practice.

Well, I’m sure this is an estimate because the amount of words a person speaks will also be determined by how confident or nervous they are. Confident people can normally say more in less time than nervous people. It also depends on how many times they pause when they talk. There are a lot of different factors to consider.

i HEAVILY agree with this

Nervous people tend to speak faster because the fact that they are nervous. Confident people can adjust their speed of talking as they seem fit

Why does everybody speak so slowly? I speak at about 250 words per minute. All of you must speak like you are talking to a child that doesn’t understand what you are saying. I can’t believe that you waste so much time speaking slowly like that. Just learn to talk so that you’re not wasting other people’s time.

Seriously? Chances are you’re the person who is annoying everyone by talking so fast and always trying to get in an extra word like you did with your comment. Normal conversations don’t have to be spoken at bullet train speed. Before you call out other about how slowly they speak, you might want to look into the mirror and ask if you’re the one causing the issues with your opinionated nonsense.

I think I love you Giggy lol. Your comment made my night/year 🙂

Thank you. This will help me a lot in preparing for a speech I have to do at school. It’s good to know an estimate of how many words per minute my speech will take. At least that gives me a starting point when I put it together.

Happy to hear that this article was helpful to you for your speech. I hope that the speech goes well!

I hate giving speeches for class. I think they should be based on word count and not how long it takes to speak. Everyone should write 500 words and then it doesn’t matter how long the speech is because all students will say the same number of words. Should I really have to write more just because I speak fast?

Another way of looking at this is that you have the opportunity to say more in a given amount of time than your classmates because you are a fast speaker. This can give you an advantage over your fellow students by allowing you to say more in a shorter period of time. Instead of looking at the negative that you have to write more, look at it as the positive that you can see more.

I hate giving speeches as well. Some of us just aren’t good at it and it’s embarrassing having to look stupid in front of all our classmates. I’m dreading the speech I have to give next week 🙁

I just use a stopwatch while I read whatever I write and that’s how I can tell how long it’s going to take me to do my speech. I find that when I memorize the words, I speak a little faster than when I read so I have to take this into account as well. Anybody who wants to know how many words they need to write for a 10 min. speech should try the stopwatch method. It’s really the easiest way to figure it out.

This is fine if you have already written the speech, but it’s sometimes useful to have an estimate of how much you have to write when you begin to write the speech. That’s how I ended up at this article. I needed a general rule of thumb so I could have a word count goal when I started to write my speech.

Wow. This is very useful and would have really helped me out back when I was in school. We always had to write our speech and then just practice timing it so that we would know how long it was going to take. We all just tried to make it all last as long as possible since the topics were often quite difficult to spend so much time talking about.

I hate it when I have to give speeches for class. It’s the stupidest thing in the world and I think that it would be better if we just didn’t have to do it. Why do teachers want to make us stand up in front of the class and embarrass ourselves? When am I ever going to have to give a speech when I become an adult? I hate that I have to do this and try to figure out how much to write for this stupid class.

Welcome to life. There will be plenty of time you have to do things you don’t want to, and it only gets worse when you become an adult.

Very interesting but it will differ from person to person. Not everyone speaks in the same manner or with the same confidence and there are times when people will speak less due to stress. You have to know yourself and how stress affects your speaking to know how fast you will say things.

I think that was made abundantly clear in the article. Everyone speaks at a different pace, but the above explanation is a general estimate or approximation of how many words it will take to do a 10 min. speech ( for however long your speech happens to be).

I don’t understand why everybody gets so uptight when the estimates aren’t exactly what applies to them. They’re estimates folks.

Estimates matter because they’re useless if they don’t apply to you. What’s the use of trying to find out how many words are in a certain time speech if the estimates that are given aren’t accurate? It’s useless to give out estimates on how long different speeches are if those estimates aren’t accurate for most people.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

My teacher wasn’t happy with me at all when my 5 min. speech was only 10 words long. In my defense, he never said how slowly we could speak when giving the speech. Apparently, one word every 30 seconds is slow enough to send you to detention…

This is actually pretty funny if it’s true. While you may have gotten detention, it will be a story that you will tell your friends throughout your life. Now, this isn’t something I suggest that other people do as you’re going to get a bad grade if you try it, but it’s also funny.

I guess it depends the reason you did this. If you did it just to be a pain to your teacher or because you didn’t want to do the work, it’s a pretty awful thing for you to do. On the other hand, if you were trying to be creative or make a relevant point, then I don’t have an issue with it. The reason why you do things has a big impact on whether your actions are worthwhile of just trolling.

I should try this in my class. That way I could go to sleep now and not stay up all night trying to write a speech that’s going to suck anyway. I think I will!

What if you need to know how many words are in a 4 – 5 minute speech and not a 4 minute speech or a 5 minute speech? There are two different numbers so which one should I use. I need to write a 4 – 5 minute speech for my class and I don’t know which number to use.

Not sure if this is real or somebody just trolling, but I’ll go ahead and answer it anyway. Everything listed above our estimates. How long it actually takes you to do the speech will very because you speak differently than all your other classmates. What you need to do is take the low number estimate (600 words for a 4 min. speech) and write that many words. Then reach what you have written well time yourself and see how long it takes. If what you have written is under 4 minutes, then you need to write more. If it’s over 4 minutes, but under 5 minutes, then your perfect, and if it’s over 5 minutes, you need to shorten it.

I just dropped by to let everyone know I HATE SPEECHES! I just needed to get that off my chest…

Even if you don’t like speeches, it’s worth getting better at them. It can help you tremendously in the real world. I suggest you check out toastmasters. Well worth it!

That was 72 words. We can see how over a hundred can be a problem for you. 😝

I don’t understand why speeches have to be within a time limit? Shouldn’t a speech go as long as it needs to to get the information across? If you limit the time or have a minimum amount of time it must be, then you are forcing the speech to be written to a time rather than being written for what needs to be said.

Time limits can make speeches better. If you have all the time in the world, you can ramble on about things that aren’t really relevant to the topic. A time limit forces you to hone in your speech on the really important points.

Exactly what I have been thinking this whole time! I always write a longer speech than the time that we’re supposed to write to. If the speech should be two minutes? Then I write one for 8 minutes. Is it supposed to be five minutes long? Then I’ll write one that’s twenty. My teachers (and my comrades) hate me for that, but even if I try to make it shorter it still becomes longer than allowed. I just can’t make a good speech without making it so long. It’s always easier to make a good argument/presentation/thought experiment if the text is longer. Time limits should really be forbidden.

I have the opposite problem, getting time limit/word count high enough. That’s why I support time limits and such, because they force me to write a good, well thought out speech.

It’s for people who are going to get kicked off the metaphorical and literal stage when time runs out. And people who get marked n speeches.

So, if my assignment is to write a 5 minute speech, I need to write 750 words?

So helpful!

this page was a blessing and saved me 40 minutes rather then reading and recording self for a screenplay, your a goddesses whoever wrote this page !!!!! 💖✨

I enjoyed reading this article but I am poor at speaking in front of people so what should I do to master at speaking

How long should à speech be? A professor of mine once said, “like skirts, long enough to cover the subject and short enough to make it interesting”. Granted he was thinking of gender as well, so very inappropriate in that way. However a skirt on any body, such as a kilt for instance, makes the same point.

Thanks for your very helpful information, and all the comments that follow. This is exactly what I needed to know.

Thank you! Now I know that my speech will take about 3 1/2 minutes!

Thank you for this article it helped me alot!

hi i was wondering if you knew how to get a speech to be 3-5 minutes long

Mine’s not so much a speech, but a bit for a station that needs to be 3 mins each. I was taught by my Writing for Broadcasting that 30 seconds is 85 words, and 1 minute is 185. NOT 150. This is now throwing me off and forcing me to do math I was ALWAYS horrible at even as a kid. Nice.

i said 2,000 words in 3 minutes.

READ SLOWER. Put breaks in your speech. For example, “Magnets produce a magnetic force called a magnetic field. [Pause] This field is invisible to the human eye but iron fillings can be used to show these fields. [Deep Breath] All magnets have two ends – a north pole and a south pole. Magnetism either attracts magnetic objects or pushes them away.” (Little House of Science 1) When you do something like this it will eventually help you to be a better speaker.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

Vote: 5 1 Reply to boostedbonobo Lucas did this good thing

this is the reason i don’t like speeches you have to work extremely hard to actually get a good one and it can get V E R Y annoying.

I’m gonna test my speech right away, and those who think giving a speech to your classmates at school (like what i’m doing at the moment) really sucks. Maybe think of it as an opportunity to convince someone such as your teacher to do something.

I am 100% ok with speeches, and honestly, I find that they can be sort of fun. The only problem I have is delivering them. They always seem monotone and boring, and I have no idea why.

At first, I thought this was just a rig, but when I read my speech (practicing) it was actually kind of accurate! I just wanted to know, how did you find out? Just read speeches with those amount of words?

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Can't get a model to follow a specific length / word count

I have a note-taking app that uses OpenAI to generate summaries for notes that people take of their books.

I have encountered a problem where it’s hard to get a good summary because the length of a good summary vastly depends on the length of the original text. Shorter texts should produce shorter summaries, and longer texts should make longer summaries.

But GPT struggles with this by default, and it is often a bit random. I often end up with summaries that are so long they’re not much of a summary, or so vague that they become vague and completely useless.

The perfect solution would be to customize the length of the summary in the prompt. For example, asking to summarize this text to 40% of the original length. The problem is that GPT is absolutely horrendous at doing this, even GPT-4. Instead of percentages, I also tried character counts, line counts, sentence counts, token counts, and a variety of combinations and variations. They all fail.

After a lot of frustrating trial and error, it seems that it’s an inherent limitation of these kinds of models. I’ve seen other people having the same problem. After countless hours of prompt engineering, I gave up and figured I’d try fine-tuning a model instead.

I created a dataset where I gave my usual prompt to summarize it to 50%, and then I made sure that the summary actually was close to 50% of the original text. I had a variety of texts with different kinds of books, and more importantly, different kinds of lengths. Anywhere from 100 words all the way to 500 words. With the assistant response always getting the length output right.

I’ve seen people mention that 50-100 data points are a good heuristic, so I went with around 60. I thought that with so many examples, across so many different contexts, surely a fine-tuned model would at least get a bit better. It didn’t. It came out horrible and made the model worse.

Average error rates: GPT4: 22.35% GPT4o mini: 27.26% GPT4o mini fine-tuned: 57.35%

For some context, 22% doesn’t look particularly bad but that’s because it’s averaged out. In practice, some end up looking quite stupid. For example, even in just this small sample, one of the notes was 120 words. It should have outputted 60 words, but instead gave 98, which is pretty close to the original and not a summary at all.

I’m completely lost on where to go from here. This is quite important for my app to work well. The summaries are key for people to quickly remember important information, and without the correct length, many of them end up becoming useless, either too long to be practical (takes too long to read and people get lazy), or they’re so short that you actually can’t remember what the information was in any meaningful detail.

Any insight about this is super appreciated. Thank you!

I think it is a hard challenge, because it is not only about when to stop, but how to start and continue so whole writing style fits the final length, and it does not come a sudden stop. If it is an important challenge, I’d try to finetune a few models for different lengths. Then, when you get the original text, select the correct summarization finetune.

For example: finetune for 200 words finetune for 400 words finetune for 800 words finetune for 1600 words

The question to think about is if these finetunes should have varying lengths of inputs, or if you are sure you will always use each model with a specific length of input.

Remember to keep the dataset you used to finetune. You may need to finetune a newer model soon. At least after gpt-4o-mini reaches end of life. It may come quicker in LLM space than we expect, it has previously.

As a bonus I think GPT-4o-mini finetuning might still be free for a few days, not sure.

A couple of thoughts on this as one of my solutions involves creating automated summaries from a huge variety of sources with OpenAI models.

The models are not good at or capable of counting individual words - so no matter what you try in your prompt this won’t get you far. That said, what tends to work a lot better is to tell the model how many sentences or how many paragraphs to return. With that in mind, you could set up a dynamic logic that involves counting the number of sentence in your original text and then based on that dynamically specifying in your prompt the desired number of sentences for your summary. I have not tested it like this but it could be worth a try.

I don’t know what type of content you summarize but I would be cautious about being overly fixated on the length of the summary and instead focus on the type of content that should be included in your summary. You can have a long input text but in some cases this text may include duplicative information for some reason (e.g. I deal with news that often include quotes from various individuals - often the content of those quotes overlaps with the core information). In those case, you would expect a summary that is focused just on the core information to be much shorter. Hence, instead of defining the target length, you can define the nature of the information that should be covered in your summary.

My own solution involves multiple steps. Among other things, it relies on dynamic, one-shot prompting whereby the instructions for summarization are dynamically tailored based on the topic category the news falls under and an example summary for a similar news is provided in the prompt for reference. Over time I have found that this has helped to keep the length in check.

I thought about this. Maybe worth a try, but this result with fine-tuning was so disappointing that it’s hard to get the motivation to do all the work again and even more ft-models. How many examples do you think I’d need for each?

• I’ve tried this, it also didn’t work well unfortunately.
• I’m pretty happy with the summaries in terms of context honestly, it’s just the length itself that is causing issues.

I have not tried with gpt-4o-mini yet, but I think some docs say about 200, after tahat meaningful improvement with every 2x.

Just a random idea came to my mind. How about you ask it to add [1] after every sentence? It would act as a note for the model itself. Then tell it to stop after X sentences. Before showing to user use regex [[0-9]] or other code to remove all count notes.

What is it that contributes to the length of the summary? For example, when the summary is too long, is it because there is an excessive use of filler words or certain type of unnecessary details included? Likewise, what’s missing when it is too short?

I would try to identify the common denominator across the summaries you are unhappy with and then try to play around with qualitative instructions to address these issues.

I think that sounds like a great idea. Giving more details of what a “summary” means in each case could improve it. Maybe other ways to ask like synopsis or TL;DR; , key points could also help.

I don’t generally limit my posts by number of words, if anything I need my posts much longer. I tried an experiment that might help, but requires you doing extra work.

So I prompted:

I want you to summarize the Gettysburg address into 3 medium paragraphs.

It gave me 3 paragraphs, 263 words. I then prompted:

Analyze that content and use “‡” at the end of the sentence to indicate any sentence I could remove without affecting the overall quality. Don’t remove the sentence, just add the indictor only.

I call this “Indicator Prompting”. Useful in many other ways. In this experiment, it identified four sentences I could remove. I look at it more as 4 sentences to remove or edit. I managed to get the summary down to 206 words.

Using “‡” an an indicator at the end of words in the write up below, I want you to identify 10 words I can remove safety without reducing the quality of this summary. Don’t remove the words, just indicate which which words within the paragraphs could be removed.

Even though I only needed 6 removed, I wanted some additional options. However, with this last one, I find that in order to remove those words, you have to remove some additional words with it for the sentence to make sense, but with my goal of being 200 words, identifying key areas in which to remove helps me get it that way. Again, this required 3 prompts and editing done in Word.

In the past, I have achieved exact word counts for GPT-generated texts by breaking the task into smaller steps. The first step was to generate the text, the second was to check the word count, and the third was to instruct the model to either continue, stop, or conclude. This was all done within a single prompt, aiming to generate exactly 125 words, for example. However, you can also split this process into multiple model calls, using a script to count the words instead of relying on the LLM.

I believe the concept is clear, and if this feature provides significant value, you’ll find that using multiple steps to write the final summary will help you achieve the desired result with ease.

Interesting approach, but several prompts doesn’t quite work for my use-case, it needs to be done at scale.

That would make it stop at a somewhat arbitrary point. It would destroy the quality of the summary.

The summaries are quite good, it’s just a length issue. There is no particular aspect that it consistently gets wrong, it’s just that the output length is inconsistent despite high quality.

You ever figure out, please post your results. But given the nature of the LLM like ChatGPT, it thinks on a word by word basis so stopping at a specific point is like asking it to stop in the middle of a sentence. Maybe there is a way to do it. I wish you the best of luck. I know many others are also hoping for the same solution.

Exactly that wouldn’t work at all. The goal is not to cut it, but rather to generate a smaller piece of content.

Yeah, you’re missing my point entirely.

ChatGPT generates content on a word-by-word basis. You can of course get it to be smaller, but not to a specific word amount, because it doesn’t know what it will precisely say until says it. It has a general idea what it will say, but it won’t know which words it will use until it has finished generating a word. So, your goal to generate a smaller piece of content to a specific word count is for right now impossible.

I used the example of stopping in the middle of a sentence because that’s the closest it could get to a specific word count. However, it’s a nonsensical example because it wouldn’t be able to stop at the 200th word because it doesn’t count words as it generates them. It was meant as a silly example, not to be taken as a serious suggestion.

It’s a token by token basis (parts of words), which is part of the problem with counting. But yeah, not being able to “count” as it’s generating also makes it difficult.

There’s a new long-output model coming out, I believe, so OpenAI is aware of the limitations and working on them.

I know it’s token-by-token, which can be whole words or parts of words known as subwords, depending on how well trained ChatGPT is on a particular word. I’ve tested that in Python. I find it so fascinating that Byte Pair encoding, which is what ChatGPT uses, was actually developed in 1994.

Given he was wanting a specific word count and not specific token count, I was trying to keep at his level of engagement.

There are actually long-output LLM models out there. I actually have prompts that can generate long content ChatGPT, but it does still take several prompts, but the results is a continued discussion without hallucinations.

Most f the commercial note taking apps use multiple prompts that get appended together, so one will check for who was present, one will look for key points, one for follow-ups needed, one for blah blah, you get the idea.

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Trump keeps losing his train of thought. Cognitive experts have theories about why

By Olivia Goldhill Aug. 7, 2024

I n a speech earlier this year, former President Trump was mocking President Biden’s ability to walk through sand when he suddenly switched to talking about the old Hollywood icon Cary Grant.

“Somebody said he [Biden] looks great in a bathing suit, right? When he was in the sand and he was having a hard time lifting his feet through the sand, because you know, sand is heavy. They figure three solid ounces per foot. But sand is a little heavy. And he’s sitting in a bathing suit. Look, at 81, do you remember Cary Grant? How good was Cary Grant, right? I don’t think Cary Grant — he was good. I don’t know what happened to movie stars today,” he said at a March rally in Georgia. Trump went on to talk about contemporary actors, Michael Jackson, and border policies before returning to the theme of how Biden looks on the beach.

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This shifting from topic to topic, with few connections — a pattern of speech called tangentiality — is one of several disjointed and occasionally incoherent verbal habits that seem to have increased in Trump’s speech in recent years, according to interviews with experts in memory, psychology, and linguistics.

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What’s Rattling Trump: The Size of Harris’s Crowds

The numbers game is everything to Donald J. Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris’s first big rally appears to have gotten under his skin.

• Share full article

By Shawn McCreesh

Reporting from Atlanta

When former President Donald J. Trump walked onto the stage at his rally in Atlanta on Saturday, fog machines shot white plumes of smoke into the air, heralding his arrival.

If you looked closely, you could almost imagine steam pouring out of his ears, too. All week long, something had been giving him the vapors.

“Crazy Kamala,” he fumed a minute into his speech. “She was here a week ago — lots of empty seats — but the crowd she got was because she had entertainers.”

Four days earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris had packed about the same number of people (10,000) into the arena, the Georgia State University Convocation Center. It was the first major rally of her newborn campaign, and she had two rappers (Quavo and Megan Thee Stallion) on hand to hype up her crowd.

Mr. Trump, who has been shunned by much of the entertainment industry, spun this as somehow cheating in the all-important competition over crowd size.

“I don't need entertainers,” he said on Saturday. “I fill the stadium because I’m making America great again.”

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