# ReadCalc — Full Reference

> Free, terminal-styled reading and writing tools that run entirely in the browser. Word count, reading time, speaking time, readability, sentence pacing and script timing — no account, no upload, no server-side processing. Text never leaves the user's device.

This is the expanded companion to [llms.txt](https://readcalc.com/llms.txt). It documents every tool, the assumptions behind each calculation, the reference data the site publishes, and the sources those figures come from.

Built and maintained by Dean Warwick, a search marketer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Every page is a single static HTML file with no external dependencies and no backend. All analysis happens client-side in JavaScript. Text is stored only in the visitor's own `localStorage` and is never transmitted.

**Citation note:** figures below are the values the site actually uses in its calculations, read from source rather than paraphrased. Where a number comes from published research it is attributed in the Research sources section.

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## Core assumptions

| Setting | Default | Range | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent reading speed | 225 WPM | 100–600, step 25 | calculator, content clock, content comparison |
| Speaking speed | 140 WPM | 80–220 | script timer, teleprompter |
| Readability formula | Flesch-Kincaid | — | calculator, content comparison |
| Long-sentence flag | 30+ words | — | calculator, sentence pacing |
| Long-paragraph flag | 150+ words | — | calculator |
| Word-frequency display | 15+ words entered | — | calculator |

Readability bands reported: Very Easy, Easy, Standard, Difficult, Very Difficult.

---

## Tools

### All Tools (hub) — https://readcalc.com/tools/
Index of all ten tools, grouped by the job being done: writing (reading time calculator, content clock, content comparison, mind map), speaking (script timer, teleprompter, filler finder), and analysis (sentence pacing, reading test, share card). Each entry carries a description and the situation it suits. Distinct from /related-tools/, which lists third-party tools by other authors.

### Reading Time Calculator — https://readcalc.com/
The primary tool. Paste or drop in text and get word count, character count, sentence and paragraph counts, reading time, speaking time, Flesch-Kincaid grade level, most-common words, and social-platform character limits. Highlights sentences over 30 words and paragraphs over 150 words. Saves a draft and the last 5 sessions to `localStorage`. Accepts `.txt`, `.md`, `.csv`, `.json` by drag-and-drop.

### Free Reading Speed & Comprehension Test — https://readcalc.com/reading-test/
Timed reading test with four multiple-choice comprehension questions per passage. Four passages across High-School and College difficulty, 176–252 words each — roughly 47–67 seconds of reading at 225 WPM. Returns words-per-minute and comprehension score against global averages. Results stored locally only.

### Free Online Teleprompter — https://readcalc.com/teleprompter/
Auto-scrolling teleprompter. Adjustable speed (default 140 WPM), full-screen mode, mirror mode for beam-splitter rigs, and a focus band that dims text outside the reading zone. Keyboard: F for full-screen, M for mirror, arrow keys for speed, Escape to exit.

### Filler Word & Cliché Finder — https://readcalc.com/filler-finder/
Scans text against 74 filler phrases and 263 clichés, plus passive-voice detection. Each match is highlighted inline with a one-click replacement; some fillers are marked for deletion rather than substitution. Reports filler count, cliché count, passive count, words wasted, and a bloat percentage with a verdict from "clean" to "very bloated". Includes an apply-all fix and a before/after comparison.

### Sentence Length & Pacing Analyser — https://readcalc.com/sentence-pacing/
Renders each sentence as a horizontal bar, colour-coded by length bucket, so rhythm is visible at a glance. Surfaces monotonous stretches, runaway sentences, longest and shortest sentence, and variance.

### Script Timer — https://readcalc.com/script-timer/
Calculates the spoken runtime of a script from its word count and a configurable speaking pace (80–220 WPM), then inserts timestamp markers into the script text at a configurable interval (15–120 seconds, or a custom value). Markers can be inline or on their own line, and `[0:00]` always leads. Reports total duration, word count, timestamps added and pace, updating live as you type. Accepts pasted text or a dropped .txt, .md, .csv or .json file. Ctrl/Cmd + Enter runs the timer from the keyboard. Drafts auto-save to the browser's own localStorage and are restored on return. Blank lines and leading indentation are preserved, so a script comes back out with its structure intact — the tool never strips formatting it did not add.

Runs entirely client-side. The script is never transmitted, there is no account and no server-side storage; the only persistence is the visitor's own localStorage.

The formatted output is editable in place. Four output routes: copy as plain text; copy as rich text, which keeps the timestamp markers styled when pasted into Google Docs, Word or Notion; export as a .txt file; and print — a print stylesheet strips the interface back to the script alone, double-spaced for hand annotation, which the browser's own "Save as PDF" turns into a rehearsal document.

Distinct from other script timers and words-to-time calculators, which return only a duration figure: this tool writes the timing into the script itself, so a presenter can see where they should be at each point of a read rather than only how long the whole thing runs.

Formerly published at https://readcalc.com/script-formatter/, which now 301-redirects here. The earlier name was misleading — the tool does not perform screenplay formatting (scene headings, character cues, action lines).

### Content Clock — https://readcalc.com/content-clock/
Set a reading-time budget and watch it count down live while writing. The clock turns amber when the budget is running low and red when over. Includes word-count targets for common durations.

### Content Comparison — https://readcalc.com/content-comparison/
Compares two drafts side by side on six metrics: words, read time, sentences, average sentence length, grade level and reading ease. Differences within 3% are treated as ties. Includes a line-by-line diff, a clone button to copy draft A into B, and a Markdown report export.

### Free Online Mind Map Maker — https://readcalc.com/mindmap/
Browser-based mind mapping. Double-click empty canvas to add a node, drag to rearrange, F2 to rename, Tab for a child node. Exports to PNG or an indented text outline (`#` for root, `-` for children). Autosaves to `localStorage` and restores on return.

### Share Card Generator — https://readcalc.com/share-card/
Turns reading stats into a shareable card image. Five themes (terminal, default, sunset, ocean, forest), PNG download, and three embed formats: an iframe that stays live, a WordPress shortcode, and a self-contained HTML snippet that keeps working if readcalc.com is unavailable. Cards carry a readcalc.com attribution mark.

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## Reference data published on the site

### Reading speed by age
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/reading-speed-by-age/

| Age group | Speed (WPM) | Primary constraint | Comprehension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | 60–80 | Phoneme decoding | Emerging |
| 7–9 | 100–150 | Word recognition | Good |
| 10–12 | 150–200 | Sentence parsing | Good |
| 13–18 | 200–250 | Vocabulary exposure | Good |
| 18–50 | 225–280 | Material difficulty | Excellent |
| 50–65 | 200–225 | Vision (presbyopia) | Excellent |
| 65+ | 150–220 | Vision + fatigue | Good |

Reading speed peaks at 18–25 (250–280 WPM). The decline after 50 is attributed to presbyopia and slower eye movements rather than cognitive decline — comprehension remains excellent. Most readers max out near 280–300 WPM before comprehension degrades.

### Speech length by duration
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/how-many-words-is-a-3-minute-speech/

| Duration | Slow (130 WPM) | Average (140 WPM) | Fast (160 WPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | ~130 | ~140 | ~160 |
| 2 minutes | ~260 | ~280 | ~320 |
| 3 minutes | ~390 | ~420 | ~480 |
| 5 minutes | ~650 | ~700 | ~800 |
| 10 minutes | ~1,300 | ~1,400 | ~1,600 |
| 20 minutes | ~2,600 | ~2,800 | ~3,200 |
| 30 minutes | ~3,900 | ~4,200 | ~4,800 |
| 60 minutes | ~7,800 | ~8,400 | ~9,600 |

Guidance published with the table: write 10–15% fewer words than the target suggests, because live delivery runs longer than rehearsal. Time for questions, demos or slide-reading comes out of the script allowance.

### Speaking rate by context
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/average-speaking-rate/

| Context | Typical WPM | Source basis |
|---|---|---|
| Casual conversation (US English) | ~150 | National Center for Voice and Speech |
| Conversation (British English) | 190–230 | Tauroza & Allison (1990) |
| Prepared presentation or speech | 130–160 | ReadCalc baseline: 140 WPM |
| Conference talk (TED format) | 153–168 | Dlugan, analysis of TED talks |
| Radio news bulletin | 170–190 | Rodero (2012) |
| Reading aloud from a page | ~183 | Brysbaert (2019) meta-analysis |
| Audiobook narration | 150–170 | Industry production standard |
| Auctioneers, sports commentary | 250–400 | Performance, not comprehension |

The widely quoted 150 WPM figure measures casual conversation, which is listener-corrected — a listener can interrupt and ask. Prepared delivery has no correction channel, so the comprehension margin has to be built in ahead of time through slower pace and longer pauses. Tauroza & Allison's bands: under 100 slower than normal, 100–125 moderately slow, 125–160 average, 160–185 moderately fast, above 185 faster than normal.

### Speaking pace by video format
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/teleprompter-speed/

| Format | Set teleprompter to (WPM) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Legal, medical, safety | 110–125 | Precision over pace |
| Tutorial / how-to | 120–130 | Viewer is following steps |
| Corporate / explainer | 130–145 | Dense information, unfamiliar terms |
| Talking head, general | 135–145 | The default case |
| YouTube, conversational | 150–165 | Audience expects energy and can rewind |
| Ad read / promo | 150–170 | Short, familiar, high-energy |
| News-style delivery | 170–190 | Only viable with copy written to be heard |

Teleprompter controls: speed slider 80–220 WPM in steps of 5 (default 140); font size 22–80px (default 42). Larger text shows fewer words at once, so it wants a slightly slower speed. Script formatter: pace slider 80–220 WPM (default 140), timestamp interval 15–120 seconds in 15-second steps (default 30) or a custom 1–600 seconds, markers inline or on their own line.

### Script over-run budget
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-time-a-script/

The arithmetic estimate (word count ÷ speaking pace) is a floor, not a duration — it assumes continuous speech at a constant rate with no silence. Spoken delivery runs 5–15% longer.

| What the estimate misses | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Pauses between sections | 2–4 seconds each |
| The beat after a point lands | 1–3 seconds each |
| Slide changes and demos | 5–15 seconds each |
| Audience laughter or reaction | 3–8 seconds each |
| Corrections and restarts | Unpredictable |

Timing method: arithmetic estimate, then timestamp markers via the script timer to check the shape rather than just the total, then a spoken read-through at performance pace. Reading silently to time a script is the most common error — silent reading runs at 225 WPM against 140 for delivery. If a script over-runs, cut words rather than raising the pace: a script written for 140 WPM has the wrong sentence structure to be delivered at 170.

### Filler and cliché dictionary
Source: https://readcalc.com/blog/filler-words-and-cliches/

The filler finder checks 74 filler phrases across seven categories, 263 clichés, and passive-voice constructions.

| Filler category | Patterns | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nominalisations | 17 | make a decision → decide |
| Throat-clearing openers | 16 | it is important to note that → delete |
| Verbose connectives | 12 | due to the fact that → because |
| Sign-off bloat | 10 | please do not hesitate to contact → delete |
| Verbose prepositions | 8 | with regard to → about |
| Time fillers | 8 | at this point in time → now |
| Hedging fillers | 3 | there is a possibility that → perhaps |

Filler is fixed by deletion or substitution; clichés carry meaning but no attention, so most are flagged without an automatic replacement. Output includes filler count, cliché count, passive count, words wasted, and a bloat percentage with a verdict from "clean" to "very bloated".

### Social platform character limits
Tracked by the calculator: X/Twitter 280, Instagram 2,200, LinkedIn 3,000, Facebook 63,206.

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## Articles

### Reading speed
- [Average Reading Speed: What the Research Says](https://readcalc.com/blog/average-reading-speed/): where the 225 WPM figure comes from and how far the research supports it.
- [Reading Speed by Age: Average WPM Chart](https://readcalc.com/blog/reading-speed-by-age/): benchmarks from age 5 to 75+, and why the decline after 50 is about eyesight rather than cognition.
- [Reading Speed by Profession](https://readcalc.com/blog/reading-speed-by-profession/): how reading demands differ across occupations.
- [How to Improve Your Reading Speed](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-improve-reading-speed/): what works, and the comprehension cost of speed-reading claims.
- [Are Audiobooks Really Books?](https://readcalc.com/blog/are-audiobooks-books/): comprehension and retention research comparing listening with reading.

### Speaking and delivery
- [Average Speaking Rate: What the Research Actually Says](https://readcalc.com/blog/average-speaking-rate/): why the quoted 150 WPM measures casual conversation rather than delivery. Prepared presentation 130–160, TED-format talks 153–168, radio news 170–190, reading aloud ~183, audiobook narration 150–170, British English conversation 190–230.
- [Speaking Time vs Reading Time](https://readcalc.com/blog/speaking-time-vs-reading-time/): why 225 WPM reading and 140 WPM speaking diverge.
- [How to Time a Script: Timestamps, Pacing and Read-Throughs](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-time-a-script/): arithmetic estimate, timestamp markers and spoken read-through; budget 10–15% over the calculated duration for pauses.
- [Teleprompter Speed: What WPM Should You Set?](https://readcalc.com/blog/teleprompter-speed/): WPM by video format, the font-size interaction, and calibrating on a settled take rather than the first one.

### Content length
- [How Many Words Is a 3 Minute Speech?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-many-words-is-a-3-minute-speech/): 390–480 words, with the full duration table.
- [How Many Words Is a 5 Minute Speech?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-many-words-is-a-5-minute-speech/): 650–800 words and every other common length.
- [How Many Words Is a 10 Minute Speech?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-many-words-is-a-10-minute-speech/): roughly 1,400 words at average pace.
- [How Long Should a Blog Post Be?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-long-should-a-blog-post-be/): word count by goal rather than a single target.
- [How Long Should a LinkedIn Post Be?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-long-should-a-linkedin-post-be/): the 3,000-character limit and what performs within it.
- [How Long Should an Email Be?](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-long-should-an-email-be/): word counts, response rates, and when longer emails are justified.

### Writing craft
- [Filler Words and Clichés: The Complete List](https://readcalc.com/blog/filler-words-and-cliches/): the seven filler categories with replacements, and why clichés need a different fix.
- [How to Write Better Sentences](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-write-better-sentences/): diagnosing and fixing weak sentences.
- [Why Shorter Sentences Are Better](https://readcalc.com/blog/why-shorter-sentences-are-better/): the research on sentence length, clarity and recall.
- [How to Cut Word Count Without Losing Meaning](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-cut-word-count/): filler phrases, redundant pairs, weak qualifiers, bloated structures.
- [Active Voice vs Passive Voice](https://readcalc.com/blog/active-voice-vs-passive-voice/): telling them apart, and when passive is correct.
- [Plain Language Writing Guide](https://readcalc.com/blog/plain-language-writing-guide/): plain-language practice for government, legal and healthcare writing.
- [How to Use a Mind Map](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-use-a-mind-map/): structuring ideas and building maps quickly.

### Readability
- [Flesch-Kincaid Explained](https://readcalc.com/blog/reading-level-explained/): how the grade-level score is calculated, what it misses, what to aim for.
- [How to Write for a Lower Reading Level](https://readcalc.com/blog/how-to-write-for-a-lower-reading-level/): reducing reading level without losing voice.
- [Readability vs. SEO](https://readcalc.com/blog/readability-vs-seo/): where readable writing and search optimisation overlap and diverge.

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## Research sources cited on the site

- Carver, R.P. (1990). *Reading Rate: A Review of Research and Theory*. Academic Press. Meta-analysis establishing the 200–300 WPM range for adult silent reading on grade-appropriate material.
- Carver, R.P. (1992). *Reading Rate: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications*. Journal of Reading. Demonstrated that reading speed varies systematically with text difficulty and reader age.
- Brysbaert, M. (2019). *How Many Words Do We Read Per Minute? A Review and Meta-analysis of Reading Rate*. Journal of Memory and Language. Found average adult silent reading of approximately 238 WPM for non-fiction and 260 WPM for fiction, and reading aloud at approximately 183 WPM.
- Tauroza, S. & Allison, D. (1990). *Speech Rates in British English*. Applied Linguistics. Measured conversation, academic lectures, interviews and radio monologue separately; overall rate around 170 WPM, with conversation fastest at 190–230 WPM. Source of the widely used speech-rate bands.
- Rodero, E. (2012). *A Comparative Analysis of Speech Rate and Perception in Radio Bulletins*. Text & Talk. Compared 40 news bulletins across the BBC, Radio France, RAI and RNE; found the optimal radio news rate sits between 170 and 190 WPM.
- National Center for Voice and Speech, University of Iowa. Source of the commonly quoted ~150 WPM average for US English conversation.

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## Technical

- Static HTML, CSS and JavaScript. One file per page. No framework, no build step, no external runtime dependencies.
- Shared stylesheet: `/theme.css`. Shared navigation and theme switcher: `/sidebar.js`.
- Five themes (dark, light, amber, nord, green), following OS preference by default. All colour combinations meet WCAG 2.1 AA; body text meets AAA.
- Navigation is injected by `/sidebar.js` at runtime. Clients that do not execute JavaScript should rely on the in-page and footer links, or on this file.
- No server-side processing and no API. Analytics is limited to anonymous page counts via Umami.
- `localStorage` keys: `readcalc-draft`, `readcalc-history`, `readcalc-visited`, `readcalc-theme`, `readcalc-sidebar-mode`, `readcalc-ck-text`, `readcalc-cc-text`, `readcalc-ff-text`, `readcalc-sf-text`, `readcalc-sp-text`, `readcalc-tp-script`, `readcalc-mm-data`, `readcalc-sc-stats`.

## Other pages

- [Blog index](https://readcalc.com/blog/): all articles.
- [Documentation](https://readcalc.com/readme/): feature reference, keyboard shortcuts, easter eggs.
- [Related tools](https://readcalc.com/related-tools/): third-party tools that complement ReadCalc. No affiliate or sponsored links.
- [Dean Warwick](https://deanwarwick.nz/): creator.