Did you know that poor grammar within the body of text could slow down your reading? Speed-readers use comprehension strategies, visual aids, and practice to learn how to speed read, yet the readers move to define and clarify what they intend to learn from the information. Overall grammar is syntax, or sentence structures, which follow language rules. The problem is most people are unaware that the rules of language are, left to find true validity. That is, each has their own rules to adhere to while writing information. Complex writers write under different rules that those writing similar text. Thus, language rules then is a verbal communication, which forms words, speech, talk, and all while speaking in tongues, idioms, dialect, and so forth. Misunderstanding of dialect is one of the major problems our English teachers experience while teaching grammar. Now we can move to consider how improper grammar can slow reading.

Practice:
When a child is, abused, he may act out rebelliously; the child may withdraw, while depression forces him to act out restlessly.

Children abused will often act out of rebellion, restlessness, and will withdraw because they suffering depression.

Which one of the sentences do you think is correct? Which sentence provides a better understanding?

Abused children tend to act out rebelliously. Children abused will often experience lingering symptoms of restlessness, isolation, and often feel depressed.

Now, the third sentence may confuse you, but the fact is there are many ways you can state this information. The truth however, is the first sentence is correctly stated.

We can break down the sentence to see how it fits proper sentence structure under the rule of language.

Notice:
Children abused verses a child abused:

If you start a sentence with children abused you are generalizing, which puts questions in the mind and will slow reading. You may think of children you know who were, abused and find that not every child acts in such way. This is politically incorrect information.

The sentence: When a child is abused, he “may” act out…” clarifies that not all children act out rebelliously when abused. We see that the child may withdraw and act out restlessly from symptoms of depression, yet we see that (generalization) removes the doubt, since not all abused children behave in such way. Some abused children regress, while other children abused my fight to defend their humanity.

Notice the third sentence using the term “tend.” This could work, since some children are included to act out restlessly, rebelliously, and may withdraw. Yet, the third sentence generalizes (all children), which is political incorrect.

Now, if you restate the sentence using the language rule, you would had (generalized), which politically makes the statement fall under doubt.

For instance:
On the north highway, two cars collide. The first driver turns his head to look at the woman walking by, and when he peered over the stern-wheel again, he spotted the oncoming car. The second driver panicked when he spotted the man in the first car ignoring the highway.

Sentence to Clarify:
Two drivers are, held responsible for an accident on the north highway.

Sentence:
Due to one man, an accident on the north highway occurred since he was not looking at the road.

Which sentence do you think is factual?

The fact is both drivers neglected their responsibility to take control of their situation. Thus, both technically are responsible for the accident, while the man looking off the road bears the most blame.

Do you see how grammar can toss you to the curve while speed-reading? IF not, try reading this sentence.

Sentence:
The possible findings through assessment lead them to believe that aging, obesity, injury, and congenital abnormalities cause the disease to occur.

Comprehension test:
Lead who to believe?
What disease and who is the finder?

Now, if you were in medicine you may have a fighting chance to interpret the sentence, since you may know that the author is talking about osteoarthritis. Yet, even if you were in medicine, the sentence means nothing. As you can see, grammar, including punctuations, spelling, generalizing, meaningless sentences, and the like can slow your reading.