A regression is when your eyes skip backward to re-read a word or phrase. Some regressions are deliberate (you genuinely missed something), but most are unconscious and unnecessary — and they can waste up to a third of your reading time.
To reduce regressions:
- Use a pacer (finger or an app guide) to keep your eyes moving forward.
- Trust your comprehension — you usually understood more than you think.
- Practise guided tools like Hopscotch in Acceleread that keep forward momentum.
