Skimming is a speed reading technique in which a person looks for key words about what an article might be about. In skimming, a reader familiarizes herself with the reading material but does not fully comprehend it. Usually skimming is done by reading the first, middle and last sentence of a paragraph, searching for diagrams or key words in paragraphs that contain meaning. Skimming can cause a person to miss certain points, issues or symbolism while reading, according to E-Positive Solutions.
Meta guiding is the use of a finger or pen to help your eyes follow the text. Meta guiding is thought to speed up eye coordination through the use of an object, which helps you recognize words more quickly, according to Federal Student Loans Today. However, due to the speed at which meta guiding is done, the overall meaning of the text is sometimes lost because the person is focused on the words instead of taking in the meaning of them.
Reading too fast using skimming or meta guiding may actually take a person longer to read because he is not comprehending the material, according to Speed Reading and Comprehension Information. Regression is often associated with speed reading. Regression is having to go back a second time to read information to understand the intent of a paragraph. Unfortunately, it often takes the reader two to three times as long to understand the material because he will try to skim or meta guide a paragraph a second time and then have to read it in full if he still does not comprehend.
Speed reading can lead to poor vocabulary and bad reading habits, including reading with distraction and in an environment where a person cannot focus. Speed reading also generates a certain underlying amount of ignorance concerning how well a person understands a subject. While speed reading the reader often makes assumptions or leaps to her own conclusions instead of understanding the author's conclusion, leading to misunderstandings.