Newsreaders read the news at a rate of around 2.5 words per second. So around 150 words per minute.

This is a good speed for others to be able to understand what they say, take it all in and maybe reflect on it too.

If you speed up, to say 3 words per second, it sounds rushed and stressful to listen to. It is harder to take on board and means that people will be less inclined to listen. If you slow it down to 2 words per second, it sounds boring and people doze off.

So you need to come in somewhere in the middle to be comfortable to listen to.

I once shadowed a journalist/newsreader at Central TV- Bob Warman - and he told me all about this. Intrigued, I trained myself to speak at this speed. These days I can tell easily who is going faster and who isn't.

Others may not know about this, however, and so will speak at their speed - and that will either be faster or slower than 2.5 wps.

When I teach presenting skills, I generally slow people down a bit. They don't realise how their nerves are leading them to speed up and sound breathless.

Air (not water) is lubrication for your vocal chords, so if you have a dry voice, it means you are not breathing enough. Avoid hot water at all costs. This much from an opera singer.

Bob taught me to put slashes in the text every two or three words, to ensure I read with pauses and breathed. I still do this and have passed this on to many. It really helps you to relax as you go.

Dynamite.