Using a combination of letter-detection and proofreading techniques, subjects searching for target letters in printed text made more errors on correctly spelled words than misspelled words. This word inferiority effect contrasts with the superior perception of letters in words over nonwords commonly found in tachistoscopic studies. (Author/CM)

A visual mask was moved across text in synchrony with readers' eye movements. The size was varied so that either information in foveal or parafoveal vision was masked. Most visual information necessary for reading can be acquired during the first 50 msec that information is available during an eye fixation. (Author/RD)