Scanning and skimming are two reading techniques used to quickly find information without reading the entire text in detail.

Scanning

Definition: Scanning involves looking through a text rapidly to find specific information or keywords.

Examples:

1. Finding a Phone Number: If you receive a long list of contacts in an email and need to find a specific phone number, you would scan the list by quickly glancing over it until you spot the number you're looking for.

2. Searching for a Name in a Directory: If you’re looking for a friend's name in a phone directory, you’d scan down the list, focusing only on the section where their name might appear, rather than reading every entry.

Skimming

Definition: Skimming involves quickly reading through a text to get a general understanding of the content or to identify the main ideas.

Examples:

1. Reading a News Article: When you open a news article, you might skim through the headlines, subheadings, and the first sentence of each paragraph to get the gist of the story without reading every detail.

2. Reviewing a Textbook Chapter: Before diving into a chapter, you might skim the introduction, conclusion, and any headings or bullet points to get an overview of the key concepts and structure of the chapter.

Both techniques are useful for managing large amounts of information efficiently and are often employed depending on the purpose of reading.