Scanning and skimming are two effective reading techniques used to quickly gather information from texts.

Scanning

Scanning involves looking for specific information without reading everything. It’s useful when you need to find particular details.

Example 1: If you’re looking for a phone number in a contact list, you would scan down the page, focusing on names or numbers rather than reading each entry.

Example 2: When searching for a specific date in a newspaper article, you would quickly move your eyes over the text, looking for numerical patterns rather than engaging with the entire article.

Skimming

Skimming is the process of reading through a text quickly to get the general idea or main points. It’s helpful for understanding the overall content without going into detail.

Example 1: If you’re reading a book’s introduction and conclusion to gauge its themes, you might skim through the paragraphs, focusing on headings, subheadings, and any bolded or italicized text.

Example 2: When reviewing an article for research, you might skim the abstract, headings, and conclusion to determine if it’s relevant to your topic, rather than reading every section closely.