Scanning

Scanning involves looking through a text to find specific information or details without reading every word. It's useful for locating particular facts, dates, names, or keywords.

Example 1: If you’re searching for a specific statistic in a report, you might scan through the headings, bullet points, or key sections to find the relevant number without reading the entire document.

Example 2: When checking an index in a book to find where a topic is discussed, you would scan the alphabetical list rather than reading each entry in full.

Skimming

Skimming is the process of reading quickly to get the general idea or overview of a text. It involves focusing on headings, subheadings, and the first and last sentences of paragraphs.

Example 1: When you read the abstract of a research paper, you’re skimming to understand the main findings and significance without delving into the details.

Example 2: Looking through a newspaper, you might skim the headlines and subheadings to decide which articles interest you before deciding to read them in detail.