**Scanning** and **skimming** are two distinct reading techniques that help readers extract information quickly, but they serve different purposes

 **Scanning**:

 **Definition**: Scanning is when you look for specific information or keywords in a text without reading every word. The aim is to find a particular detail or answer to a question.

 **When to Use**: When you have a focused search, like looking for a date, name, or specific fact in a document.

**Example**:

- A student is scanning a history book to find the date when World War II ended. They skip through paragraphs and quickly look for numbers or key phrases like "surrender" or "1945."

- A tourist might scan through a restaurant menu just to find the vegetarian options, ignoring the rest of the items.

 2. **Skimming**:

- **Definition**: Skimming is when you read a text quickly to get the general idea or the main points, rather than focusing on details.

- **When to Use**: When you want an overview of the content or to understand the main arguments of an article, book, or report.

**Example**:

- A businessperson might skim through an email to understand the gist of a project update, quickly noting the major points but not focusing on specific figures or details.

- A reader might skim through the first chapter of a novel to get a sense of the story and characters before deciding whether to continue reading.

Both techniques save time and are useful for different purposes, whether you need to locate specific details or grasp a broader understanding of a text.