In this busy world, who has time to read anything? Well, we do, because we’re proofreaders. But not everyone has the time or patience to read everything in detail. And that means it helps if you know how to write for skim readers. Top tips include:
These tips can be especially useful for blog posts, sales copy, and in any document where you need to communicate a few key points as efficiently as possible. For more information on writing for skim readers, have a skim of our full guide below.
If someone is in a hurry, they want to know that reading something will be worthwhile. Thus, when writing for skim readers, you need to get to the point.
The most important factor here is the first paragraph. Here, you need to set out exactly what you’re writing about and what someone will gain from reading.
At the top of this post, for example, we set out why writing for skim readers is important, then introduce a list of the tips we discuss in what follows. This immediately lets the reader know whether the post is relevant to them. Without knowing this, they might stop reading after the first paragraph.
You can apply the same logic throughout your writing by starting each section with a clear topic sentence, which will set up the reader for what follows.
Breaking your writing up into distinct sections with clear headings will help readers to find the information they need. Key tips for ensuring a clear structure include:
For longer documents, you might even want to include a table of contents.
Big blocks of text can be intimidating and hard to read. As such, you may want to break up longer passages to add more white space, which will improve readability.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
One simple way to do this is to use shorter paragraphs. Around two to five lines is usually fine. Even single-sentence paragraphs are fine.
For longer passages, look for ways to break the text down into shorter paragraphs, each addressing a sub-topic from the original full paragraph.
Another helpful tip is to use bullet points and numbered lists for important information. These are much easier to skim read than a single block of text, especially if you’re presenting a series of steps in a process. But they can also help make key details stand out from the surrounding text.
Clear, concise writing is crucial for readability. And if you’re writing for skim readers, it becomes even more important. To ensure your writing is easy to read:
Make sure to keep your content focused, too. Every paragraph should add something useful or engaging if you want people to keep reading until the end.
Adding visuals to text can make it easier to skim read and more engaging. Depending on what you are writing about, this might include:
Formatting is a factor here, too. Wherever you plan to use your copy, make sure it will be displayed in a large enough font to make it easy to read.
To ensure that your writing is clear and concise for skim readers, get it proofread by the professionals. You can even get your first 500 words checked for free today.
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...