How to Make Your Content More Skimmable for the Modern Reader
Skipping and skimming is the new norm of the internet reading experience
In today’s fast-paced world, everyone has something to say on blogging and social media platforms. As a writer, you must grab the attention of readers who have the freedom to choose whether they want to read your article or not. To catch their eye, your content must be skimmable. Modern readers often skim and scan an article before deciding to read it. Here’s how you can make your content more skimmable and engaging for today’s audience.
Understanding Why Readers Skim
Readers often skim because they have a lot of options and limited time. They want a quick overview to decide if your content is worth their time. This phenomenon is what Professor Maryanne Wolf, Director of the Center for Dyslexia at UCLA, calls “the new normal.” In an article for The Guardian, she explains that when we skim, we miss out on deeper understanding and empathy. This skimming behavior is a response to the sheer volume of information available online.
Mark Edmundson, an English literature scholar, describes this as “cognitive impatience.” Many people, especially college students, avoid reading lengthy and complex texts because they lack the patience…
