Important Differences Between Skimming and Scanning

Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique used to quickly get a general idea or overview of a text. It involves reading the text quickly and selectively, focusing on the main ideas, key words, and phrases, while skipping over the details, examples, and other less important information.

When skimming, the reader may read the first and last paragraphs, headings, subheadings, and bold or italicized words. This helps the reader to quickly understand the purpose and main topic of the text without having to read every word.

Skimming is useful when you have limited time and need to quickly identify whether a text is relevant to your needs. It can also be helpful for reviewing material that you have already read, as a way to refresh your memory and identify the main ideas.

It’s important to note that skimming may not be suitable for all types of texts, such as technical or academic texts that require a more detailed understanding. Skimming should also be used selectively, as important information may be missed if the reader only skims through the text.

Examples of Skimming

Here are some examples of skimming:

• Reading the headlines and first few sentences of news articles in a newspaper to get a general idea of what is happening in the world.
• Quickly scanning a job posting to determine if it meets your qualifications and interests before deciding whether to apply.
• Reading the summary or abstract of an academic paper to determine if it is relevant to your research.
• Glancing at the table of contents and chapter headings of a book to get a general idea of the topics covered.
• Reading product reviews on a shopping website to quickly identify the pros and cons of a product before deciding to purchase it.

Types of Skimming

There are several types of skimming that can be used depending on the purpose and type of material being read. Here are some common types of skimming:

1. Preview skimming: This involves quickly scanning through the entire text to get a general idea of the content, including headings, subheadings, and illustrations.
2. Overview skimming: This involves reading the first and last paragraphs of a section or chapter, as well as the headings and subheadings, to get a general understanding of the main ideas presented.
3. Review skimming: This involves re-reading a text that has been previously read or studied to refresh the memory of the main ideas and key points.
4. Scanning skimming: This involves searching for specific information by scanning the text for keywords, phrases, or numbers that are relevant to the purpose of the reading.
5. Selective skimming: This involves focusing on specific sections of the text that are relevant to the purpose of the reading, such as specific chapters or sections.

Objectives of Skimming

The main objective of skimming is to quickly get a general understanding of the content of a text without reading it in detail. Some common objectives of skimming include:

• To determine whether a text is relevant or useful: Skimming can be used to quickly determine whether a text is relevant or useful to the reader’s needs. By quickly scanning the headings, subheadings, and introduction, the reader can determine if the text is worth reading in full.
• To identify the main ideas: Skimming can be used to quickly identify the main ideas and key points of a text. By focusing on the headings, subheadings, and bold or italicized text, the reader can quickly understand the main concepts and ideas presented.
• To save time: Skimming is a time-saving technique that allows the reader to quickly understand the content of a text without having to read every word.
• To review previously read material: Skimming can be used to quickly review previously read material and refresh the memory of the main ideas and key points.

Functions of Skimming

Skimming has several functions that can be helpful in various situations. Some of the common functions of skimming include:

• Previewing: Skimming can be used to preview a text and get an idea of what it is about. This can be helpful when deciding whether to read a text in detail or not.
• Saving time: Skimming can be used to save time when reading long texts or when there is limited time available for reading. By quickly identifying the main ideas and key points of a text, the reader can get a general understanding of the content without having to read every word.
• Identifying relevant information: Skimming can be used to identify relevant information within a text. By focusing on headings, subheadings, and bold or italicized text, the reader can quickly identify the parts of the text that are most relevant to their needs.
• Reviewing: Skimming can be used to review previously read material and refresh the memory of the main ideas and key points.
• Finding specific information: Skimming can be used to find specific information within a text. By scanning for keywords or phrases that are relevant to the reader’s needs, they can quickly locate the information they are looking for.

Scanning

Scanning is a reading technique used to quickly locate specific information within a text. It involves quickly scanning through the text, looking for keywords, phrases, or other specific information that is relevant to the reader’s needs. Scanning is a useful technique for finding specific information in a short amount of time, and is often used when the reader has a specific question or task to complete.

The process of scanning involves moving the eyes quickly over the text, without reading every word. The reader looks for cues such as headings, subheadings, bold or italicized text, lists, and keywords that are related to the information they are searching for. Once the relevant information is found, the reader can stop scanning and focus on reading that specific section of the text in more detail.

Examples of Scanning

Here are some examples of scanning:

• Finding a phone number in a directory: When looking for a phone number in a directory, you might scan through the pages looking for the name of the person or business you are trying to call.
• Finding a specific word in a text: If you are looking for a specific word or phrase within a long text, you might scan through the text looking for instances of that word or phrase.
• Finding a specific product in a catalog: If you are looking for a specific product in a catalog, you might scan through the pages looking for pictures or descriptions of the product.
• Finding a specific recipe in a cookbook: If you are looking for a specific recipe in a cookbook, you might scan through the pages looking for the name of the recipe or ingredients that are relevant to that recipe.
• Finding a specific topic in an article: If you are looking for information on a specific topic within an article, you might scan through the text looking for headings or keywords that are related to that topic.

Types of Scanning

There are several types of scanning techniques that can be used for different purposes. Here are some common types of scanning:

1. Keyword scanning: This involves scanning a text for specific keywords or phrases that are relevant to the reader’s needs. This type of scanning is useful when the reader is looking for specific information in a document.
2. Vertical scanning: This involves scanning a text from top to bottom, looking for specific information that is organized in a vertical format, such as in a chart or graph.
3. Horizontal scanning: This involves scanning a text from left to right, looking for specific information that is organized in a horizontal format, such as in a table.
4. Review scanning: This involves scanning a previously read text to refresh the memory and reinforce the key points.
5. Preview scanning: This involves scanning a text before reading it in full to get an idea of the main points and structure of the text.
6. Skimming and scanning combination: This involves using both skimming and scanning techniques together to quickly locate specific information in a text while also gaining a general understanding of the content.

Objectives of Scanning

The objectives of scanning include:

• Finding specific information: The primary objective of scanning is to quickly locate specific information within a text. By using scanning techniques, the reader can identify keywords, headings, and other cues that will help them find the information they need.
• Saving time: Scanning is a time-saving technique that allows the reader to quickly locate the information they need without having to read every word of the text.
• Avoiding irrelevant information: Scanning can help the reader avoid reading irrelevant information by quickly identifying the parts of the text that are most relevant to their needs.
• Improving reading speed: Scanning is a skill that can be developed with practice, and it can help improve overall reading speed and efficiency.
• Enhancing comprehension: Scanning can help the reader gain a better understanding of the structure and organization of a text, which can enhance overall comprehension.
• Answering specific questions: Scanning can be used to answer specific questions by quickly locating the information needed to provide an answer.

Important Difference Between Skimming and Scanning

Here are some important features that differentiate skimming from scanning   

Key Difference Between Skimming and Scanning

Here are some key differences between skimming and scanning:

1. Purpose: Skimming is used to get a general idea of the content, while scanning is used to locate specific information quickly.
2. Reading technique: Skimming involves reading selectively to focus on the main points, while scanning involves searching for particular words or phrases.
3. Reading speed: Skimming is fast, but scanning is even faster.
4. Amount of text read: Skimming involves reading only the main points and important details, while scanning involves reading only the text that contains the specific information needed.
5. Use of headings and subheadings: Skimming and scanning both use headings and subheadings to quickly identify the main ideas and locate relevant information.
6. Use of keywords: Both skimming and scanning use keywords to quickly identify important words and concepts or locate specific words or phrases.
7. Use of examples and details: Skimming skips details and examples to focus on the main points, while scanning skips anything that is not relevant to the specific information needed.
8. Use of questions: Scanning often involves using questions to help focus the search for specific information, while skimming does not usually use questions.
9. Purpose of the reading material: Skimming is used for materials that are not intended to be read thoroughly, while scanning is used for materials where specific information needs to be found quickly.

Similarities Between Skimming and Scanning

Here are some similarities between skimming and scanning:

1. Both skimming and scanning are speed-reading techniques used to efficiently process large amounts of text.
2. Both techniques involve reading selectively, rather than reading every word.
3. Both techniques involve using visual cues such as headings, subheadings, bold or italicized text, and keywords to quickly identify important information.
4. Both techniques are useful for locating specific information in a text.
5. Both techniques can save time and effort compared to reading a text in full.
6. Both techniques require a certain level of familiarity with the subject matter in order to effectively identify important information.
7. Both techniques can be used for a variety of reading materials, including books, articles, and reports.

Conclusion Between Skimming and Scanning

In conclusion, both skimming and scanning are reading techniques that can be used to process large amounts of text in a time-efficient manner. Skimming involves quickly reading a text to get a general idea of its content, while scanning involves searching a text for specific information. Both techniques rely on visual cues such as headings, subheadings, and keywords to quickly identify important information. However, skimming focuses more on the main points and overall structure of a text, while scanning focuses on specific details. Both techniques can be useful in a variety of settings, such as academic research, business, and daily reading of emails, newspapers, and messages. The choice of technique will depend on the reader’s purpose and the type of information they are looking for.