Reading not only helps a person to improve their knowledge, but also to absorb more vocabulary. However, the amount of knowledge is infinite and the time to read is limited, so we often apply these methods to read: skimming and scanning. A reader wants to read skimming or scanning will depend on their own purposes.

Though these two speed reading techniques are the same in terms of category and they involve rapid eye movement and reading quickly from one text to the other, they different in definition and its purposes.

The first difference is in definition. Skimming is a way of reading something in a fast manner so as to grasp the main points. This is when you pick out the main ideas or messages. However, scanning means to look carefully and quickly at the written material so as to locate something. If you're reading, you must be having or about to have questions to be answered, just wisely choose what to read and quickly get what may benefit.

The second difference is in purpose. Skimming is used in previewing, which means an advanced reading of the topic before actually reading it. It is used to save time but we might miss some of the important parts of the topic or the deeper meaning of the topic. On the other hand, scanning is best used for research purposes or when you try to find the answer to a question as quickly as you can due to its nature to scoop out deeper important facts. It requires concentration to use this technique, your attention must not wander in other unrelated stuff.

Despite the difference of these two reading skills, when you combine them together, you can both quickly scan through the entire text but still scan the important details in the article. It's a useful way of fast reading that no one could deny.

#Tugney, 18/12/2020