Scannability – Glossary

How easily readers can skim and find what they need.

Strong scannability helps people complete tasks faster, reduces bounce, and improves satisfaction.

Why it matters:

Most users skim first, then read. Clear structure helps readers locate the right section quickly, confirm it is relevant, then dive into details.

Best practices:

• Headings: Use descriptive headings that match reader intent, keep them short and specific.
• Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs short, one idea per paragraph for easy scanning.
• Lists: Use bulleted or numbered lists for steps, options, and key points.
• Selective bold: Highlight crucial words or phrases, avoid overusing bold so highlights stand out.
• Anchors: Add clear in-page anchors with concise labels, make navigation predictable.

Example:

Quick checklist

• Use a single H1 per page, then step down logically with H2 and H3.
• Keep paragraphs to two or three sentences.
• Turn lists into bullets or numbers when there are multiple items.
• Bold only what a skimmer needs to notice.
• Add concise anchor links for long pages, use 1 to 5 words for labels.

Measuring scannability

You can gauge scannability with simple signals, keep it lightweight.

• Scroll depth and section engagement, do readers reach key sections.
• Time to first meaningful click, do visitors find the right action quickly.
• Anchor link usage on long pages, do in-page links help navigation.
• Bounce on content pages, lower bounce can suggest better structure.

Common pitfalls

• Vague headings that hide the point. Use specific nouns and verbs.
• Walls of text without breaks. Add headings and lists.
• Anchors like “click here” or “learn more.” Use descriptive labels.
• Bold everywhere. Limit highlights to key words.
• Mixing topics in one section. Split into focused sections.