Scannability helps readers decide whether to read, stay oriented, resume after distraction, and relocate facts later. Treat headings as guideposts, not decoration. section 5.5.2
Improve scannability with a quick structural pass:
- Review the page at the macro level: balance headings, visuals, and sentences before editing individual words. section 5.5.2
- Break up walls of text. Give each paragraph one main idea and consider using at least a couple of headings per page. section 5.5.2
A structural warning sign
A function definition spanning six screens, inconsistent indentation, and very long lines make code difficult to scan. An IDE’s whole-file preview exposes the problem quickly; readable structure makes code easier to reason about, check for errors, and modify. section 5.5.2
Figure 5.3 In the first paragraph, the clean bolding focuses the reader’s eyes. In the second paragraph, it’s overkill and becomes an annoying distraction.
Use bolding to focus attention selectively; excessive emphasis becomes visual noise and distracts readers. section 5.5.2
