You may think reading and writing are the same, whether on paper or
on a screen. It isn’t.  According to Jakob Neilsen in an article with NN/G, “79 percent of our test users always scanned any new [web] page they came across.” People aren’t reading every single word of content; they search through, find the parts they need, and move on. That’s why having
well-designed content is crucial. 

What Scannable Text Really Means

Users are constantly scanning text. The average reader spends about 52 seconds on a blog article, says Wix. There is less than a minute to not only capture their attention, but also convince them to continue reading. 

People don’t stay on an article by chance. Readers won’t work harder
than they have to. If they can’t find what they are looking for, “they will look for [a writer] who is better,” says William Zinsser in On Writing Well. Formatting a page well is instrumental in whether people stay or go.
It’s by design. 

Design Elements that Make Readers Stay

1. Line Length

The optimal line length is between 50 and 75 characters. Anything longer fatigues the eye. Anything shorter breaks the user’s “reading rhythm” because they move to the next line too frequently.

2. Headers

Clear headers break up long blocks of text. ensure there’s a large difference in text size and font weight (ex. bold) to differentiate the header from the rest of the text. 

Headers can help readers scan through an article. Quickly reading
header names helps the reader determine if they will find what
they are looking for. 

3. Lists

Lists also help break up blocks of text. Short lines stand out as they scan. They often contain information the reader is looking for, meaning the reader doesn’t have to look hard. 

4. Typeface

The typeface you choose has a large impact on readability. Sans-serif typefaces (without the “feet” extending the letters) with their
clean, consistent shapes make reading easier on the eye and hold
up in low-resolution.

5. Paragraph Length and White Space

Paragraphs that are too long look intimidating and turn off readers.
A good rule of thumb is to keep paragraphs at 2-3 sentences. 

Keeping paragraphs short creates more white space. This gives readers space to breathe, allowing them to scan more easily. 

6. Contrast

Make sure there’s enough contrast between the site’s background and text color. Low contrast is harder on the eyes, inaccessible, and makes the reader work harder to read your post. Use a color contrast checker to ensure your colors are accessible.  

Note: Pure black (#000000) or white (#FFFFFF) is not good for readability. Their stark contrast causes eye fatigue. Instead, use dark grays like hex #333333 or #2E2E2E and off-whites like #F5F5F5 or #FAFAFA. 

Make Formatting Worth Your Time

It’s not just about putting words on a page when it comes to screen reading. Taking the time to properly format your text can retain more readers and make their experience more enjoyable. Trust me, they’ll
thank you for it.